I would have never thought that 100 CHF customs fines actually exist in Switzerland. Ridiculous.
For the rest, I just reiterate: beware of the customs officials. The worst breed on the planet.
Flew into Locarno on Friday. And whilst they didn‘t make any trouble, the way they deal with you (no smiles, just exaggerated seriousness and pretending as if they were doing a somehow important job there) is a shame and ridiculous. What a breed of people.
Yes, customs officers pretend in general to be extremely serious. A big difference with normal (regular) police officers, which do feel a lot more “human”. Also, the authority of a customs official goes far beyond the powers of a policeman, and they use that extra power of course. In many countries, including Italy and Switzerland, customs officials are organized like the military, which gives the impression that they are infallible and have a different attitude towards us normal citizens.
can someone actually point me to the paragraph (or copy it here) in the regulation that points to this rule. I’m being asked for it by the French customs official I am asking for clarifications from ;-)
LFHNflightstudent wrote:
can someone actually point me to the paragraph (or copy it here)
The issue, as always, is that there is no article that says “you can do this”. You need to interpret the law as to what is allowed from what is forbidden/required, if that makes sense. I think what was preventing us from landing at non customs airports was the fact that the aircraft couldn’t be declared for temporary admission by the mere act of crossing the border. The fact that if you have “nothing to declare” on a private flight doesn’t require a customs airfield is probably not written anywhere explicitly, it just follows from some more general principles that I’m too lazy to also look up.
But here is the 2020 change of the underlying EU customs directive which now makes crossing the border a customs declaration for your aircraft:
This is the consolidated version with the change integrated:
English Article 141 1. (d) (v): http://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/24b8658d-9c6b-11eb-b85c-01aa75ed71a1.0006.02/DOC_1#:~:text=transport%20complying%20with%20the%20conditions%20established%20in%20Article%20203
French Article 141 1. (d) (v) : http://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/24b8658d-9c6b-11eb-b85c-01aa75ed71a1.0010.02/DOC_1#:~:text=transport%20non%20Union%20qui%20satisfont%20aux%20conditions%20%C3%A9tablies%20%C3%A0%20l%E2%80%99article%20203
I haven’t looked up Article 203 of the Customs Code, since I’m not being paid for this ;), but it hasn’t changed I think.
And I think this may be pertinent as well, happy to be corrected:
It’s unfortunate that the EU doesn’t seem to have a better formatted version of these legal texts, but at least they now do provide consolidated versions.
Noticed the links don’t really work that well due to the size of the document… This would be a consolidated version of the relevant part of Article 141:
Article 141
Acts deemed to be a customs declaration or a re-export declaration
(Article 158(2) of the Code)
1.
In respect of goods referred to in Articles 138(a) to (d) and (h), 139 and 140(1), any of the following acts shall be deemed to be a customs declaration:
[…]
(d)
the sole act of the goods crossing the frontier of the customs territory of the Union in any of the following situations:
[…]
(v)
where non-Union means of transport complying with the conditions established in Article 203 of the Code are brought to the customs territory of the Union in accordance with Article 138(c) of this Regulation.
French:
Article 141
Actes considérés comme une déclaration en douane ou une déclaration de réexportation
(Article 158, paragraphe 2, du code)
1.
En ce qui concerne les marchandises visées à l’article 138, points a) à d) et h), à l’article 139 et à l’article 140, paragraphe 1, les actes suivants sont considérés comme une déclaration en douane:
[…]
d)
le seul acte de franchissement de frontière du territoire douanier de l’Union par les marchandises dans l’une des situations suivantes:
[…]
v)
lorsque des moyens de transport non Union qui satisfont aux conditions établies à l’article 203 du code sont introduits sur le territoire douanier de l’Union conformément à l’article 138, point c), du présent règlement.
You may also want to copy/paste this reply from a German customs office in Lörrach into DeepL for translation to French, as it explains the situation the best in my opinion:
https://www.pilotundflugzeug.de/forum/2021,09,21,20,3952157#msgHook-2021,10,15,14,5602612
(Hope we may link to that forum here)
A
Luftsportgruppe Süd-West e. V.
à l’attention de M. Klein
Référence : votre demande du 11.10.2021
Pièce jointe : —
Chère Madame, cher Monsieur,
Cher Monsieur Klein,
Le règlement délégué (UE) 2020/877 de la Commission du 3 avril 2020 a modifié ou complété le règlement délégué (UE) 2015/2446 de la Commission du 28 juillet 2015 (ci-après : CDU-DA) en ce qui concerne son article 141. En revanche, la disposition nationale correspondante du § 5 de l’ordonnance sur les douanes est encore modifiée, même si le législateur de l’Union n’a pas délégué aux États membres de l’UE le pouvoir d’adopter des réglementations nationales en ce qui concerne l’article 141 du CDU-DA. Dans cette mesure, certaines dispositions du § 5 de l’ordonnance sur les douanes sont désormais directement superposées par le droit de l’Union ; cela concerne entre autres aussi l’obligation de passer par un aéroport douanier. Le ministère fédéral des Finances n’a pas encore annoncé définitivement les futures dispositions nationales. C’est pourquoi la notice publiée sur www.zoll.de n’a pas encore été adaptée à la nouvelle situation juridique. Je vous remercie de votre compréhension.
La situation juridique se présente désormais de manière simplifiée comme suit :
Les moyens de transport (entre autres les aéronefs) peuvent, par simple passage (ici : survol) de la frontière du territoire douanier de l’Union – selon leur statut douanier de marchandise de l’Union ou de marchandise non-Union – soit être mis en libre pratique en tant que marchandise en retour exonérée de droits de douane et d’impôts, soit être transportés et présentés en vue de leur admission temporaire en exonération totale des droits à l’importation, et déclarés et mis à disposition pour le régime correspondant. Il en va de même, mutatis mutandis, pour les moyens de transport destinés à l’exportation (“temporaire”) ou à la réexportation et à l’apurement de l’admission temporaire en exonération totale des droits à l’importation.
Par la suite, il n’est plus nécessaire d’obtenir une exemption de l’obligation d’utiliser un aérodrome douanier pour ces aéronefs. Ils peuvent atterrir sur tous les aérodromes autorisés par la législation sur la circulation aérienne.
Les conditions fixées par la législation douanière, à savoir qu’il est interdit de transporter avec ces aéronefs des marchandises soumises à des interdictions ou à des restrictions ou qui sont passibles de redevances, restent toutefois valables. L’obligation de déclarer les espèces et les moyens de paiement assimilés d’une valeur totale égale ou supérieure à 10 000 euros transportés reste également applicable.
Lorsque des aéronefs provenant de pays non membres de l’Union (par exemple la Suisse) doivent être introduits sur le territoire douanier de l’Union pour y être réparés en vue d’une plus-value (régime douanier du perfectionnement actif) ou pour y être stationnés de manière permanente ou pour une durée supérieure à 6 mois, ces aéronefs ne peuvent pas être déclarés par simple survol de la frontière du territoire douanier de l’Union. Une demande écrite de dérogation à l’obligation d’utiliser un aérodrome douanier dans un cas particulier et de réalisation d’une formalité administrative payante doit être adressée au bureau de douane principal en temps utile avant l’entrée dans le pays, au moyen du formulaire 0006. Il en va de même, par analogie, pour les aéronefs qui doivent être déclarés pour l’apurement du perfectionnement actif et la réexportation.
Conformément à l’article 14, paragraphe 4, de la loi sur l’administration des douanes, en liaison avec l’article 2, paragraphe 2, point 2. § l’article 2, paragraphe 1, point 4, du règlement relatif à l’extension de l’espace frontalier et aux zones soumises à la surveillance frontalière, tous les aérodromes au sens de l’article 6, paragraphe 1, première phrase, de la loi sur le trafic aérien sont soumis à la surveillance frontalière. Cela vaut jusqu’à nouvel ordre, nonobstant la suppression susmentionnée de l’obligation d’utiliser un aérodrome douanier dans les conditions douanières mentionnées.
Cela signifie que les agents des douanes peuvent, entre autres, continuer à pénétrer et à circuler sur des terrains (ici : votre aérodrome) (article 14, paragraphe 2, de la loi sur l’administration des douanes) et à y arrêter des personnes et des moyens de transport (article 10, paragraphe 1, de la loi sur l’administration des douanes).
J’espère avoir ainsi répondu à votre demande. Je me tiens à votre disposition pour toute question supplémentaire.
Avec mes salutations les plus cordiales
Pour le compte de
Heiko Kern
Heiko Kern
Chef du secteur de travail Droit douanier général
Bureau de douane principal de Lörrach
Domaine de la perception des taxes
English:
ToLuftsportgruppe Süd-West e. V.
for the attention of Mr Klein
Reference: Your enquiry dated 11.10.2021
Enclosure: —
Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Mr Klein
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/877 of 3 April 2020 amended or supplemented Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 of 28 July 2015 (hereinafter: IPCC-DA) with regard to Article 141 thereof. The related national provision of Section 5 of the Customs Ordinance, on the other hand, has still been amended, even though the Union legislator did not confer on the EU Member States any power to adopt national regulations with regard to Article 141 of the CCCD. In this respect, individual provisions of Section 5 of the Customs Ordinance are now directly overlaid by Union law; this also concerns, among other things, the customs airport requirement. The future national structure has not yet been finally announced by the Federal Ministry of Finance. Therefore, the leaflet published at www.zoll.de has not yet been adapted to the new legal situation. I ask for your understanding.
In simplified terms, the legal situation is now as follows:
Means of transport (inter alia aircraft) can be released for free circulation under customs and tax law either as duty-free returned goods or for temporary admission with full exemption from import duties – depending on their status under customs law as Union goods or non-Union goods – by simply crossing (in this case: flying over) the border of the customs territory of the Union. The same applies mutatis mutandis to means of transport for (“temporary”) export or for re-export and termination of temporary admission with complete exemption from import duties.
As a result, exemption from the customs aerodrome requirement is no longer necessary for these aircraft. They can land at all airfields authorised under traffic law.
However, the customs requirements that these aircraft may not carry goods that are subject to prohibitions and restrictions or that are subject to duties remain in force. The obligation to declare cash and equivalent means of payment with a total value of EUR 10,000 or more also continues to apply.
If aircraft from non-Union countries (e.g. Switzerland) are to be imported into the customs territory of the Union for the purpose of adding value to them here (inward processing customs procedure) or for the purpose of stationing them here permanently or for longer than 6 months, these aircraft cannot be declared by simply flying over the border of the customs territory of the Union. A written application for exemption from the customs aerodrome requirement in individual cases and the performance of an official act liable to costs must be submitted to the main customs office using form 0006 in good time before the flight. The same applies mutatis mutandis to aircraft that are to be declared for termination of inward processing and re-exportation.
Pursuant to section 14, paragraph 4 of the Customs Administration Act in conjunction with section 2, paragraph 1, no. 4 of the Customs Act, the customs office must be informed of this. § 2, paragraph 1, no. 4 of the Ordinance on the Extension of the Border Area and the Areas Subject to Border Supervision, all airfields within the meaning of § 6, paragraph 1, sentence 1 of the Air Traffic Act are subject to border supervision. This applies until further notice irrespective of the abovementioned abolition of the customs aerodrome obligation under the aforementioned customs law conditions.
This means that customs officers may, among other things, continue to enter and drive onto property (in this case: your airfield) (Section 14 (2) of the Customs Administration Act) and stop persons and means of transport there (Section 10 (1) of the Customs Administration Act).
I hope that I have been able to answer your question. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of
Heiko Kern
Heiko Kern
Head of General Customs Law
Main Customs Office Lörrach
Tax Collection Section
I think what was preventing us from landing at non customs airports was the fact that the aircraft couldn’t be declared for temporary admission by the mere act of crossing the border
France does this, AIP allows it and it’s also explicitly allowed by National law, however, I think it’s better to have an extra EU law backup:
- GEN1.2 “Customs procedures applicable to aircraft flying unscheduted flights”, mere act of crossing border = temporary admission of aircraft & goods (applies both intra-Shengen & extra-Schengen)
- GEN1.3 “1.3.2 REGULATION ON SCHENGEN BORDER CROSSING BY PEOPLE AND GOOD” restricts people & goods to PoE airports for extra-Schengen
- Art5 of French law on people & goods states you need 24h PNR for flights to PoE airports (not clear if this applies to intra-Shengen & extra-Schengen?)
- Art9 of French law on people & goods states no formalities or PNR required for intra-schengen flights to non-PoE airports
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000035871810
As the law is not clear, it’s written to deal with various combinations, some invented the need to fly to customs airports even when no formalities are required by the law, or will ask someone at Ops to clarify it? the easy less informed answer is usually NO
AFAIK, you can fly Switzerland to Lognes/Toussus (they are not PoE): no PNR and no issues at all if you have “nothing to declare” (no one will be around anyway 
), if you fly Lido/Cannes make sure the 24h PNR is logged…
Thanks all, will revert back.
Ibra wrote:
Art5 of French law on people & goods states you need 24h PNR for flights to PoE airports (not clear if this applies to intra-Shengen & extra-Schengen?)
To me it seems pretty clear that Article 5 only requires the 24h prior notice for extra-Schengen flights, and only if there is no H24 presence.
“Lorsque le service chargé du contrôle aux frontières des personnes n’est pas présent en permanence sur l’aérodrome ayant la qualité de point de passage frontalier,”
—> In case the service in charge of performing border checks on poeple is not permanently present at an aerodrome classified as PoE
“l’exploitant d’aérodrome lorsqu’il s’agit de vols de transport public réguliers ou le pilote pour tous les autres vols est tenu d’informer ce service de tout vol extra-Schengen”
—> The airport operator (for public transport flights) or the pilot (for other flihghts) must in form that [border] service of all flights from/to places outside Schengen
The rest of article 5 is about how the notice has to be given, and the 24 hour notice period.
Yes, Art5 does not say yes/no but lack of provision of Shengen suspension clause leave room for power abuse
My understanding the orgin was an agreement EU vs France on where intra-Shengen immigration checks can be carried, the default was PoE for external borders and Shengen suspension allow to set-up systematic immigration checks on air & land PoE only, the checks on these is still part of nstional sovereignty, while elsewhere is only subject to radom or intelligence based checks depending on information, the issue for GA is that most regional airports are not even “permanent PoE” due to funding cuts and limited police staff (immigration is delegated to customs who don’t even have presence there)
Art9 is crystal clear on Shengen suspension (it actually allow flying Siwss/France with “nothing to declare” but you may have to convince AD operator that they got the AIP wrong or customs that they got the law wrong, not an issue if you can go in/out from your hangar door and you have no immigration restrictions, even better if aircraft is in free circulation), non PoE crossings by air/road are covered by Shengen treaty and subject to random checks (maybe different situation in Greece but I have not read their law)
Art5 & Art9 are up to date and legally binding, what you read in AIP or hear from refuellers, operations or customs may not reflect it…
