Import procedures are subject to a declaration on-line or on paper. You will find further information on the Agenzia delle Dogane (Customs Agency) website.
As part of the "SAFE" standards advocated by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the "Import Control System" (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Program eCustomer, has been in effect since 1st January, 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.
Non-agricultural goods entering EU territory must adhere to customs formalities (summary declaration). This declaration must be carried out by the person bringing the goods to the territory. This procedure could take:
- 45 days in the case of goods carried by sea;
- 20 days in the case of goods carried other than by sea.
Material can enter temporarily without customs fees if it will be used to manufacture products for export. In this case the import gives a guarantee (from an insurance company or bank) for the amount of duties and taxes. This guarantee will be reimbursed when the final product is exported. This process also applies to goods planned to be re-exported.
Goods in transit only need a single EU transit document.
Inward processing is free of customs treatment. Only goods sold in the EU market are eligible to import duty and taxes. For outward processing, duties and taxes apply only to the value added during the process. Only firms located in Italy or in the EU take advantage of this measure.