Verdrag inzake samenwerking en wederzijdse administratieve bijstand in douanezaken tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en de Republiek Angola

For the purposes of this Agreement:
a) “customs administration” shall mean: – for the Republic of Angola: the “Administração Geral Tributária”
– for the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the central administration responsible for the implementation of customs law;
– for the Republic of Angola: the “Administração Geral Tributária”
– for the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the central administration responsible for the implementation of customs law;
b) „customs duties” shall mean all duties, taxes, fees or any other charges which are levied, as well as any reimbursement of refunds or export subsidies which is demanded, in the territories of the Contracting Parties in application of customs law, but not including fees or other charges for services rendered;
c) “customs law” shall mean any legal and administrative provisions applicable or enforceable by either customs administration in connection with the importation, exportation, transshipment, transit, storage and movement of goods, including legal and administrative provisions relating to measures of prohibition, restriction and control in respect of specific goods, and in connection with combating money laundering and terrorist-financing;
d) “customs offence” shall mean any violation or attempted violation of customs law, including any violation or attempted violation which, under the law of the Contracting Parties, qualifies as a customs fiscal offence or as an attempted customs fiscal offence, respectively;
e) “information” shall mean any data, whether or not processed or analysed, and documents, reports, and other communications in any format, including electronic, or certified, or authenticated copies thereof;
f) “international trade supply chain” shall mean all processes involved in the cross-border movement of goods from the place of origin to the place of final destination;
g) “official” shall mean any customs officer or other government agent designated by either customs administration;
h) “person” shall mean any human being or legal entity as defined by the national legislation of the Contracting Parties;
i) “personal data” shall mean any data concerning an identified or identifiable human being;
j) “requested administration” shall mean the customs administration from which assistance is requested in custom matters;
k) “requesting administration” shall mean the customs administration which requests assistance in customs matters;
l) “requested Contracting Party” shall mean the Contracting Party whose customs administration is requested to provide assistance in custom matters;
m) “requesting Contracting Party” shall mean the Contracting Party whose customs administration requests assistance in custom matters.

The Contracting Parties shall in accordance with the provisions set out in this Agreement provide each other with administrative assistance, for the proper application of customs law, for the prevention, investigation and combating of customs offences and to ensure the security and facilitation of the international trade supply chain.

1. The Contracting Parties shall trough their customs administrations provide each other with administrative assistance:
a) to ensure that the customs laws in force in their respective territories are properly observed;
b) to prevent, to investigate and to combat customs offences;
c) to ensure the delivery of documents emanating from either Contracting Party and relating to the application of its customs law to persons residing or established in the territory of the other Contracting Party;
d) to ensure the security and facilitation of the international trade supply chain.
2. All assistance under this Agreement by either Contracting Party shall be provided in accordance with its legal and administrative provisions and within the limits of its customs administration’s competence and available resources.

1. This Agreement is without prejudice to any obligations stemming from present or future international law and from legislation enacted to implement those obligations.
2. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands the obligations under paragraph 1 stem in particular from the legislation of the European Union and any international agreements between the Member States of the European Union.
3. For the Republic of Angola the obligations under paragraph 1 stem in particular from international agreements between the Member States of the Southern African Development Community.
4. This Agreement covers mutual administrative assistance between the Contracting Parties and is not intended to have an impact on mutual legal assistance agreements between them. If mutual assistance is to be provided by other authorities of the requested Contracting Party, the requested administration shall indicate those authorities and where known the relevant agreement or arrangement applicable.
5. The provisions of this Agreement shall not give rise to a right on the part of any person to impede the execution of a request for assistance.

1. The customs administrations shall provide each other, either on request or on their own initiative, with information which helps to ensure the proper application of customs law, the prevention, investigation and combating of customs offences and the security of the international trade supply chain. Such information may relate to:
a) new law enforcement techniques which have proved their effectiveness;
b) new trends, means or methods of committing customs offences;
c) goods known to be the subject of customs offences, as well as transport and storage methods used in respect of those goods;
d) persons known to have committed a customs offence or suspected of being about to commit a customs offence;
e) any other data that can assist customs administrations with risk assessment for control and facilitation purposes.
2. On request, the requested administration shall provide the requesting administration with information relative to instances where the latter has reason to doubt the information supplied to it by the person concerned in a matter related to the application of customs law.

1. Either customs administration shall, on request or on its own initiative, provide the customs administration of the other Contracting Party with information on activities, planned, ongoing, or completed, which appear to constitute a customs offence in the territory of the other Contracting Party.
2. In cases that could involve substantial damage to the economy, public health, public security, including the security of the international trade supply chain, or any other vital interest of either Contracting Party, the customs administration of the other Contracting Party shall, wherever possible, supply such information on its own initiative without delay.

On request, the requested administration shall provide the requesting administration with information on:
a) whether goods exported from the territory of the requesting Contracting Party have been lawfully imported into the territory of the requested Contracting Party, and the customs procedure, if any, under which the goods have been placed;
b) whether goods imported into the territory of the requesting Contracting Party have been lawfully exported from the territory of the requested Contracting Party;
c) the route of the goods after exportation from, or prior to importation into, the territory of the requesting Contracting Party, if known.

The customs administrations may, by mutual arrangement in accordance with Article 23 of this Agreement, transmit to one another any information covered by this Agreement on an automatic basis.

The customs administrations may, by mutual arrangement in accordance with Article 23 of this Agreement, transmit specific information to one another in advance of the arrival of consignments in the territory of the other Contracting Party.

The customs administrations may provide each other technical assistance in customs matters including:
a) exchange of customs officers when mutually beneficial for the purpose of advancing the understanding of each other’s techniques;
b) training and assistance in developing specialized skills of customs officers;
c) exchange of information and experience relating to the usage of interdiction and detection equipment;
d) exchange of experts knowledgeable about customs matters;
e) exchange of professional, scientific and technical data relating to customs law and procedures.

1. At the request of the requesting administration, the requested administration shall deliver to person residing or established in its territory documents which emanate from the requesting Contracting Party and which relate to decisions taken by that Contracting Party’s competent authorities in the application of customs law.
2. The request for delivery of documents shall include a summary of the content of the documents to be delivered.
3. The requested Contracting Party shall deliver documents referred to in this Article by a method prescribed by its legal and administrative provisions for the delivery of documents of a substantially similar nature.
4. Delivery of documents may be made by a particular method indicated by the requesting administration, if that method is acceptable under the legal and administrative provisions of the requested Contracting Party.
5. Delivery of documents shall be arranged in accordance with Article 23 of this Agreement.

1. On request, the requested administration shall maintain surveillance over and provide information on:
a) goods, either in transport or in storage, known to have been used or suspected of being used to commit a customs offence in the territory of the requesting Contracting Party;
b) means of transport known to have been used or suspected of being used to commit a customs offence in the territory of the requesting Contracting Party;
c) premises in the territory of the requested Contracting Party known to have been used or suspected of being used in connection with the commission of a customs offence in the territory of the requesting Contracting Party;
d) persons known to have committed a customs offence or suspected of being about to commit a customs offence in the territory of the requesting Contracting Party, particularly those moving into and out of the territory of the requested Contracting Party.
2. Either customs administration may maintain such surveillance and provide such information on its own initiative if it has reason to believe that activities planned, ongoing or completed appear to constitute a customs offence in the territory of the other Contracting Party.

The customs administrations may permit, according to their national legal and administrative provisions, by mutual arrangement, under their control, the importation into, exportation from or transit via the territory of their respective States, of goods involved in illicit traffic in order to suppress such illicit traffic. If granting such permission is not within the competence of the customs administration, that administration shall endeavor to initiate co-operation with the national authorities that have such competence or it shall transfer the case to those authorities.

On request, the requested administration may authorize officials to appear before a court or tribunal in the territory of the requesting Contracting Party as experts or witnesses in a matter related to the application of customs law.

1. Requests for assistance under this Agreement shall be addressed directly to the customs administration of the other Contracting Party. Requests shall be made in writing or electronically and shall be accompanied by any information deemed useful for compliance with the request. The requested administration may require written confirmation of electronic requests. Where the circumstances so require, requests may be made verbally. Such requests shall be confirmed as soon as possible either in writing, or, if acceptable to both customs administrations, electronically.
2. Requests made pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall include the following details:
a) the name of the requesting administration;
b) the matter at issue, type of assistance requested, and reasons for the request;
c) a brief description of the case under review and the legal and administrative provisions that apply;
d) the names and addresses of the persons to whom the request relates, if known.
3. Where the requesting administration requests that a certain procedure or methodology be followed, the requested administration shall comply with such a request subject to its national legal and administrative provisions.
4. Original information shall only be requested in cases where copies would be insufficient and shall be returned at the earliest opportunity. The rights of the requested administration or of third parties relating thereto shall remain unaffected.

1. lf the requested administration does not have the information requested, it shall initiate inquiries to obtain that information.
2. If the requested administration is not the appropriate authority to initiate inquiries to obtain the information requested, it may, in addition to indicating the appropriate authority, transmit the request to that authority.

On request, officials designated by the requesting administration may, with the authorization of the requested administration and subject to conditions the latter may impose, for the purpose of investigating a customs offence:
a) examine, in the offices of the requested administration, documents and any other information in respect of that customs offence, and be supplied with copies thereof;
b) be present during an inquiry conducted by the requested administration in the territory of the requested Contracting Party, which is relevant to the requesting administration; these officials shall only have an advisory role.

Where the requested administration considers it appropriate for officials of the requesting Contracting Party to be present when measures of assistance are carried out pursuant to a request, the requested administration may invite the participation of officials of the requesting Contracting Party subject to any terms and conditions it may specify.

1. When officials of either Contracting Party are present in the territory of the other Contracting Party under the terms of this Agreement, they must at all times be able to furnish proof of their identity and official capacity.
2. Officials of either Contracting Party shall, while in the territory of the other Contracting Party under the terms of this Agreement, enjoy the protection accorded to customs officers of the other Contracting Party to the extent provided by its legal and administrative provisions, and be responsible for any offence they might commit.
3. Officials of either Contracting Party shall, while in the territory of the other Contracting Party under the terms of this Agreement:
a) not wear a uniform;
b) not carry or use a firearm or any other weapon.

1. Any information received under this Agreement shall be used only by the customs administrations of the Parties and solely for the purpose of administrative assistance under the terms set out in this Agreement.
2. On request, the Contracting Party that supplied the information may, notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, authorize its use by other authorities or for other purposes, subject to any terms and conditions it may specify. Such use shall be in accordance with the legal and administrative provisions of the Contracting Party which seeks to use the information. The use of information for other purposes includes its use in criminal investigations, prosecutions or proceedings.
3. Any information received under this Agreement shall be treated as confidential and shall, at least, be subject to the same confidentiality and protection as the same kind of information is subject to under the legal and administrative provisions of the Contracting Party where it is received.
4. The transmission of personal data under this Agreement shall take place in accordance with the legal and administrative provisions of either Contracting Party and shall be subject to the provisions in the Annex to this Agreement, which is an integral part of this Agreement.

1. Where any assistance requested under this Agreement may infringe the sovereignty, security, public policy or any other substantive national interest of the requested Contracting Party, or prejudice any legitimate commercial or professional interest, such assistance may be declined by that Contracting Party or provided subject to any terms and conditions it may require.
2. Where the requesting administration would be unable to comply if a similar request were made by the requested administration, it shall draw attention to that fact in its request. Compliance with such a request shall be at the discretion of the requested administration.
3. Assistance may be postponed if there are grounds to believe that it will interfere with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or proceeding. In such a case the requested administration shall consult with the requesting administration to determine if assistance can be provided subject to any terms and conditions the requested administration may require.
4. If the requested administration considers that the effort required to fulfil a request is clearly disproportionate to the perceived benefit to the requesting administration, it may refuse to provide the requested assistance.
5. Where assistance is refused or postponed, reasons for the refusal or postponement shall be given.

1. Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, the Parties shall waive all claims for reimbursement of costs incurred in the application of this Agreement.
2. Expenses and allowances paid to experts and witnesses, as well as costs of translators and interpreters other than Government employees, shall be borne by the requesting Contracting Party.
3. If the execution of a request requires expenses of a substantial or extraordinary nature, the Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request will be executed as well as the manner in which the costs shall be borne.

The customs administrations shall jointly decide on detailed arrangements, within the framework of this Agreement, to facilitate the implementation and application of this Agreement.

1. As far as the Republic of Angola is concerned, this Agreement shall apply to all its territory.
2. As far as the Kingdom of the Netherlands is concerned, this Agreement shall be applicable to:
a) its territory in Europe;
b) the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands (the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba);
c) Aruba;
d) Curaçao;
e) Sint Maarten.
3. In contravention to paragraph 2 of this article, paragraph 2 of article 4 is only applicable to its territory in Europe.

1. The customs administrations shall endeavour to resolve disputes or other difficulties concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement by mutual accord.
2. Unresolved disputes or difficulties shall be settled through diplomatic channels.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after the Contracting Parties have notified each other in writing through diplomatic channels that the constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been met.

1. This Agreement shall be in force for a period of five years, automatically renewed by equal periods, unless one of the Contracting Parties notifies the other Contracting Party of its intention to terminate it. This shall be done with at least six months prior notice, in writing through diplomatic channels.
2. The Contracting Parties may terminate the application of this Agreement in respect of each separate part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
3. The termination shall take effect six months from the date of the notification of denunciation to the other Contracting Party. Ongoing proceedings at the time of termination shall nonetheless be completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

1. The Contracting Parties shall meet in order to review the Agreement at the end of three years from the date of its entry into force unless they notify each other in writing that no such review is required.
2. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Contracting Parties through diplomatic channels. This consent shall be expressed in a protocol, which shall be an integral part of this Agreement and which shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 26.