Press Release: New electronic system to monitor the movement of excise goods

On 1 April 2010, a new electronic system for monitoring and controlling the movement of excise goods (alcohol, tobacco and energy products) within the EU becomes operational. The Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) will make intra-Community trade in excise goods cheaper and simpler for operators, while also making it quicker and easier for Member States to tackle excise fraud. Designed to replace the current paper-based system, the EMCS is a computerised structure for recording in real-time the movement of products for which excise duties have still to be paid. It is estimated that about 100 000 traders dispatch around 4.5 million consignments of excise goods between Member States each year, and the EMCS will help to reduce the financial and administrative burdens that they face. Member States' authorities and economic operators can join the system progressively until 1 January 2011, after which the EMCS will be fully applied throughout Europe.