In early February, the Romanian Customs Authority initiated the application of intelligent seals equipped with GPS technology as part of the National RO e-Sigiliu System, according to the National Union of Romanian Road Hauliers (UNTRR).
According to UNTRR, the legislation requires drivers to be present during the application of the RO e-Sigiliu on their vehicles and to be responsible for maintaining its integrity throughout the transport. Failure to do so is an offence punishable by fines ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 lei (approx. 4,000-10,000 euro). If certain conditions are met, the offence may be considered a criminal offence.
The installation of the e-Sigiliu is carried out exclusively in the presence of the driver of the monitored vehicle. For goods under a customs regime, the customs broker, principal obligor, or self-representing declarant may also be present during the sealing process, UNTRR states.
Monitoring high-risk goods
According to UNTRR, the RO e-Sigiliu system is used, based on risk analysis, to monitor the movement of goods with customs or fiscal risks under the supervision of customs or fiscal authorities. This includes goods:
- In transit between two border customs offices with a high risk of fraudulent unloading.
- In transit between a border customs office and an inland customs office with a high risk of fraudulent unloading.
- Declared for export that present a high customs/fiscal risk or are subject to special export measures.
- Subject to excise duties, including products in suspension regimes, products released for consumption until the first beneficiary, and products exempted from excise payment or with direct exemption.
- In intra-community transit that present a risk of unloading or commercialization within the national territory.
- Of an intra-community nature destined for a Romanian taxpayer who presents a fiscal risk.
- Intended for intra-community delivery that present the risk of not leaving the national territory.
Risk analysis criteria
UNTRR explains that the system applies to transports based on specific risk analysis criteria, which include:
- Nature of the transported goods.
- Value of the goods.
- Import restrictions or prohibitions.
- Taxation regime.
- Goods classified as excisable products.
- Transport route used.
- Information from national and international law enforcement institutions.
- Suspicion of involvement in illicit economic activities.
Information regarding involvement in customs or fiscal fraud by the sender, road transport operator, principal obligor in the customs transit regime, or the goods’ recipient.
Economic operators under observation for reasons such as unavailability at their registered office, identity theft, inadequate fiscal history, or issuance of security measures without full coverage of the estimated claim.
According to the Romanian Customs Authority, the RO e-Sigiliu System offers several advantages:
- Real-Time Monitoring: Electronic seals with GPS technology allow for complete tracking of transport routes and enable rapid intervention by mobile teams nationwide to detect and sanction customs or fiscal fraud and fraudulent handling of goods.
- Reduction of Customs and Fiscal Fraud: By closely monitoring transports, the system aims to significantly decrease illegally transported or fraudulently unloaded goods, thereby reducing customs and fiscal fraud.
- Cost Reduction: The system reduces expenses allocated to ensuring supervision and conducting customs control of goods in transit and optimizes resources through precise controls based on real-time data.