I added this to Zodiacs question about Majorca but thought it worthy (?) of a seperate post to understand if others have encountered this ,,, and importantly, the 'solution'
BEWARE CUSTOMS SINCE BREXIT ?? POTENTIAL ISSUE
I had a potential issue with French customs on my return from Greece via Calais late July this year .... I subsequently sent this to the French central customs to try and get a clear answer !!!
"We travel each year with a car and 6m inflatable RIB boat on a trailer through France to Greece & when departing UK on 14th June via Eurotunnel, normal passport & customs processes remained. Today on our return your customs officer said we should have had a declaration from the French Douane in the Eurotunnel terminal before leaving the UK to show the Douane on return (the boat is worth c £30000 ) and that without such a document we could be fined or have our boat impounded- but he let us travel in this instance. I cannot find anything online to explain this ,, The boat is our personal item and not used for any commercial use either at home or on holiday. I do carry copies of vat invoices for the boat ( bought 2006), the trailer, outboard motor etc."
This was the very unclear reply (translated)
Hello,
In response to your email, I would like to inform you that you can benefit from the temporary admission of your goods as a private individual.
Certain goods may, depending on their nature or use, benefit from these simplifications (Article 139 CDR):
"Where they are not declared by other means, the goods referred to in Article 136(1)(a) to (d), (h) and (i) shall be deemed to have been declared for temporary admission in accordance with Article 141."
"(a) pallets, containers and means of transport, as well as spare parts, accessories and equipment for such pallets, containers and means of transport, referred to in Articles 208 to 216
(b) personal effects and goods to be used for sporting purposes as referred to in Article 219;
(c) seafarers' welfare equipment used on board a ship engaged in international maritime traffic, as referred to in Article 220(a)
(d) the medical, surgical and laboratory equipment referred to in Article 222;
(h) equipment used in connection with measures taken to combat the effects of disasters or similar situations affecting the customs territory of the Union;
(i) portable musical instruments temporarily imported by travellers and intended for use as professional equipment;"
Individuals may therefore bring in :
- their means of transport by simply crossing the border ;
- their personal effects, their sports equipment (e.g. bicycles for training or competition) or their musical instruments (even if they are for personal and not professional use) by crossing a double "nothing to declare" circuit
With regard to means of transport:
"means of transport" means any ship (including lighter barges and barges, even if carried on board a ship, and hydrofoils), hovercraft, aircraft, motorised road vehicles (including motor cycles, trailers, semi-trailers and combinations of vehicles), and railway rolling stock, as well as their spare parts, accessories and normal equipment on board the means of transport, including special equipment used for loading, unloading, handling and protection of goods
The RYA were also confused ..... offered a declaration form which should be signed by customs on entry (no Douane at Eurotunnel) ,,, but they are yet to understand how it works !!
Dear Mr Bond
Thank you for taking the time to send the follow-up email with your membership number.
Have you seen the information we have published at https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/abr...t-formalities? (you need to scroll down to find the section on towing a boat)
If you click through from that link to the additional information for RYA members on carnets, you will see that we mention that it may be necessary to have the form published in Annex 71-01 of the UCC Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446. I have taken a screenshot of the form from Annex 71-01 and it is attached.
I’m not sure if I am understanding your email correctly. Were the French customs on your return to the UK asking for a document that French customs should have provided when you entered France or that UK customs should have provided?
It would be really helpful to see the reply you received from French customs if that’s possible as it might help us to clarify if French customs are interpreting the EU legislation in the same way as the European Commission. If you are willing to share it with us it would be much appreciated.
Kind regards
Carol
ANY OTHER REGULAR CHANNEL HOPPERS WITH A TRAILERED RIB COME ACROSS THIS ISSUE BEFORE ???
