Did you know that if you were to go to China, what are the goods which are exempt from tax or duty payment? They are your baggage and non-commercial goods which have been bought at the Duty Free Shop on arrival, the value of which can not exceed $500. Customs rules and regulations like these, varied and country-specific greet you when you arrive at a foreign country. So if you planning to go abroad whether for work or vacation, it is imperative that you check with the country’s embassy or consulate to check which are the documents required to visit that country. These offices can also provide information what items are allowed or disallowed to enter that country.  

 We have all of ‘customs duty’ which our friends or relatives have paid at the airport or even bus or train terminals, when they entered a country or bought  things from that country and were bring them out. But what is customs? Customs is the local Government’s authorized agency, which exist in every country who are responsible for collecting duties and controlling the flow of goods (including plants, animals, personal effects and hazardous items) in and out of that country. Every country has its own rules, regulations and legislations as to what categories of goods are allowed to be imported in or exported out of that particular country. Similarly, each country also has legislations regarding what types of goods are forbidden or prohibited from entering the country.

In contrast, the immigration authorities, who may differ from the ‘customs’ personnel in many countries, are responsible for controlling the human flow in and out of the country. Immigration personnel check the correctness and validity of documents carried in person of the traveler and are authorized to bar persons from entering or leaving a country, in case there are police warnings or for other security and legal reasons. 

So if this is ‘customs’ what is customs duty? Customs duty is a tax or tariff which you have to pay either to import or export items to or from a country. The revenue generated from collection of customs duty is part of the Government’s income. For instance, in England, earnings from customs duty would traditionally be part of the revenue earned by the King. Normally, the amount to be charged as customs duty is passed in the legislature as a rule of the Government who is currently ruling the particular country.

 Bond store is an area specified for storing items which the customs authority have not yet approved for entry or departure from a country and is kept in such storage till they are passed and processed.

While the list of goods that are ‘prohibited’ to enter a country differs from one country to the other, some countries are very particular about putting a bar on some items, which you might be continuously using in the US.  In case you happen to carry any of these items, you may not be allowed by the ‘customs’ to enter the country or you might have to leave behind the items at the airport. For instance, Singapore is a country where ‘prohibited’ items include: 

• Chewing gum
• Chewing tobacco and imitation tobacco products
• Cigarette lighters of pistol or revolver shape
• Controlled drugs and psychotropic substances
• Live dogs of the following breeds:
• Pit Bull (which includes the American Pit Bull Terrier also known as the American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog and crosses between them and with other breeds), Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Akita, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero and their crosses.
• Firecrackers
• Obscene articles, publications, video tapes/discs and software
• Reproduction of copyright publications, video tapes, video compact discs, laser discs, records or cassettes
• Seditious and treasonable materials