Buying commission: should it or should it not be included in the customs value?

This year, the European Commission published an updated Compendium of customs valuation (Compendium 2024) with several important updates that promise to have a significant impact on the customs valuation process. While its aim is to harmonise the application of legislation and minimise disputes between businesses and customs, it is likely that some of these updates will actually increase the already high number of disputes in this area. This article examines the new Comment No 19 on the buying commission and its implications for enforcement.