The free movement of goods among EU member states only relates to goods which have Union goods status. These are:
- goods wholly obtained in the customs territory of the Union and not incorporating goods imported under certain circumstances;
- goods brought into the customs territory of the Union from third countries and released for free circulation; and
- goods obtained or produced in the customs territory of the Union, either from goods referred to in the second indent alone or from goods referred to in the first and second indents.
All other goods have non-Union goods status and the EU’s foreign trade regime and customs regime apply to them.
Trade with non-EU member states
In its relations with non-EU member states (hereinafter: third countries), Slovenia applies the EU’s foreign trade and customs policy.
The European Union concludes bilateral agreements and devises specific trade policies with third countries and regional areas. Bilateral trade relations concern agreements on free trade, association, co-operation and partnership and customs unions.
Customs regulations
In the importing and exporting of goods from and to third countries, the customs regulations of the EU are applied. The key EU acts regulating this area are:
- the Union Customs Code (UCC) and the provisions supplementing or implementing it adopted at Union or national level;
- the Common Customs Tariff;
- the legislation setting up a Union system of reliefs from customs duty;
- international agreements containing customs provisions, insofar as they are applicable in the Union.
The member states are authorised to regulate certain areas of customs legislation not covered by the EU’s customs regulations in their national legislation. These areas (which include entry in the accounts; communication to the debtor; a prescribed period for paying amounts of duty; administrative penalties and fines) are governed in Slovenia by the Act Implementing the Customs Legislation of the European Union.