Southern edge (customs border) of Captain Cook wharf, Ports of Auckland, New Zealand. An electric fence is faintly visible behind the historical fence.

A customs area is an area designated for storage of commercial goods that have not yet cleared customs. It is surrounded by a customs border. Most international airports and harbours have designated customs areas, sometimes covering the whole facility and including extensive storage warehouses.^[1][2]

While territorially part of the country of the customs authorities, goods within the customs area have not technically entered the country yet, and may later be subject to customs duties. The goods within the area are also subject to checks regarding their compliance with local rules (for example drug laws and biosecurity regulations), and thus may be impounded or turned back. For this reason, the customs areas are usually carefully controlled and fenced.

The fact that goods are technically still outside the country of the customs area also allows easy transshipment to a third country without the need for customs checks or duties.^[1]

Other uses

The term is also sometimes used to define an area (usually composed of several countries) which form a customs union, or to describe the area at airports and ports where travellers are checked through customs.

References

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