A selection of customs regulatory developments (EU, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) over the last 7 days. A Customs Conform IT publication.
European Union
No significant developments this week. No new regulatory publication from DG TAXUD or on the trade policy side during the period — summer recess.
Belgium
With the rollout of the MASP applications, in particular PN/TS and IDMS, the current bulk clearance process at import is being revised. The mechanism familiar today, based on a notification and an undertaking, is set to disappear. The National Forum has published version 3 of the "Bulk – Import" procedure note (FR/NL); the date of entry into application will be announced later and the note may still change. The procedure is therefore not yet applicable in practice, but the operators concerned have every interest in familiarising themselves with it now. Read more
France
The French customs authority has republished its factsheet on consignments shipped from the United Kingdom. It sets out the import formalities carried out by the carrier, the application of French VAT (20 % in most cases), the collection of customs duties above EUR 150 or for goods not originating in the United Kingdom or the Union, and the duty relief granted upon presentation of a proof of origin under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. A useful reminder: on UK flows, a missing proof of origin is enough to turn a duty-free flow into a dutiable one. Read more
Netherlands
From 19 September 2026, declarants using the DECO system will be able to submit the supporting documents requested by Dutch customs directly through a system interface (Digitaal Dossier). The rollout is phased, to give companies time to adapt their software; in due course, exchange via the system interface will become the standard. Compatibility must be checked with the software provider on the basis of the DECO 2.10 Message Implementation Guide. Read more
Also of note: a further interception of narcotics in air freight at Schiphol, on a consignment from Mexico (21/08), confirming sustained targeting of controls on this transport mode.
Luxembourg
No significant developments this week.
Key takeaways this week
- Bulk clearance (BE): the notification + undertaking pairing will disappear with PN/TS and IDMS. Internal procedures and agreements with temporary storage operators are worth reviewing without waiting for the application date.
- Digitised supporting documents (NL): the 19 September deadline calls for an upstream software check. Without adaptation, documents will keep circulating outside the system interface, with added administrative cost and longer controls.
- EU–UK proof of origin (FR): a simple, high-yield checkpoint in import file audits, as origin must be documented and stated on the invoice.
- Quiet week at European level: no new obligation published during the period. A useful window to consolidate workstreams already open before the September restart.
- Air freight controls: the control pressure observed in the Netherlands deserves to be factored into lead-time forecasts and supplier risk assessment.