French Customs Code
In force1. A veterinary inspection fee is charged on imports into the customs territory, under all customs procedures, of animal products or products of animal origin, live animals and feed of non-animal origin covered by Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 of 24 July 2009 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards enhanced official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin and amending Decision 2006/504/EC, of non-Community status, from a non-EU Member State.
It is also levied on animal products or products of animal origin, originating in a country not belonging to the European Community, imported into the customs territory of the Community, bound for France, by another Member State of the Community and whose release for consumption in the customs territory is subject to a physical inspection by the French veterinary services.
The fee is not payable for animal products or products of animal origin intended for another Member State of the European Community for which only documentary checks are carried out by the French inspection services.
2. The veterinary inspection fee is payable by the importer, his legal representative or the customs representative.
It is collected by the customs service in accordance with the same rules, under the same guarantees and privileges as for customs duties. Infringements are recorded and punished, and proceedings are investigated and judged in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Code.
3. The rates of duty are fixed per tonne of product, with a minimum amount per batch, up to a limit of 150% of the flat-rate levels defined in ecus by decision of the Council of the European Union.
These fee rates are set by joint order of the Minister for Customs and the Minister for Agriculture.
4. For animals and products not covered by the flat-rate levels mentioned in 3, the amount of the fee is set at 6.10 euros per tonne of goods, with a minimum of 30.49 euros and a maximum of 457.35 euros per batch.
5. For the application of the provisions mentioned in 3 and 4, a consignment is a quantity of animals of the same species or products of the same nature, covered by the same veterinary certificate or document, transported in the same means of transport, coming from or originating in the same country or part of a country not belonging to the European Community.
