What is the French Customs Administration? French Customs Administration Review

The activities of the General Administration of Customs are regulated by French law (Customs Code, Penal Code, etc.), the Customs Code of the European Union (CDU) and international agreements (WTO, various free trade treaties, exchanges, etc.).

Task

• Border and territorial protection tasks

Customs is mobilized to fight against illegal trafficking and organized crime: customs, financial and tax fraud, smuggling (drugs, tobacco, weapons, counterfeit products, etc.), money laundering and terrorist financing, etc. It also ensures the security of air and sea transport, as well as the security of the movement of goods and passengers using cross-channel fixed links, through the implementation of the Community ICS (Import Control System) program. It is also involved in national maritime operations, the control of personnel at the EU's external borders and the management of migration flows.

• Tasks to support economic activity

Customs is responsible for securing and facilitating trade, according to the rules established for international trade. It controls trade flows with 3 objectives: fluidity, security, quality, thanks to procedures adapted to the needs of companies. It is also responsible for supporting the wine industry and the tobacco trade.

• Customs clearance and tax collection tasks

Customs performs its fiscal tasks by collecting a certain amount of duties and taxes on behalf of the EU, national and Communities.