National Customs Agencies

​The national customs administrations of the European Union (EU) work together to manage the day-to-day operations of the EU Customs Union. The EU Customs Union is a foundation of the EU and is essential for the functioning of the single market. 

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Here are some aspects of the EU Customs Union: 

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• Common customs duties: EU Member States apply a common system of customs duties to imports from outside the EU. 
   

• No customs controls between member states: There are no customs duties or controls at the borders between EU Member States. 
   

• Customs officers: Over 114,000 customs officers work at airports, ports, border crossings, and other locations to prevent illegal goods from entering the EU. 
   

• Customs labs: The EU has 90 customs labs that help combat illegal trafficking and fraud. 
   

• Sniffer dogs: Customs officers use sniffer dogs to detect illegal drugs, explosives, suspicious food, and large amounts of cash. 
   

•  Transit Manual: This manual provides information on the common transit procedure and the roles of the various participants. 
   

• Customs Decisions System (CDS): This system handles 22 types of applications and authorisations. 
   

• EU CSW-CERTEX: This system provides business services to customs authorities through a standardized interface. 
   

• New Computerised Transit System (NCTS): This system is based on electronic declaration and processing.