Detecting risks in customs declarations for chemical licensing compliance

Customs

Detect risks in customs declarations to check compliance with the authorisation requirement for chemicals covered by the REACH regulation.

Last change on 2nd of April 2025, at 12:39 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: Field not filled in.
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Public Order and Safety

Begin date

06-2007

Contact information

[e-mail]

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The purpose of this algorithm is to more efficiently select which declarations may pose a risk of non-compliance with the authorisation requirement of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. This algorithm focuses on compliance with the authorisation requirement for chemicals entering or leaving the European Union (via the Netherlands). Customs checks companies based on the results of this algorithm.

Considerations

Customs processes 700 million declarations annually, including in the field of chemicals. This algorithm (risk profiles) allows Customs to assess declarations more efficiently and faster. Declarations are thus approved or checked faster. And goods are released faster. The algorithm also ensures that 'known and reliable' companies are actually checked less.

Human intervention

If a declaration yields a match with a risk profile, a customs officer reviews the declaration. And asks for more information if necessary. The decision to approve a declaration, or to start checking it, is taken by a human being.

Risk management

A second customs officer always checks the risk profile before use. This is the 4-eye principle. And once the profile is in use, a weekly check is made for a profile to see how many declarations produce a match. If necessary, the profile can be adjusted. Periodically, Customs checks per profile whether it is still necessary to refine, extend or terminate it. Customs monitors internal and external complaints and incidents, for example if a profile is insufficiently specific and therefore designates too many declarations as higher risk.

Legal basis

Legal basis for controls on chemicals lies in the Union Customs Code (DWU), the General Customs Act and the Prevention of Misuse of Chemicals Act. These laws ensure that the import and export of chemicals is done properly. The use of risk profiles also relies on DWU section 46. This says that customs controls should primarily rely on risk analysis by electronic data processing techniques.

Links to legal bases

• Wet milieubeheer: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0003245/2024-01-01
• Verordening (EG) 1907/2006 - inzake de registratie en beoordeling van en de autorisatie en beperkingen ten aanzien van chemische stoffen (REACH): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32006R1907&from=en
• Douanewetboek van de Unie: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/NL/TXT/PDF/?uri=celex:32013R0952

Operations

Data

The algorithm can use any data from the goods declaration. For example, type of goods, commodity code, document code, weight, number of packages, consignee, declarant, consignor, country of consignment, EORI number, means of transport, etc.

Links to data sources

Gegevensvereisten douaneaangiften (zie Bijlage B Gedelegeerde Verordening Douanewetboek van de Unie + Bijlage VIa van de Algemene Douaneregeling): https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/douane_voor_bedrijven/naslagwerken_en_overige_informatie/andere_onderwerpen/gegevensvereisten/

Technical design

The algorithm consists of decision rules created in collaboration with content experts. These decision rules provide estimates of which declarations have a higher risk of importing goods that do not comply with REACH guidelines. These decision rules are based on 'if-then-else' combinations. An example: if (if) the information we have on a shipment shows that the goods belong to an increased risk group, (then) we manually check the declaration and the shipment is selected for extended inspection. If the goods do not contain prohibited substances (else), we do not stop the consignment. Or at least not based on this criterion.

External provider

Internally developed