An examination of customs controls on non-EU imports found serious shortfalls including goods being allowed out of customs controlled warehouses without clearance, a lack of boarding checks at Dublin Airport, and methods by which importers could avoid inspection, writes Colm Keena.
With the introduction of the single market and GATT Agreement, a self-assessing customs system has been introduced, according to the C&AG report. The audit found that importers were able to discover, by way of access to the computer system, whether their consignments were to be checked or not, before the consignments were sent.
They could then hold back and re-input consignments when they could be sure of customs clearance. There were many instances at Shannon Airport of goods arriving on a later flight than that recorded on the import document. Imported goods should be listed on a manifest but the audit found no boarding checks carried out at Dublin Airport.
Goods were removed from customs controlled warehouses at both airports without clearance. The report recommends that importers not have access to the customs computer system.