International ports, airports and border crossings require travelers to pass through Customs examination on luggage. To expedite this process, Customs Department has made colored lines Channel System. The Channel System is divided into Red, Green and Blue Channels.
Except for United States and Canada, most of the countries are familiar with this Red & Green Channels Customs procedure.
The Green Channel is designed for travelers who do not carry prohibited goods. Travelers passing through the Green Channel are excluded from Customs Examination. However, to enhance security measures, Customs can make the traveler undergo a random examination. A traveler may be accused for making false declaration to Customs if he walks through Green Channel with goods that are beyond Customs limitations.
Red Channel is for travelers carrying prohibited goods or those items that exceed Customs limitations. This channel is necessary for travelers who have dutiable commodities but are not included to duty-free concession, or exceeding their duty-free concession. A physical check on luggage and hand carried goods is done by the Customs Officer. Physical examinations also enables a Custom Officer to take notes on specification of goods i.e., amount of items, type, brand etc. It is done to calculate the value of Customs Import Duty or taxes that travelers have to pay.
Blue Channel System is prevalent in European Union. In this system, travelers who travel between EU countries do not have to pay tax nor customs duties because EU has Customs Union. Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise duties are collected from the goods for sale after they have been sold, not at the border, port or airport. The luggage of travelers arriving from other EU countries is marked with green tags, so they can directly go through Blue Channel. Customs officer may still check the luggage for restricted goods.
No comments:
Post a Comment