Customs

Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and hookers customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country. Depending on local legislation and regulations, the import or export of some goods may be restricted or forbidden, and the customs agency enforces these rules. The customs authority may be different from the immigration authority, which monitors persons who leave or enter the country, checking for appropriate documentation, apprehending people wanted by international arrest warrants, and impeding the entry of others deemed dangerous to the country. In most countries customs are attained through government agreements and international laws.

A customs duty is a tariff or tax on the importation (usually) or exportation (unusually) of goods. In the United Kingdom, customs duties were typically part of the customary revenue of the king, and therefore did not need parliamentary consent to be levied, unlike excise duty, land tax, or other forms of taxes.

Customs procedures for arriving passengers at many international airports, and some road crossings, are separated into Red and Green Channels. Passengers with goods to declare (carrying items above the permitted customs limits and/or carrying prohibited items) should go through the Red Channel. Passengers with nothing to declare (carrying goods within the customs limits only and not carrying prohibited items) can go through the Green Channel. Passengers going through the Green Channel are only subject to spot checks and save time. But, if a passenger going through the Green Channel is found to have goods above the customs limits on them or carrying prohibited items, they may be prosecuted for making a false declaration to customs, by virtue of having gone through the Green Channel.

Canada and the United States do not officially operate a red and green channel system, however some airports copy this layout.

Airports within the EU also have a Blue Channel. As the EU is a customs union, travellers between EU countries do not have to pay customs duties. VAT and Excise duties may be applicable if the goods are subsequently sold, but these are collected when the goods are sold, not at the border. Passengers arriving from other EU countries should go through the Blue Channel, where they may still be subject to checks for prohibited or restricted goods. In addition, limitations exist on various tobacco and alcohol products being imported from other EU member states and use of the Blue Channel if those limitations are being exceeded would be inappropriate. Luggage tickets for checked in luggage within the EU are green-edged so they may be identified. UK policy is that entry into a particular Channel constitutes a legal declaration.

Task . Match phrases with proper translation, learn them:

1.Help me fill in the customs declaration form, please.	a. У мене е речі тільки для власного користування.
2.Where can I go through luggage control?	b. Хто збирає мито?
3. Have you any luggage besides this?	c. Я тут тільки проїздом.
4. I have only things for personal use.	d. Будь ласка, допоможіть заповнити бланк митної декларації.
5. Shall I submit... for inspection?	e. Мета моєї поїздки... (ділова, туризм, особиста).
6. It is allowed (not allowed).	f. Дозволяється (не дозволяється).
7. Are these things liable to duty?	g. Чи ці речі обкладаються митом?
8. Who is responsible for collecting duties?	h. Ваш паспорт дійсний до…
9. Your passport is valid until...	i. Де я можу пройти огляд багажу?
10. How long are you going to stay in this country?	j. Скільки часу ви пробудете у цій країні?
11. I am only passing through the country.	k. Чи є у Вас крім цього ще багаж?
12. I am here on a business visit only.	l. Я хочу продовжити візу.
13. The purpose of my trip is... (business, tourism, personal)	m. Чи треба мені пред'являти ... для огляду?
14. I want my visa extended.	n. У мене суто ділова поїздка.

Task . Read the text and answer the questions:

Schengen rules for EU citizens

Passport or identity card. There are no longer any frontier controls at the borders between 22 EU countries. This is thanks to the Schengen rules which are part of EU law. These rules remove all internal border controls but put in place effective controls at the external borders of the EU and introduce a common visa policy. All EU countries are full Schengen members except for Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are also Schengen members but are not in the EU. You will therefore need to present a valid passport or ID card when travelling to the five non-Schengen countries and when entering or leaving the EU at the external borders. Carry them when travelling in the EU because they may be required for identification or security purposes. Be aware that the only valid ID is the one obtained from national authorities. Check the Public Register of authentic identity and travel documents. Make sure that any children travelling with you either have their own passport or ID card or are registered on your passport. By 26 June 2012 all children who wish to travel will have to have their own passport.

1. Why are there no frontier controls at the borders between 22 EU countries?

2. What countries are not full Schengen members?

3. What documents do citizens of Iceland, Norway and Switzerland need to present when travelling to the Schengen countries?

4. Is the valid ID obtained from national authorities?

5. What document should children have when they travel with adults?

6. When will children, who wish to travel, have to have their own passport?

Task . When you go through the Customs you must fill in declaration. Fill this document: