We provide ad hoc advice on day-to-day issues, devise holistic risk management and mitigation strategies, and handle “a posteriori” investigations and disputes.

Our expertise extends to all main areas of customs law, including tariff classification, preferential and non-preferential origin issues, valuation, tariff quota and duty suspensions, outward and inward processing procedures, and requests for repayment and remission issues

We also assist clients with complex customs issues arising from e-commerce and digital markets and advise on the business implications of the EU Customs Reform, including the rethinking of the e-commerce customs rules.

Penalties for non-compliance with the customs rules include recovery of duties and interest, serious financial penalties, and in some cases, even criminal liability.

We are experienced in designing and implementing compliance programmes, carrying out internal audits and investigations, and representing clients in disputes before the European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the EU courts, the World Customs Organization, and national customs authorities and courts.

In criminal investigations, including those initiated by the European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO), we team up with criminal law experts to defend the client. Our large trade team, comprising lawyers from all main European jurisdictions, regularly handles simultaneous customs-related investigations and court cases across multiple EU Member States and the UK.

VBB also advises on customs implications of regulatory requirements such as origin, labelling, and safety requirements for products imported into the EU, which are often subject to customs checks at borders, triggering potential fines or trading bans.

We regularly provide guidance on customs requirements arising from EU legislation such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the EU Forced Labour Regulation.