Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 87/267/EEC concerning the conclusion of a Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE CONVENTION AND OF THE DECISION?

The Convention aims to simplify formalities in trade in goods between the former European Economic Community (now the European Union (EU)), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (known as the contracting parties).
Decision 87/267/EEC gives the community’s approval to the convention.

KEY POINTS

The convention introduces a single administrative document that is used for:

all import and export formalities;
a common transit procedure (see summary) for trade between the contracting parties, irrespective of the goods’ nature or origin.

The single administrative document:

is based on a declaration form (examples in Annex I);
serves as a declaration or document for export, transit and import.

The declaration must:

be filled in according to the instructions in Annex II on its printing, completion and use;
contain common codes as set out in Annex III;
be completed in one of the contracting parties’ official languages, with the possibility of a translation if required.

A contracting party may require additional administrative documents only when these are needed:

for implementing legislation in force for which the single document is insufficient;
under the terms of an international agreement;
to enable operators to qualify, at their request, for an advantage or specific facility.

Contracting parties may:

apply simplified procedures, whether using computers or not, by:
- not requiring operators to present either the goods or the accompanying declaration to a customs office,
- accepting an incomplete declaration,
- allowing the use of commercial documents instead of the single document;
dispense with the single document for postal traffic;
dispense with the need for written declarations;
conclude agreements or arrangements to further simplify formalities;
allow the use of computers to complete formalities without written declarations;
allow public or private companies to make declarations on plain paper.

Customs authorities:

provide each other, either on request or on their own initiative, with all available information, including administrative reports and findings, to ensure the smooth functioning of the convention;
may refuse to provide assistance in certain circumstances, but must give reasons for doing so.

A joint committee, on which each contracting party is represented:

administers the convention;
makes recommendations, including amendments to the convention and any other necessary measures;
meets at least once a year;
may set up sub-committees or working parties.

Any non-EU or non-EFTA country may join the convention following a decision by the joint committee.

The convention applies to:

the EU Member States,
the EFTA countries,
North Macedonia,
Serbia,
Türkiye,
Ukraine,
United Kingdom.

Any contracting party may withdraw from the convention by giving 12 months’ notice in writing.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The convention entered into force on 1 January 1988.

BACKGROUND

When the Convention was signed, EFTA had six members: Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. On 1 January 1994, the European Economic Area came into force and Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU the following year. Switzerland has separate bilateral agreements with the EU.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Decision 87/267/EEC of 28 April 1987 concerning the conclusion of a Convention between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden and the Swiss Confederation on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods (OJ L 134, 22.5.1987, p. 1).

Convention between the European Economic Community, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden and the Swiss Confederation on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods (OJ L 134, 22.5.1987, pp. 2–77).

Successive amendments to the Convention have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

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Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods

SUMMARY OF:

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE CONVENTION AND OF THE DECISION?

KEY POINTS

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

BACKGROUND

MAIN DOCUMENTS

RELATED DOCUMENTS