Further to our blog post on 4 May 2016 (available here) detailing some of the key changes to EU customs legislation taking place under the Union Customs Code (“UCC”), the European Commission (“EC”) has recently issued some valuation guidance (available here) concerning the interpretation of certain key provisions under the UCC.

Introduction

EU customs legislation is undergoing some significant changes from 1 May 2016 with the implementation of the Union Customs Code (“UCC”). The changes implemented by the UCC will have significant practical and financial implications for businesses importing into or exporting from the EU. The three key changes under the UCC will be:

• Changes to customs valuation rules;
• Introduction of compulsory guarantees; and
• Introduction of benefits for holders of the AEO Customs Simplifications (“AEOC”) status.