Customs only able to inspect 0.006% of goods passing through Liège Airport
Customs officials intercepted more than 25,000 counterfeit products at Liège Airport last year, the Federal Public Service Finance said on Tuesday. However, only 0.006 per cent of all goods passing through the airport are inspected.
Liège Airport is Belgium's largest cargo hub and a key gateway for e-commerce. Around 20 per cent of goods purchased online outside the European Union enter the bloc via Liège. A significant share of the shipments originates from China.
To inspect these shipments, custom officers scrutinise declarations. Last year, Liège customs processed more than 1.3 billion such documents - an average of 3.6 million per day - compared with fewer than 400 million in 2023.
Customs are not able to handle the influx of shipments: just 0.006 per cent of consignments are physically checked. "That is not enough, but we cannot do more," said Kristian Vanderwaeren, head of the Belgian general administration of Customs and Excise.
"[0.006 per cent] is not enough, but we cannot do more"
Customs staff have observed a shift in shipping patterns, with fewer parcels arriving but containing a higher number of items. This complicates inspections, as officers must open parcels to verify multiple declared products.
On average, infringements are detected in 30 per cent of checks. The most common infringements involve counterfeiting, product safety violations and fraud, such as undervaluing goods. Officials have also reported a rise in drug seizures.
"Parcel tax not sufficient"
A European parcel tax is due to take effect in July. Parcels valued at less than 150 euros and arriving from outside the EU will be subject to a three euro levy. Trade unions and employers in the distribution and e-commerce sectors have warned that the measure alone will not be sufficient to stem the flow of unsafe or unfairly traded goods.
"The combination of technological innovation, additional staff and European reforms should enable customs and excise authorities to continue to effectively control the ever-increasing flow of e-commerce shipments," FPS Finance said. "The focus remains unchanged: consumer protection, fair competition and the security of the internal market."
© BELGA VIDEO LAUREANE BARBIER - © PHOTO JOHN THYS / AFP
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