From 1 January 2011, traders will have to make an electronic declaration to Customs with security data on goods before they leave or enter the European Union. The stated aim of this measure is to increase security in international trade, by enabling customs to carry out better risk analyses on the basis of the information received in advance and therefore to better target controls.

For full details of the new security rules see http://ec.europa.eu/ecip/security_amendment/index_en.htm