Goods for which declarations are not required

Arriving goods

An entry summary declaration must be submitted for goods imported directly into the customs territory of the Union from countries outside the Union. The declaration must be submitted for all goods, including Union goods, and e.g. for all timber cargoes for which the periodic declaration procedure is applied (no periodic declaration relating to security).

However, an exception to this rule is when goods are carried through the territorial waters or the airspace of the customs territory of the Union without a stopping. Furthermore, the requirement for the pre-arrival declaration does not apply to the following goods:

  1. electrical energy
  2. goods entering by pipeline
  3. letters
  4. postal consignments arriving by sea, road or rail
  5. duty-free household effects in accordance with the regulation on reliefs from customs duty and with no transport agreement
  6. goods for which an oral declaration is accepted upon import, provided that no transport agreement has been made (for example non-commercial goods)
  7. goods for which an oral declaration is accepted upon temporary admission, provided that no transport agreement has been made (for example pallets, containers and means of transport)
  8. goods contained in travellers’ personal luggage
  9. so called goods imported based on the agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty
  10. weapons and military equipment brought into the customs territory of the Union by the authorities in charge of the military defence of a Member State, in military transport or transport operated for the sole use of the military authorities
  11. goods brought into the customs territory of the Union directly from drilling or production platforms operated by a person established in the customs territory of the Union
  12. diplomatic goods in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963
  13. ship supplies that have been delivered to maritime craft or aircraft, as parts, accessories, for the operation, to be consumed or sold
  14. goods arriving from a country not part of the customs territory of the EU (e.g. Gibraltar, Ceuta, Melilla, Helgoland, San Marino and the Vatican)
  15. goods imported with an ATA and CPD Carnet if no transport agreement has been made.

Goods exiting the EU

An advance declaration must be submitted to the competent customs office within a specific time limit before goods are exported out of the customs territory of the Union.

Exceptions are means of transport and goods transported in them, which are only moved via the territorial waters of the customs territory or airspace without stopping in the Union territory, or which move, without being unloaded, via a third country back into the Union. Furthermore, the requirement for a pre-departure declaration does not apply to the following goods:

  1. electrical energy
  2. goods leaving by pipeline
  3. letters
  4. goods to be moved in accordance with the rules of the Universal Postal Union
  5. household items, provided that they are not transported under a transport agreement
  6. goods contained in travellers’ personal luggage
  7. goods for which an oral declaration is accepted
  8. goods for which an oral declaration is accepted upon temporary admission, provided that no transport agreement has been made (for example pallets, containers and means of transport, their spare parts, accessories and equipment)
  9. goods moved with ATA and CPD Carnets
  10. goods moved with NATO form 302
  11. goods carried on board vessels moving between Union ports, without calling at any port outside the customs territory of the Union
  12. goods carried on board aircraft moving between Union airports, without calling at any airport outside the customs territory of the Union
  13. weapons and military equipment brought out of the customs territory of the Union by the authorities in charge of the military defence of a Member State, in military transport or transport operated for the sole use of the military authorities
  14. goods exported from the customs territory of the Union directly to offshore installations operated by a person located in the customs territory of the Union (for example for building, repairing and for equipping)
  15. diplomatic consignments
  16. goods that are delivered as parts or accessories for ships and aircraft or accessories to be used for equipping ship or aircraft motors, machines or other equipment to be used on board, as well as foodstuffs and other goods to be sold or used on board the ship or aircraft
  17. goods sent from the customs territory of the Union to Ceuta and Melilla, Gibraltar, Helgoland, the Vatican, the municipalities of Livigno and Campione d'Italia and the Italian national waters of Lake Lugano which are between the bank and the political frontier of the area between Ponte Tresa and Porte Ceresio.

Points to consider

Consignments relating to organ transplants do not need to be cleared upon import or export. When the consignment arrives as freight, safety and security data must be provided for it and the freight carrier must notify Airport Customs of the MRN and the goods item number. Travellers who transport consignments relating to organ transplants can choose the green channel at customs.

For more information, see Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 (Articles 104(f), 138(h) and 141(1)).