Detect risks in customs declarations on goods infringing the Environment Act

Customs

This algorithm helps Customs to select goods for inspection based on risks. Among other things, it uses declaration data from companies and assesses whether or not there is a risk that goods entering or leaving the European Union via the Netherlands violate the Environment Act.

Last change on 2nd of April 2025, at 12:49 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

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

General information

Theme

Nature and Environment

Begin date

02-2014

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to publication website

https://belastingnet.belastingdienst.nl/cms/html/boeken/HVGEM/flora_fauna.html

Responsible use

Goal and impact

This algorithm focuses on declarations of goods entering or leaving the European Union, via the territory of the Netherlands. The algorithm helps Customs check whether the goods violate Regulation 338/97 and the Environment Act. It indicates which declarations are subject to an authorisation requirement. Customs checks companies based on the results of this algorithm.

Considerations

Customs processes 700 million declarations annually, including in the field of Intellectual Property Rights. This algorithm (risk profiles) allows Customs to assess declarations more efficiently and faster. Thus, declarations are 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. If necessary, the Customs officer asks for more information. The decision to approve a declaration, or instead to start checking, is made by a human being.

Risk management

A risk profile is always checked by a second customs officer (4-eye principle) before use. And once the profile is in use, a profile is periodically checked to see how many declarations produce a match. If necessary, the profile can be adjusted. Annually, Customs evaluates per profile whether it is 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 IPR controls is in the Union Customs Code (DWU), the General Customs Act and Regulation 608/2013. The use of risk profiles also relies on DWU Article 46. That says customs controls must rely primarily on risk analysis by electronic data processing techniques.

Links to legal bases

• Douanewetboek van de Unie : https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/PDF/?uri=celex:32013R0952
• Verordening (EU) nr. 608/2013: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32013R0608

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 on which declarations have a higher risk of infringing intellectual property rights. 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 have an abnormal weight, (then) the declaration is checked manually and the shipment may be selected for extended inspection. If the goods do not have an abnormal weight (else), we do not stop the shipment. Or at least not based on this criterion.

External provider

Internally developed