GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 19, 2026

Customs authorities

Customs authorities are the government agencies responsible for supervising, controlling, and processing the cross-border movement of goods.

Last updated: 19 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.zoll.de/DE/Home/home_node.html

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Customs authorities are the government agencies responsible for supervising, controlling, and processing the cross-border movement of goods. Importers, exporters, and freight forwarders engage with them on a daily basis: customs assess and collect import duties and value-added tax, validate declarations, inspect suspect consignments, and enforce penalties for customs law violations. Beyond revenue collection, they protect domestic markets through correct tariff application and intercept prohibited or counterfeit goods. In the EU, national customs administrations operate under a unified legal framework, the Union Customs Code. Customs authorities differ from border authorities in that their mandate is specifically focused on tariffs, duties, and customs procedures, rather than the broader range of border controls.

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Customs authorities

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Catalog Pricing Logistics

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