Lesson 1. At the Customs Reading

It’s difficult to imagine modern life without travelling. People travel a lot in their own country and abroad. While travelling abroad a person has to go through customs. “To go through customs” means to have your luggage inspected by customs officials. Since early times, countries have imposed duties to protect their own industries. So, the traveller has to fill in a customs declaration form. He has to declare or list certain items that he is bringing into a country. He also has to open his luggage for inspection. Usually articles for personal use and wear and also used items and gifts are not liable to duty anywhere. If you are carrying much currency you’d also declare it. If you are carrying weapons you need a permit. Although some items are liable to duty, but if you carry only small amount of them, they are duty free. Business Class passengers are allowed to carry a maximum of 40 kg of baggage, passengers in Economy Class are allowed 20 kg of baggage. Baggage exceeding the standard limits of free baggage transportation will be subject to applicable tariffs. For handling purposes any bag/item exceeds 32 kg is not carried as accompanied baggage and is carried as cargo. It is important to remember that the transportation of some luggage items (animals, sport equipments, musical instruments, bicycles, delicate and valuable items) is only possible after consent has been obtained from the airline, and in such cases special fees are applicable. Do not try to break the customs rules and regulations because you may have a lot of troubles. Customs inspectors are trained to recognize the travellers who are carrying things into a country illegally and to prevent smuggling.

Smuggled goods can enter the country together with passenger’s cargo or with means of conveyance. The unlawful bringing in or taking out of the country such articles as currency, bonds, precious metals and antiques, explosives, drugs, weapons, firearms and ammunition is considered smuggling or contraband.

Vocabulary of the text

Exercise 1. Give the English equivalents for:

проходити митний контроль; обкладати митом; особисті речі; дозвіл; заповнити митну декларацію; що підлягає обкладанню митом; безмитний; необхідно мати дозвіл; пасажири бізнес-класу; пасажири економічного класу; багаж, що перевищує встановлені норми; оплачувати за відповідними тарифами; вантаж; митні правила; мати проблеми; незаконний ввіз товарів; засоби транспортування; перевозити контрабанду.

Exercise 2. Match the following:

As a rule the customs officers ...	you may need a health certificate or vaccination.
When coming to some countries …	check your passports and visas if they are required.
It is very important to be aware of …	coming to the United States with details of currently existing regulations.
The US Customs Service supplies all people …	customs regulations while entering a foreign country.
U.S. residents must declare the total value of all articles acquired abroad …	will be determined by a Customs officer.
The amount of duty to be paid …	including those purchases made in duty free stores in the US or abroad which are in their family’s possession at the time of arrival.