EU imposes Customs Documentation Charge for inbound cargo

The European Union’s Customs Documentation Charge for Inbound Cargo will come into force from 1 January 2011.

CMA CGM said as a consequence of the new European Union regulation of Advance Cargo Declaration (Entry Summary Declaration - ENS) that will become effective on January 1st, 2011, and considering the additional operating and administrative costs (including IT Developments) supported by carriers, the Group decided to implement a Custom Documentation Charge.

The charge will be applied as follows:

• 25 US$ per B/L for all containerised traffic with EU as final destination

• 10 US$ per B/L for non containerised traffic (including Trailers) with EU as final destination

• 40 US$ per B/L for all amendments to original submissions

However, in order not to penalize its customers, CMA CGM Group has decided that this charge will NOT apply for cargo with a non-EU country as final destination in case of transhipment or transit in a EU Port.

The EU advance cargo declaration (ENS) regime will become effective on January 1st, 2011, to all shipping sectors and will apply to import, export and transit of goods in the EU to evaluate the potential risks for security and safety.

To comply with this rule, carriers will have to declare cargo information in advance to the Customs office of first entry port in the form of an “Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)” when:

• Importing cargo in the EU from non-EU origin,

• Transhipping goods in the EU. For instance: cargo loaded in the USA bound for West Africa but transhipped in Antwerp,

• Cargo remaining on board for carriage to other ports (Freight Remaining On Board) and calling in a EU port. For instance: cargo loaded in Asia bound for East Africa and calling La Reunion (FR) en route.

In order to comply with this rule and to enable carriers to ensure a smooth running of transport services, all customers are requested to provide carriers with all the necessary documents and shipping instructions within the established deadlines.