Written answers

Thursday, 28 April 2022

Department of Finance

Customs and Excise

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of posted parcels that originated outside the European Union that were rejected by customs and returned to the sender in 2021; the steps that are being taken to reduce this number; if it is intended to introduce new regulations or change the law to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21557/22]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Revenue, as Ireland’s Tax and Customs administration, is responsible for managing the importation and exportation of goods in accordance with the Union Customs Code and relevant national legislation and this includes goods being imported through the postal system. Customs controls are necessary to protect public health, to ensure food safety and product standards and to protect EU businesses from unfair international competition thus preserving jobs for European workers including Irish workers.

I am advised by Revenue that across the EU, electronic Customs import declarations are now required for all parcels / packages coming from non-EU countries including those coming through the postal system regardless of the value of the goods being sent. For goods being imported via the postal system, these Customs declarations are usually submitted by the postal operator on behalf of the recipient (importer) in Ireland. The information to complete the declaration is generally supplied by the exporting postal authority. Where insufficient information to complete a declaration is provided, the Irish postal authority may contact the exporting postal authority or the recipient in Ireland to gather the necessary information to enable them to complete the declaration. Alternatively, where sufficient information to complete the Customs declaration is not available, the postal operator may return the goods to the sender. It is a matter for the postal to determine, based on its business model, how to deal with instances where they do not have the data needed to complete the necessary Customs declaration.

I am further advised by Revenue, that they provide appropriate information and assistance to all importers, including the postal authority, to assist them comply with Customs obligations. However, Revenue cannot comment on plans specific businesses have in relation to the completion of Customs declarations as this is a commercial matter for each specific business as to the nature of the business model it operates. I understand that Revenue does not have statistics in relation to the number of items returned by the postal authority to senders.

The legislation governing the importation of goods is harmonised at EU level and the provisions are common throughout all Member States in the EU. It is not possible for Ireland to implement  changes that would result in non-compliance with the Union Customs Code. 

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