English for customs officers

These benefits are further enhanced when it is decided to leverage the key role that a Сustoms administration plays in the entire international trade cycle, to create an electronically connected trade community wherein all stakeholders are members.

EXERCISES

I. Match the words from the text with their corresponding definitions.

II. Fill in the gaps to make the sentences complete.

Reference words: entry data, core, speed, photographic, computer network, contribute, information, computerized imagery system, operations, facilitates, low risk cargo, automatically, automation, sort, concentrates, the highest risk, transmission of data, electronic, technologies, format.

1.Customs Services in different countries today use varying degrees of … to support … Customs functions.

2.Customs Services all over the world use a … for capturing … data in an … … which can then be viewed at other locations in the …

3.… and communications … can substantially … to making Customs … both more effective and more efficient.

4.It can … download, … and screen-manifest any ... This targeting system … the flow of … and … the focus of inspectional enforcement assets on the cargo with ...

5.The system is designed to … the release of shipments by allowing electronic … to and from Canada Customs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

I. Punctuate the following text.

Information technologies have already automated such procedures as goods declaration processing accounting and statistics the main objective of information technologies is to manage information within the Customs system in order to improve the efficiency of Customs clearance and control create favorable conditions for all participants of foreign economic activity customs control is in fact the main function of Customs administrations and much attention is paid to evaluation of its effectiveness it is obviously not possible to examine meticulously every consignment that enters a country in carrying out their control function therefore Customs must be selective the application of selectivity criteria in order to identify consignments for examination and documents for checking can of course take place in a manual system where however the functions of cargo control and/or Goods declaration processing have been automated such selectivity can be carried out on a much more informed and thorough basis intelligence gathered by Customs on a nationwide basis can be fed into the computer system and be taken into account when selectivity processing is taking place the probability of uncovering fraudulent practices is therefore increased in an automated environment in the field of valuation fraud computers can also be of assistance in identifying importations when the declared value of products falls outside predetermined parameters the principle of selectivity is the basic feature of risk management system which Customs control is based on risk management is an application of management procedures and practices which provide Customs with necessary information to detect movements or consignments that present a risk.

II. Translate the following word combinations into Russian.

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III. Speculate about the following.

1.Computer technologies are used by Customs administrations to support a wide range of Customs operations such as inventory control, accounting for goods, goods declaration processing, accounting for revenue, warehousing, enforcement, etc.

2.Because of the decreasing hardware costs and the opportunities afforded by the merging of data processing and telecommunications technologies, computer techniques will be used on an even wider scale in international trade in the future to facilitate the movement of goods.

3.Customs authorities investigate the feasibility of using ADP (automated data processing) technologies to support Customs operations and introduce computerized systems where feasible, costeffective and otherwise appropriate.

4.Customs authorities may obtain operational costs from the trading community in recognition of the fact that the benefits of computerization accrue not only to Customs but also to other participants in trade.

5.Customs authorities should review and where appropriate modernize existing manual procedures, documentation and coding practices prior to introducing the use of ADP technologies.

6.The adoption of international standards for the representation of data elements, codes and coding structures, and interface protocols greatly facilitates data exchange between Customs administrations and international trade participants whenever there is a need for such data interchange.

7.ADP technologies are used in such areas as:

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DO IT FOR FUN

I. Read the definitions. Supply the missing letters to each word.

II. Find the following hidden words in the word search.

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UNIT 12. RISK MANAGEMENT IN CUSTOMS

Study the following words and word combinations from the text.

TEXT 12.1. CUSTOMS CONTROL

Customs administrations need to maintain the appropriate balance between facilitating legitimate trade and travel while ensuring compliance with the laws and regulations they enforce and to demonstrate that these laws and regulations are applied fairly, efficiently and effectively.

To ensure that Customs can appropriately apply these laws and regulations, all international movements have to be declared for Customs control. Customs administrations have to apply efficient and effective controls by implementing risk management techniques, in order to simultaneously fulfill the responsibility to collect revenue, implement trade policy, safeguard the public, manage the increase in world trade and tourism, reduce Customs personnel, and offer trade facilitation to legitimate traders, travellers and carriers.

There are many ways of responding to these combined objectives by improved facilitation and control within a set of modern Customs practices.

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Customs control is, in fact, the main function of Customs administrations and much attention is paid to evaluation of its effectiveness.

«Customs control» is defined as «measures applied to ensure compliance with the laws and regulation which Customs are responsible for enforcing».1

One way of linking facilitation with control is by using electronic data interchange. The move towards electronic data interchange will streamline the division of information previously condensed into one comprehensive declaration form.

Control of passengers and their clearance time through Customs can also be much improved by innovative procedures based on electronic advanced passenger information systems.

The principle of Customs control is the proper application of Customs laws and compliance with other legal and regulatory requirements, with maximum facilitation of international trade and travel.

Customs controls should therefore be kept to the minimum necessary to meet the main objectives and should be carried out on a selective basis using risk management techniques to the greatest extent possible.

Application of the principle of Customs control will allow Customs administrations to:

•focus on high-risk areas and therefore ensure more effective use of available resources,

•increase ability to detect offences and non-compliant traders and travelers,

•offer compliant traders and travelers greater facilitation and

•expedite trade and travel.

EXERCISES

I. Find the words/phrases in the text which follow the verbs below.

1 The Glossary of international Customs terms.

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II. Make phrases by matching words from the left with words from the right and translate them.

Translate the following sentences using the phrases from the exercise above.

1.Customs administrations need to maintain the … between facilitating legitimate trade and travel and ensuring compliance with the laws and regulations they enforce.

2.Customs Service is responsible for facilitating …

3.In order to cope with the challenges Customs Services face today, they need to apply … to all goods, means of transport and travellers.

4.Customs controls can be improved by … based on risk management techniques.

5.Customs controls should be carried out on a …

III. Answer the following questions.

1.What are Customs administrations responsible for?

2.What is Customs control?

3.How can Customs control be facilitated?

4.What is the principle of Customs control?

5.Why should Customs control be carried out on a selective basis?

6.What benefits can Customs administrations enjoy when applying the principle of Customs control?

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multi-national business. They can also be applied irrespective of the value of the duties and taxes in question.1

Movement controls

These controls are measures applicable to goods and means of transport before or upon arrival, departure or during a Customs procedure, until they are released. Commercial means of transport which stop only for a short time in the Customs territory without discharging or taking on passengers or cargo, are not normally subject to measures other than general supervision.

The selection of goods, means of transport, or documents for examination, should be based on risk profiles to target specific transactions.

If a potential Customs offence is discovered during the movement control, there must be communication and co-ordination with the appropriate enforcement unit to start a formal investigation.

Documentary examination

The information gained from the examination of documents enables verification for compliance purposes and matching against risk profiles. The submission of the documents prior to the arrival/departure of the goods and means of transport allows the pre-selection of the movement for examination. It enables Customs to decide about the release of the goods and means of transport before they actually arrive in the Customs territory. Information presented in the documents when compared to information available to Customs can assist in targeting for special attention.

Physical examination / Search

The physical examination of goods and the search of commercial means of transport is undertaken to verify the nature and/or the relationship between the goods/means of transport and the documents presented. In addition Customs administrations may carry out checks to ensure that commercial means of transport fulfill the technical conditions laid down by certain international agreements for the international transport of goods. Physical examinations or searches should be carried out as rapidly as possible.

If the document review indicates that the movement is satisfactory and no discernible risks are present a physical examination is not

1 Kyoto Convention. General Annex guidelines. Chapter 6 Customs control.

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