Efficient cooperation in collecting excise duties
Sunday, November 27th, 2011
A new Regulation on Administrative Cooperation in the field of excise duties has been proposed by the European Commission. This Regulation should replace the existing rules. It aims to better reflect the introduction of the EMCS (Excise Movement Control System).
Although EMCS was introduced in April 2010, still a part of the information exchange between Member States is done manually. By computerizing these exchanges, it will be easier and faster to collect the excise duties that are due.
The new Regulation should replace manual procedures with automated EMCS information exchange(e.g. information on road controls or interruptions in the movement of goods). The proposed Regulation also clarifies the rights and obligations of Member States in order to create a process that allows Member States to collect and retrieve excise duties as smooth and efficient as possible. Simplification of legislation, simplification of administrative procedures for public authorities (EU or national) and simplification of administrative procedures for private parties are also part of objectives.
Economic operators should be able to speedily operate the verifications necessary for movements of excise goods. Therefore they need the possibility to get electronically confirmation on the validity of excise numbers through a central register. This is covered by Article 19 of the proposed Regulation which describes the arrangements for the electronic database (SEEDv.1) and the obligation for the Member States and the Commission Central Services to make sure that the register details are updated and accurate so that EMCS movements can proceed immediately. The service, by which where a Member State may ask another Member State to conduct an administrative enquiry to trace missing documentation, is covered by article 33.
For more information please see the press release IP/11/1339 on http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/

On 1 April 2010, a new electronic system for monitoring and controlling the movement of excise goods (alcohol, tobacco and energy products) within the EU becomes operational. The Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) will make intra-EU trade in excise goods cheaper and simpler for operators, while also making it quicker and easier for Member States to tackle excise fraud.
Excise tariffs are different in the Member States of the European Union. The excise duty must be paid according to the excise tariff of the Member State where the excise goods will be consumed and to the Member State where the goods will be consumed. The EU is developing the Excise Movement and Control System or EMCS to carry out control of transit of excise good between the member states by using a computerized system.