Missions

Beninese customs traditionally carry out three tasks: first, a fiscal mission, since they collect duties and taxes.

As a follow-up to this mission, customs have an economic role: creating an environment conducive to production activity, but also to promoting licit trade.

Benin Customs provides assistance to other administrations through special regulations on their behalf.

A fourth mission is recently added, namely facilitation and security and the international supply chain, which involves strict control of goods at all stages, from manufacturing to final destination, to transport.

In order to consolidate the achievements of the traditional component, while reconciling the seemingly contradictory concerns of protecting the international supply chain and facilitating trade, all in the greatest transparency, Benin Customs has updated its working environment by providing itself with modern means of management.

Clearance of customs revenue: This is the collection of customs duties included in the Customs Tariff. These duties are indirect taxes payable on both imports and exports; Liquidation of non-customs revenue: In addition to door-to-door duties, customs were entrusted with the liquidation of taxes and other levies on behalf of other administrations: VAT, the guarantee fund, road tax, etc. Customs provides the state with much of its budgetary resources. For the first half of 2017, customs revenues amounted to CFAF 127.3 billion, or 30 per cent of ordinary revenues.

Protection of the national economy: Customs, by monitoring external trade, also provides protection for the national economy. For this purpose, goods crossing the border are subject to duties and taxes whose rates are adjusted to make local products competitive. It also ensures that fair trade practices (anti-dumping, unfair competition, etc.) are respected. Statistical information: In preparing customs statistics, the Customs Administration allows economic operators to carry out market studies and public authorities to have accurate information on external trade. Impulsion of economic activity through mechanisms of suspension of duties and taxes. Customs contributes to the dynamism of national economic activity by facilitating trade. The aim is to provide economic operators with the benefits of economic customs procedures or special arrangements.

In addition to the fiscal and economic activities that make up the bulk of its mission, but also through its permanent presence at the borders, the customs service assists other administrations. Ministry of Economy and Finance Customs settles VAT and collects other domestic taxes on behalf of the Directorate-General for Taxes. Ministry of Public Health The customs administration is responsible for enforcing the rules governing the movement and marketing of certain pharmaceutical products or products derived from plant or animal origin (Health and Safety Police; against illicit traffic in organs) Ministry of the Environment Phytosanitary Police, Waste Control and Hazardous Products Ministry of the Interior Customs assists in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism in particular in the control of the movement of arms and ammunition Ministry of Commerce Customs shall ensure compliance with standards of quality, packaging, metrology and marking. Protection of industrial property: Customs opposes unfair commercial practices (counterfeiting, false trade marks ...) Promotion of industry: Customs contributes to the competitiveness of enterprises by facilitating external trade (economic regimes) Ministry of Culture Fight against pornography and paedophilia: In this area, Customs opposes the import of pornographic films and all obscene publications Protection of literary property