Speaking

Task 25. Discuss the following:

1. What do customs officers want to know when they ask passengers “Have you got anything to declare?”

2. What does the phrase “Nothing to declare” mean?

3. Are the customs restrictions the same in different countries and why?

Task 26. Get ready to speak on the topic. Use the vocabulary of the unit.

Communication activities.

Task 27. In pairs decipher the following abbreviations used in business letters, as in the given model:

1. Model: - What does SOONEST mean?

- I think it means « as soon as possible».

ATTN U PLS OK Sq

REF CLD RPT YR

2. Model: - Do you know what these abbreviations stand for?

- I think GB stands for Great Britain.

$ % sq.m UK £ EU UN

Approx. K p.m. m WCO PM km/h

3. Model: - Do you know the abbreviations for these words?

- Yes, I do. For example, «Mr.» is for «Mister».

avenue misses limited television Fahrenheit and

Centigrade pound company world wide web degree

Task 28. Read and act out short dialogues:

1) - Have you got anything to declare?

• I don’t think I have.

• Do you have money with you?

• Only some gold souvenir coins.

• I’m afraid you’ll have to declare them.

2) - Have you got anything liable to duty?

• I’ve got a bottle of whisky, that’s all.

• Any presents?

• Just a few souvenirs: gold chains, bracelets…

• Have you declared everything?

3) - Do you have any gold items, cigarettes, or spirits?

• Yes, I have. This ring and a lighter.

• What is there in this small box?

• There’s some jewelry in it.

• Are you sure, you’ve declared everything?

4) - Do you have anything to declare?

• Uh…, nothing, except some whisky and some cigarettes.

• And what do you have in your suit case?

• A gold tray, a person for a friend of mine.

• You have to put it in the declaration.

Task 29. Make up short dialogues on the topics below and act them out:

1. You have just returned from a business trip to England. Compare the regulations valid for the English and the Russian Customs concerning luggage and money.

2. You travelled abroad and you bring in goods exceeding duty and tax free allowance. You discuss with the customs officer the regulations for individuals to move goods across the border of the Customs union.

Vocabulary

Customs Code	Таможенный кодекс
customs authority	таможенный орган
provision	положение, статья (договора, кодекса)
an individual	физическое лицо
accompanied / non-accompanied	сопровождаемый/несопровождаемый
personal	личный
family	семейный
domestic	домашний
needs	нужды
to intend	намереваться, предполагать
purpose	цель, назначение
intended purpose	предназначение
commercial syn. entrepreneurial	коммерческий
to determine	определять, устанавливать
nature	зд. характер
quantity syn. amount	количество
frequency	частота
value / customs value	стоимость / таможенная стоимость
cultural valuables	культурные ценности
total weight	общий вес
to be exempt; exemption	быть освобожденныь (от налогов, пошлин); освобождение
rate / a unified rate	ставка / единая ставка
to apply	зд. применять
an aggregate customs payment	совокупный таможенный платеж
to levy	взимать
the rate of customs duties	ставка таможенной пошлины
transport means	транспортное средство
to manufacture / manufacture	производить / производство
engine volume	объем двигателя
to grant	предоставлять
to undergo	подвергаться; проходить процедуру
to envisage	предусматривать
legislation	законодательство
international postal items	международные почтовые отправления
recipient opp. sender	получатель ант. отправитель
to establish	устанавливать, вводить
certain categories of goods	отдельные категории товаров
to carry across the border	провозить через границу
to limit / limit	ограничивать / ограничение, лимит
arms and ammunition	оружие и боеприпасы
drugs; narcotics	наркотические средства
psychotropic substances	психотропные вещества
caviar	икра ценных пород рыб (чёрная икра)

UNIT 6

THE SYSTEM OF RED AND GREEN CHANNELS

EFFECTIVE PASSENGER AND BAGGAGE CONTROL

Text 1

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

The dual-channel system was introduced at international airports to deal efficiently with the increasing number of passengers without reducing the effectiveness of the Customs control.

The system allows the passengers to choose between two types of channels:

• if the passenger is carrying nothing more than the allowances; no prohibited or restricted goods; no goods for commercial purposes, he may go through the Green Channel indicated by the words “Nothing to declare”;

• if the passenger is carrying more than the allowances; some prohibited or restricted goods, or some goods for commercial purposes he must go through the Red Channel indicated by the words “Goods to declare”.

In the European Union (EU) there is also a Blue Channel for travelers from European Union countries. As the EU is a customs union, travelers between EU countries don’t have to pay customs duties. The USA and Canada do not operate the dual-channel system.

Passengers should be well-informed about the functioning of the system i.e. about the descriptions and quantities of the goods that they may have with them when using the Green Channel. This can be done by means of posters and panels at the airport or leaflets, distributed through tourist agencies or airlines.

Passengers who go through the Red Channel complete customs formalities: they fill in the customs declaration form, present their baggage for inspection, pay the duties and taxes chargeable.

In the Green Channel passengers do not complete customs formalities, but they may be the subject of a spot check that customs officers exercise to prevent violations.

During practical examination the customs officer should link the passenger to his baggage and reasons for travel.

To facilitate the search customs officers should use tools and technologies at their disposal. Checking baggage for concealments customs officers should be careful to minimize the damage.

At all times customs officers must act with diplomacy, and be competent, firm and fair.