Fuel from the north: customs office confusing the public

The customs office has failed to be transparent over rules affecting the public on transporting fuel from the north, ombudswoman Maria-Stylianou Lottides said on Tuesday.

In a report, she specified she had received a number of complaints by individuals who had been barred by the customs office from bringing fuel to the Republic which they had purchased in the north and had in containers.

Members of the public had cited media reports in which the European Commission was quoted as saying fuel is among the goods which may be transported via the Green Line, provided that it is for personal use, does not exceed €260 in value, and is contained in the car’s fuel tank or in a portable container with a capacity of no more than 10 litres.

Nonetheless, even when individuals argued they had adhered to the rules, staffers at the customs office were often unwilling to explain why they were not allowing the fuel to pass through, Lottides said.

According to the report, the customs office website says fuel is on the list of items that is barred from being transported by crossings.

This is contradictory to what the customs office itself told the ombudswoman, citing Green Line regulations that allow fuel transport under certain conditions, the report specified.

Additionally, the customs office chief informed the ombudswoman that it is on individuals to prove they are transporting fuel ‘occasionally’.

Moreover, the fuel was being transported in “a simple plastic container” which does not adhere to safety protocols, the customs chief specified according to the report.

Nonetheless, the ombudswoman said customs officers were vague in their explanations as to why they were seizing the fuel, which was apparent by the fact that multiple people later called and emailed asking for more information.

“The refusal of customs officers to provide the necessary information, explanation and clarification to affected citizens, as well as the overall stance of the customs office to not offer clear information to the public for the matter, violates the principles of transparency, information and good faith, as well as the management’s duty not to trouble and take citizens by surprise.”

Lottides added that for transparency reasons, the customs office should make all information that affects citizens clear.

“It is necessary that the customs department proceeds without delay to take all necessary steps, in terms of updating its website and issuing an official announcement, to make clear to the public how the department applies the provisions of the Green Line Regulation and what is and is not included as permissible for transfer from the occupied territories to the areas controlled by the Republic so as to dispel any confusion created by the fragmented information provided to citizens.”