Proposal for a Decision on the position to be taken in the World Customs Organization in relation to the Harmonised System

Summary:

Proposal presented on 1 March 2019 by the European Commission establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the Union in connection with the envisaged adoption of an amendment to the HS Nomenclature for novel tobacco products.

Further information:

The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System aims to facilitate international trade and the collection, comparison and analysis of statistics, in particular those on international trade. It includes as an Annex the HS Nomenclature which is an international harmonized system enabling participating countries to classify traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes.

The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council, is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations. At its meeting in June 2019, the WCO Council is to adopt a Recommendation amending the structure of the HS Nomenclature with a view to classifying novel tobacco products intended for inhalation through heated delivery or other means.