The procedure for individuals to move goods across the customs border of the сustoms Union

Text 1

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

In accordance with the provisions of the Customs Code of the Customs Union individuals can carry in accompanied and non-accompanied luggage goods intended for personal, family, domestic and other needs not connected with commercial activity.

The intended purpose of the goods is determined by Customs authorities on the basis of a declaration from an individual, the nature and quantity of the goods and the frequency with which the goods are carried across the customs border.

If you travel by air and the value of imported goods doesn’t exceed?10,000 and/or the total weight doesn’t exceed 50 kg, the goods are exempt from customs duties. If you cross the border by road, the allowance is?1,500.

In case the value of the goods exceeds?10,000 and/or the total weight exceeds 50 kg, a unified rate of customs duty is applied to the amount of the excess. A unified rate of duty is 30 % (per cent) of the customs value of the goods but not less than 4 euro per kilogram.

In case the value of the goods exceeds 650 000 rubles and/or the total weight exceeds 200 kg, an aggregate customs payment is levied on the amount of the excess.

The rates of customs duties on imported transport means depend on their value, the date of manufacture and the engine volume.

A full exemption from customs duties and taxes is granted for cultural valuables on condition that they are declared and have undergone the special registration envisaged by the legislation.

Customs duties are not paid on international postal items if the value of such goods sent in the course of one week to one recipient doesn’t exceed 10,000 rubles.

Government establishes quantitative limits on certain categories of goods. Individuals over 18 years old can carry across the border free of duty 3 liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 g of tobacco, 250 g of caviar. Individuals are allowed to take out from the country the sum of currency equal to $10,000 per person.

Goods prohibited for bringing into the country are: weapons of all kinds, ammunition and explosives, drugs and psychotropic substances.

Goods prohibited for taking out of the country are: articles of artistic, historical and cultural value.

 

 

Working on the text

 

Task 2. a) Mark the stress in the English words and compare it with the Russian words. Tick the pairs of words with different stressed syllables.

 

indiv i dual индивидуальный

c o mpany компания

p er sonal персональный

comm er cial коммерческий

manuf a cture мануфактура

registr a tion регистрация

intern a tional интернациональный

l i mit лимит

c o mpetent компетентный

d e tails детали

 

b) Read the English words again.

 

Task 3. Cross out silent letters in the following words and practice their reading:

foreign, flight, receipt, queue, write, know, weigh / weight, through, which, when, why, where, what, right, answer, guard, sign, antique, psychology, prohibition, cheque, walk, talk, technique

Task 4. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

таможенный кодекс; физическое лицо; сопровождаемый багаж; ввозимые товары; личные нужды; коммерческая деятельность; предназначение; общий вес; характер и количество; транспортное средство; дата производства; объем двигателя; культурные ценности; международные почтовые отправления; количественные ограничения

Task 5. Insert prepositions, if necessary, and translate the following:

 

1. _____ accordance _____ the Customs Code

2. goods intended _____ personal, family, domestic and other needs

3. the goods are exempt _____ duty

4. the intended purpose is determined _____ Customs authorities

5. to carry goods _____ the customs border

6. the rate of duty depends _____ the value of the goods

7. the date _____ manufacture

8. the goods are free of duty _____ condition that …

9. to pay the duty _____ international postal items

10. _____ the course _____ one week

11. to travel _____ air

Task 6. Find words in the text which define the following nouns:

 

- luggage - (non) accompanied

- needs

- activities

- weight

- rate of duty

- customs payment

- valuables

- limits

 

Task 7. What do these numbers in the text refer to?

?10,000; 50 kg; 30%;?4; 650,000 rubles; 200 kg; 1 recipient

Task 8. Answer the questions:

 

1. What goods can individuals carry across the customs border of the Russian Federation?

2. How do Customs authorities determine the purpose of the goods?

3. Can any goods be imported by the individuals exempt from duty?

4. In what case must an individual pay the unified rate of duties?

5. How much is a unified rate of customs duties?

6. In what case is an aggregate customs payment levied?

7. What do customs duties on transport means depend on?

8. Are cultural valuables liable to duty?

9. What are the regulations in respect of international postal items?

10. Are there any restrictions in respect of certain categories of goods?

11. What goods are prohibited entry by law?

 

Task 9. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

 

1. Вы можете провезти беспошлинно только товары, предназначенные для личных, семейных, домашних или иных нужд, не связанных с предпринимательской деятельностью.

2. Таможенникам важно определить истинное предназначение ввозимых товаров.

3. Я не платил пошлину, так как общая стоимость моего багажа не превысила 10 000 евро, а общий вес не превысил 50 кг.

4. Таможенники применяют единую ставку пошлин, если общая стоимость ввозимых товаров не превышает 650 000 рублей, а общий вес не превышает 200 кг.

5. Если общая стоимость ввозимых товаров превышает 650 000 рублей, а общий вес превышает 200 кг, товары облагаются совокупным таможенным платежом в части такого превышения.

6. Ставка пошлины на ввозимые автотранспортные средства зависит от их стоимости, даты выпуска и объема двигателя.

7. Физические лица могут вывозить культурные ценности, которые должны быть задекларированы и зарегистрированы в соответствии с законодательством РФ.

8. Международные почтовые отправления стоимостью менее 10 000 рублей, посланные в течение одной недели в адрес одного получателя, освобождаются от уплаты таможенных пошлин.

9. Физические лица старше 18 лет могут ввозить алкогольные напитки – 3 литра, табачные изделия – 200 сигарет, 50 сигар, 250 г табака,

250 г черной икры.

Text 2

Task 10. a)Read and translate the text.

(from “Airport” by A.Hailey)

 

U.S. Customs inspector Harry Standish was trying to clear up a tiresome problem. Most of the passengers, who arrived aboard a Scandinavian airline DC-8 from Copenhagen, had cleared customs and had left. Only this well-dressed American woman posed a problem insisting that all she had bought in Europe was some perfume, costume jewelry, and shoes. The total declared value was ninety dollars – ten dollars less than the free exemption she was allowed.

“Madam”, he said quietly to the woman, whose several suitcases were spread open on the Customs inspection table between them, “are you quite sure you don’t wish to change your story?”

She snapped back, “I suppose you’re suggesting I should lie, when I’ve already told the truth. Really! – you people are so officious, so disbelieving.”

Harry Standish ignored the second remark, as customs officers were trained to ignore the many insults they received, and answered politely, “I’m not suggesting anything, madam. I merely asked if you wished to amend your statement about these items – the dresses, the sweaters, and the fur coat.”

The woman, whose American passport showed that she was Mrs. Harriet Du Barry Mossman, had just returned from a month in England, France, and Denmark, replied acidly, “No, I don’t. Furthermore, when my husband’s lawyer hears of that interrogation …”

“Yes, madam”, Harry Standish said. “In this case, I wonder if you would mind signing this form. If you like, I’ll explain it to you.”

“Why should I sign anything”, Mrs. Mossman demanded.

“To make things easier for yourself, madam. We’re merely asking you to confirm in writing what you’ve already told us. You say the dresses were purchased …”

“How many times must I tell you? They were bought in Chicago and New York before I left for Europe; so were the sweaters. The coat was a gift – purchased in the United States. I received it six month ago.”

Why, Harry Standish wondered, did people do it? All the statements just made, he knew with certainty, were lies.

To begin with, the dresses – six, all of good quality – had had their labels removed. No one did that innocently, women were usually proud of the labels in quality clothes. More to the point, the workmanship of the dresses was unmistakably French; so was the styling of the fur coat – though a Saks Fifth Avenue label had been sewn unskillfully in the coat lining. What people like Mrs. Mossman failed to realize was that a trained customs man didn’t need to see labels to know where garments originated. Cutting, stitching – even the way a zipper was put in – were like familiar handwriting, and equally distinctive. All this, and much else, customs officers learned as part of their training.

Mrs. Mossman asked, “What will happen if I sign the form?”

“Then you may go, madam.”

“And take my things with me? All my things?”

“Yes.”

“Supposing, I refuse to sign?”

“Then we shall be obliged to detain you here while we continue the investigation.”

There was the briefest hesitation, then “Very well. You fill out the form, I’ll sign.”

“No, madam, you fill it out. Now, please describe the items, and alongside where you say they were obtained. Please give the name of the stores also from whom you received the fur coat as a gift.”

He waited while Mrs. Mossman completed the form and signed it. Commencing tomorrow, an investigation officer would begin checking out the statement Mrs. Mossman had just made. The garments would be requisitioned and taken to the stores where she claimed they were purchased.

Mrs. Mossman – though she didn’t know it yet – was in for a great deal of trouble, including some heavy duty to be paid, and also a stiff fine.

b) Make a glossary. Choose seven words to remember.

 

Task 11. Find the words and phrases in the text that describe Harry Standish andMrs. Mossman.

 

Harry Standish	Mrs. Mossman
spoke quietly,	well-dressed,

Task 12. Answer the questions:

1. What was Mrs. Mossman carrying?

2. Why did she present a problem to the Customs?

3. Where did she come from?

4. What document was Mrs. Mossman asked to sign?

5. Why did she claim all the things were personal belongings?

6. How much is the duty free allowance in the US?

7. Why did Mrs. Mossman change the labels on the fur coat?

8. What information did she state in the form?

9. What trouble could the statement bring to her?

Task 13. Say what you can remember about:

1. Mrs. Mossman’s story about the things she brought in.

2. The tricks she used not to pay the duty.

3. The way customs officers are trained.

4. The code of behavior of customs officers.

Task 14. Discuss the following questions:

1. Why were Mrs. Mossman’s things detained?

2. Why do customs officers have to be good judges of character?

3. What do you think the rates of duty depend on?

4. Should the authorities introduce restrictions for imported goods? Why?

 

 

Vocabulary and Grammar

Task 15. a) Study the patterns and say the following numbers in English:

1/2 - a half

13/4 - one and three quarters

2/5 - two fifth

1.25 - one point two five

0.7 - nought point seven

6.02 - six point oh two

$1.2M -one point two million dollars

£200K - two hundred thousand pounds

b) Say the numbers in English:

1) 421,389

2) 31/3

3) 7/8

4) 10,037

5) 2,745

6) 0.53

7) 1732 – 1805

8) 19.03.2012

9) 1,900

10) 602 8433 (phone number)

11) $20.7M

12) £850K

 

c) Study the following expressions with numbers. Speak about the situations when people use them?

- It’s all one to me.

- You look like a million dollars.

- I have a thousand and one things to do.

- When three know it, all know it.

- When angry, count a hundred.

Task 16. a) Study the information in the table.

word	meaning	can be combined with
PRICE	the amount of money for which smth is bought, sold or offered	high/low go up/increase/rise go down/fall/drop
COST	the amount of money that you have to pay in order to buy, do or produce smth	high/low/full/total /extra/additional
VALUE	the amount of money that smth is worth	high/low go up/increase/rise go down/fall/drop
to be WORTH	to have a value in money

b) Choose the right verb.

1. People are prepared to pay high __________ for designer clothes.

2. Your insurance covers the _________ of repairing the damage.

3. The police seized drugs with a street __________ of $2.5m.

4. They have cut the __________ of their products by 30%.

5. It is a rather old car so I don’t think it is __________ anything.

6. Redecoration doubled the __________ of the house.

7. One of the stolen pictures is __________ £50,000.

8. They are selling two bottles of wine for the __________ of one.

9. We offered to pay the __________ of a taxi.

 

Task 17. Read and translate the text.

Some time ago a jazz drummer on tour in Japan knew exactly how to get his new mini television set through the Customs without paying duty. He wrapped it in his laundry, stuffed it inside a snare drum, and deposited the lot in the drum case. Arriving in San Francisco the drummer announced that he was just in from Tokyo but had nothing to declare. The customs agent looked him straight in the eye and said. “What about the television you’ve hidden in your drums?” The guy blanched. “How did you know?” The officer shrugged, “Because every drummer coming back from Japan has a television hidden in his drums.”

b) Make up 10 questions of all types to the text;

c) Give the gist of the story.

 

Task 18. a) Study the table.

verb	meaning
SAY	to express an idea, feeling, thought, etc. using words
TELL	to give someone information by speaking to them
TALK	a) to produce words and express ideas, feelings, thoughts, etc. using words; b)to say things to someone as part of the conversation
SPEAK	a) to express an idea, feeling, thought, etc. using words; b)to be able to talk in a language; c)to make a speech

b) Insert the correct form of the right verb.

1. “Good morning,” she __________. “I am going to work here.”

2. He __________ that he had nothing to declare.

3. _________ us the truth.

4. I can __________ Spanish.

5. They __________ he earns $10,000 a month.

6. I was __________to be careful with the boxes.

7. __________ to him.

8. __________ us the latest news.

9. They were __________ in French.

10. Actions __________ louder than words.

11. “Hello, may I _________ to Jim Smith?”

12. English people like to __________ about the weather.

13. She could __________ when she was two.

 

Task 19. a)Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions:

(from US Customs Hints)

_____ making a written declaration, everything you brought _____ must be listed _____ its price or value. This includes gifts _____ other persons, articles carried _____ another person, articles _____ sale and commercial samples.

You do not list articles _____ personal use, toilet articles and similar personal belongings owned _____ you abroad or intended _____ your own use.

The purchase price _____ articles may be given _____ the currency _____ the country _____ the purchase. If you don’t know the price, say so.

If the article was a gift, state the fair value ___ it _____ the country where it was bought. The customs inspector may reduce the value of a dutiable article which has been used or worn.

b) Say what articles are to be listed by a non-resident visitor in the US written declaration.

Task 20. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct Active or Passive form.

When a 16-year-old boy (to pass through) the customs control as a pedestrian at the Ysleta international crossing, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the primary inspection point (to select) him for a secondary examination. During the secondary inspection several bundles (to detect) beneath the youth’s pants. Four marijuana bundles (to tape) to the thighs of the boy. The smuggler (to turn over) to the El Paso Police Sheriff’s Office for prosecution. “Young teens who (to become) involved in drug smuggling (not to understand) that the consequence of their actions can have a long lasting negative impact on their lives,” said CBP El Paso port director.

Task 21. Find 20 words from Units 4 and 5.

E	X	P	L	O	S	I	V	E	S	A	R
A	S	I	G	N	W	E	A	P	O	N	A
U	B	G	I	F	T	W	E	I	G	H	T
T	O	C	L	E	A	R	U	B	C	L	E
H	R	A	D	D	O	M	E	S	T	I	C
O	D	R	E	S	S	V	O	L	U	M	E
R	E	C	I	P	I	E	N	T	S	I	E
I	R	E	N	G	I	N	E	F	T	T	L
T	T	N	A	T	U	R	E	O	O	E	A
I	A	E	X	C	E	E	D	R	R	M	B
E	X	E	M	P	T	F	S	M	E	G	E
S	F	R	E	Q	U	E	N	C	Y	H	L

Task 22. a) Unscramble these words.

AINIELLOTGS - _______________

OIOIPSRNV - _______________

IREEENTMD- _______________

b) Use all three words to make a sentence of your own.

 

Task 23. a) Make a written translation of the text and think about the title for it.

What can you bring back from a trip abroad? Which formalities apply to cash, animals, and cultural goods? This is the kind of information that the French and Dutch Customs administrations have decided to make easily and quickly accessible to travelers so that they pass through Customs untroubled.

To do so both administrations have embraced smart mobile phone technology. A smart phone is a mobile phone that includes features that you might find on a computer such as office software applications (emails, contact database, document editing, etc) and multimedia applications (photos, music, videos, games, internet navigation).

The Customs released an application that allows them to provide travelers with information on what goods are forbidden, which are subject to specific formalities, what limits apply to quantities, and so on. Information on applicable duty-free allowances is also available.

 

b) What do you think about the idea? What else can a smart phone be used for?

Task 24. Make a written translation of the text into English.

Дело шопоголиков.

Двое граждан привлекли внимание таможни в тот момент, когда они бодро следовали через «зелёный коридор» с незадекларированными товарами. Их остановили для выборочной проверки.

Они заявили, что привезли из Италии предметы женской и детской одежды, обувь в количестве по одному экземпляру. Указанные вещи предназначались для личного и семейного пользования, и были куплены со значительными скидками из прошлогодних коллекций. Но у таможенников есть свой каталог, который позволяет им оценить ввозимые товары по рыночным ценам (в крайнем случае, они привлекают экспертов), и личную собственность оценили в 298 770 рублей и в 435 150 рублей.

Другая заявительница заинтересовала таможню, когда возвращалась из Китая в Красноярск, не указав в декларации «меховые изделия» на сумму 292 300 рублей. Житель Москвы был обвинён в перемещении через границу ювелирных изделий на сумму 364 601 рубль, купленных во Вьетнаме.

Согласно существующему законодательству, если у пассажира обнаружены незадекларированные товары на сумму от 65 тысяч до 1,5 миллионов рублей, наступает административная ответственность. Если свыше 1,5 миллионов – уголовная.

 

 

Speaking

Task 25. Discuss the following:

1. What do customs officers want to know when they ask passengers “Have you got anything to declare?”

2. What does the phrase “Nothing to declare” mean?

3. Are the customs restrictions the same in different countries and why?

Task 26. Get ready to speak on the topic. Use the vocabulary of the unit.

 

Communication activities.

Task 27. In pairs decipher the following abbreviations used in business letters, as in the given model:

1. Model: - What does SOONEST mean?

- I think it means «as soon as possible».

 

ATTN U PLS OK Sq

REF CLD RPT YR

 

2. Model: - Do you know what these abbreviations stand for?

- I think GB stands for Great Britain.

 

$ % sq.m UK £ EU UN

Approx. K p.m. m WCO PM km/h

 

3. Model: - Do you know the abbreviations for these words?

- Yes, I do. For example, «Mr.» is for «Mister».

 

avenue misses limited television Fahrenheit and

Centigrade pound company world wide web degree

Task 28. Read and act out short dialogues:

1) - Have you got anything to declare?

- I don’t think I have.

- Do you have money with you?

- Only some gold souvenir coins.

- I’m afraid you’ll have to declare them.

2) - Have you got anything liable to duty?

- I’ve got a bottle of whisky, that’s all.

- Any presents?

- Just a few souvenirs: gold chains, bracelets…

- Have you declared everything?

 

3) - Do you have any gold items, cigarettes, or spirits?

- Yes, I have. This ring and a lighter.

- What is there in this small box?

- There’s some jewelry in it.

- Are you sure, you’ve declared everything?

 

4) - Do you have anything to declare?

- Uh…, nothing, except some whisky and some cigarettes.

- And what do you have in your suit case?

- A gold tray, a person for a friend of mine.

- You have to put it in the declaration.

 

Task 29. Make up short dialogues on the topics below and act them out:

1. You have just returned from a business trip to England. Compare the regulations valid for the English and the Russian Customs concerning luggage and money.

2. You travelled abroad and you bring in goods exceeding duty and tax free allowance. You discuss with the customs officer the regulations for individuals to move goods across the border of the Customs union.

 

 

VOCABULARY

Customs Code	Таможенный кодекс
customs authority	таможенный орган
provision	положение, статья (договора, кодекса)
an individual	физическое лицо
accompanied / non-accompanied	сопровождаемый/несопровождаемый
personal	личный
family	семейный
domestic	домашний
needs	нужды
to intend	намереваться, предполагать
purpose	цель, назначение
intended purpose	предназначение
commercial syn. entrepreneurial	коммерческий
to determine	определять, устанавливать
nature	зд. характер
quantity syn. amount	количество
frequency	частота
value / customs value	стоимость / таможенная стоимость
cultural valuables	культурные ценности
total weight	общий вес
to be exempt; exemption	быть освобожденныь (от налогов, пошлин); освобождение
rate / a unified rate	ставка / единая ставка
to apply	зд. применять
an aggregate customs payment	совокупный таможенный платеж
to levy	взимать
the rate of customs duties	ставка таможенной пошлины
transport means	транспортное средство
to manufacture / manufacture	производить / производство
engine volume	объем двигателя
to grant	предоставлять
to undergo	подвергаться; проходить процедуру
to envisage	предусматривать
legislation	законодательство
international postal items	международные почтовые отправления
recipient opp. sender	получатель ант. отправитель
to establish	устанавливать, вводить
certain categories of goods	отдельные категории товаров
to carry across the border	провозить через границу
to limit / limit	ограничивать / ограничение, лимит
arms and ammunition	оружие и боеприпасы
drugs; narcotics	наркотические средства
psychotropic substances	психотропные вещества
caviar	икра ценных пород рыб (чёрная икра)

 

UNIT 6