View source for Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes

{{Short description|French ministerial direction}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname      = French Customs
| nativename      = ''Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects''
| commonname      = ''la douane''
| logo            = File:Logo des Douanes Françaises.svg
| logocaption     = French Customs logo
| imagesize       =
| motto           =
| mottotranslated =
| formedmonthday  =
| formedyear      = 1791
| employees       =
| volunteers      =
| budget          = [[Euro|€]]1.66 billion (2020)
| legalpersonality =
| country         = France
| legaljuris      =
| constitution1   =
| speciality1     = customs
| headquarters    =11, Rue des Deux Communes, [[Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis]]
| electeetype     =
| minister1name   = [[Gérald Darmanin]]
| minister1pfo    = Junior Minister for the Budget
<!-- (...up to 6...) -->
| chief1name      =
| chief1position  =
| parentagency    = [[Minister of the Economy, Industry and Employment (France)|Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment]]<br /> Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service
| child1agency    =
| website         = {{URL|www.douane.gouv.fr}}
| footnotes       =
| reference       =
}}
The '''Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes''' ({{langx|fr|Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects, DGDDI}}), commonly known as ''les douanes'' (Customs), is the [[customs|customs service]] of the [[French Republic]]. It is responsible for levying indirect taxes, preventing smuggling, surveilling borders and investigating counterfeit money. The agency acts as a [[coast guard]], [[border guard]], sea [[rescue]] organisation, and [[customs]] service.<ref>[http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=141 Missions of the DGDDI]</ref> In addition, since 1995, the agency has replaced the [[Direction centrale de la police aux frontières|Border Police]] units of the [[French National Police|National Police]] in carrying out [[immigration]] control at smaller [[border checkpoint]]s, in particular at maritime borders and regional airports.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/doc_centre/borders/docs/customs_bgs_final.pdf |title=Center for the Study of Democracy: Study to identify best practices on the cooperation between border guards and customs administrations working at the external borders of the EU |access-date=2012-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110123/http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/doc_centre/borders/docs/customs_bgs_final.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.senat.fr/rap/r16-484/r16-4848.html |title=Circuler en sécurité en Europe : renforcer Schengen |language=fr |date=2017-03-29 |access-date=2020-04-18 |publisher=[[Senate (France)]] |quote=la PAF a-t-elle vocation à se voir attribuer les PPF au « ''trafic permanent significatif en provenance de pays sources d'immigration ou qui possèdent une importance justifiant une présence policière et douanière permanente'' »}}</ref>
The Directorate-general is controlled by the Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service
({{langx|fr|Ministère du Budget, des Comptes publics et de la Fonction publique}}) at the [[Minister of the Economy, Industry and Employment (France)|Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment]]. It is normally known simply as "''la douane''", individual officers being referred to as "''douaniers''". Officers are routinely armed.<ref>p [http://www.douane.gouv.fr/menu.asp?id=430 Site internet de la Douane: Son organisation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727145550/http://www.douane.gouv.fr/menu.asp?id=430 |date=2011-07-27 }}</ref>
== History ==
[[File:Renault Mégane Douane française.jpg|thumbnail|[[Renault Mégane]] patrol unit of the French Customs]]
The first French customs service was called the [[ferme générale]] ("General Farm") and operated under the [[French monarchy|monarchy]]. The ferme générale was a private company which bought each year the right to collect taxes. After the [[French Revolution]], the General Farm was dismantled and the French Customs, as a State service created. Shortly after the instauration of [[First French Empire|Empire]], the Customs gained a military status. Some personnels were affected in ''bureaux'' (port or office-based staff who were tasked to apply customs measures to the goods entering and leaving France), others in ''brigades'' (mobile detachments organized and equipped to patrol the borders and arrest smugglers).
During French wars, notably the [[Franco-Prussian War]] and the [[First World War]],<ref name="History of the French Customs">source: [http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=164 Site de la Douane: L'Histoire de la douane] History of the French Customs</ref> the brigades were used to form marksmen units and to track enemy units trying to infiltrate French lines. During WW1, due to their knowledge of the areas and their experience in human tracking, they were part of ''Corps Francs'' (small units which were tasked to operate behind German lines to collect intelligence and perform sabotages on enemy targets). The red stripe on their uniforms is a remaining of the decoration of one of their officers, ''Capitaine Cutsaert'' during the [[Napoleonic wars]]
The military customs service fought in the early part of the [[Second World War]] but was disbanded on June 22, 1940 after the French defeat and was never reconstituted as a military service. The most plausible reason was the downsizing of the French Military due to the 1940 armistice<ref name="History of the French Customs" /> Nonetheless small units of customs men from customs posts in [[French Indochina]] fought against the Japanese as guerilla units until the end of the war.<ref name="History of the French Customs" />
The [[Musée national des douanes]] located in [[Bordeaux]], [[France]], presents the history of French customs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rue89bordeaux.com/2015/08/visite-surprise-musee-national-des-douanes/|title=Visite surprise (1) : 900 ans d'histoire au Musée des douanes|author=Marylène Iapichino|date=3 August 2015}}</ref>
== Jurisdiction ==
France has land borders with other members of the [[European Union Customs Union]] [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Monaco]] and [[Spain]].
European Union laws prohibit systematic customs checks at any border between two members of its Customs Union. So, there are no permanent customs facilities at the borders with these countries. However, France has borders with non members of this Union : [[Switzerland]], [[Andorra]], [[Brazil]] and [[Suriname]].<ref name="Status of the European Countries">source: [https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries_fr] Status of the European Countries</ref> At these borders are located customs facilities.
Moreover, there are many facilities inland. French Customs are allowed to search vehicles, merchandises and individuals anywhere France according to the French Customs Code, article 60.
French Customs, in addition to their main missions, are also tasked to perform immigration controls at the following airports and ports at the external border of the [[Schengen Area]]:
{|
|
'''Airports'''
*[[Annecy Airport]]
*[[Béziers Airport]]
*[[Brest Bretagne Airport|Brest Airport]]
*[[Carcassonne Airport]]
*[[Dinard Airport]]
*[[Grenoble Airport]]
*[[Le Havre Airport]]
*[[Montpellier Airport]]
*[[Nîmes Airport]]
*[[Pau Pyrénées Airport]]
*[[Perpignan Airport]]
*[[Poitiers Airport]]
*[[Rennes Airport]]
*[[Rouen Airport]]
*[[Quimper Airport]]
*[[Saint-Étienne – Bouthéon Airport]]
*[[Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport]]
*[[Toulon Airport]]
*[[Tours Airport]]
|valign=top|
'''Maritime ports'''
*[[Bayonne]] port
*[[Brest, France|Brest]] port
*[[Granville, Manche|Granville]] port
*[[Roscoff]] port
*[[Rouen]] port
*[[Vendres]] port
|valign=top|
'''Railway stations'''
*[[Gare de Bourg-Saint-Maurice|Bourg-Saint-Maurice]] station
*[[Gare de Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains|Moûtiers–Salins–Brides-les-Bains]] station
|}
The French customs service carries out customs checks only at the following airports, ports and stations at the external border of the [[Schengen Area]]:
{|
|
'''Airports'''
*[[Ajaccio Airport]]
*[[EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg]]
*[[Bastia Airport]]
*[[Beauvais-Tillé Airport]]
*[[Biarritz Airport]]
*[[Bordeaux Airport]]
*[[Calvi Airport]]
*[[Clermont-Ferrand Airport]]
*[[Figari Airport]]
*[[Lille Airport]]
*[[Lyon-Bron Airport]]
*[[Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport]]
*[[Marseille Airport]]
*[[Nantes Atlantique Airport]]
*[[Nice Airport]]
*[[Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport]]
*[[Paris-Orly Airport]]
*[[Strasbourg Airport]]
*[[Toulouse-Blagnac Airport]]
|valign=top|
'''Maritime ports'''
*[[Ajaccio]] port
*[[Bastia]] port
*[[Bonifacio, Corse-du-Sud|Bonifacio]] port
*[[Bordeaux]] port
*[[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] port
*[[Calais]] port
*[[Calvi, Haute-Corse|Calvi]] port
*[[Cherbourg]] port
*[[Dunkerque]] port
*[[Marseille]] port
*[[Port-la-Nouvelle]] port
*[[Saint Malo]] port
*[[Sète]] port
|valign=top|
'''Railway stations'''
*[[Gare de Calais-Fréthun|Calais Fréthun]] station
*[[Gare de Lille Europe|Lille Europe]] station
*[[Gare du Nord|Paris-Nord]] station
*[[Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station|Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy]] Station
|}
== Organisation ==
The customs headquarters is in [[Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis|Montreuil]] ([[Paris]]).
The agency consists of one national headquarter (Cabinet of the General Director, six sub-directorates and supporting services), national departments and local directorates :<ref>[http://www.douane.gouv.fr/Portals/0/fichiers/information/publication-douane/langues-etrangeres/organization-chart-head-office-french-customs-en.pdf] Presentation of the French Customs</ref>
=== ''Administration centrale'', national headquarters ===
** Sub-directorates (A : Human Resources, B : Budget, C : IT, D : Legal affairs, E : International Trade, F : Indirect Taxation)
** ''Département des statistiques et des études économiques'', Statistics and Economic studies department;
** ''Inspection des services'' ('''IS'''), internal auditing;
** ''Bureau de l'information et de la communication'' ('''BIC'''), Office of Information and Communication;
** ''DRI'', Delegation for International Relations;
** ''CCG'', Management Control Unit;
** ''General Director’s Office – General Affairs'';
=== ''Services à Compétence Nationale'', national departments ===
** ''Direction nationale garde-côtes des douanes'' ('''DNGCD''') based in [[Le Havre]], under the supervision of the Sub-directorate ''Réseau''. It is composed of three coast guard services (''services garde-côtes des douanes''), in [[Nantes]] - covering the Atlantic and English Channel region, [[Marseille]] for the Mediterranean sea, and [[Fort-de-France]] for the Antilles and French Guyane seas;
** ''Direction nationale du recrutement et de la formation professionnelle'' ('''DNRFP''') based in [[Tourcoing]], under the supervision of the Sub-directorate A. It is composed of the two training facilities, in Tourcoing and [[La Rochelle]];
** ''[[Direction Nationale du Renseignement et des Enquêtes Douanières|Direction nationale du renseignement et des enquêtes douanières]]'' ('''DNRED'''), which acts both as an intelligence agency and as a very serious investigations services with headquarters in [[Ivry-sur-Seine|Ivry]], near [[Paris]] (formerly [[Vincennes]]) and substations all across France;
** ''Direction nationale des statistiques et du commerce extérieur'' ('''DNSCE'''), formerly a statistical service, currently a datacenter and IT engineering agency, based in [[Toulouse]],  under the supervision of the Sub-directorate C;
** ''Centre informatique douanier'' ('''CID'''),  a datacenter and IT engineering agency based in [[Osny]],  under the supervision of the Sub-directorate C;
** ''Service national de la douane judiciaire'' ('''SNDJ'''), a judicial investigative service based in Ivry in the same building as the DNRED. Like the DNRED it has substations in France but not always in the same cities.
** ''Service commun des laboratoires'' ('''SCL'''), providing scientific support and legal analysis in laboratories. This service depends both of the French Customs and the ''Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes'';
** ''Unité d'Informations Passagers – Passenger Name Record'' ('''UIP-PNR'''), ''Passenger's Information Unit'', the French part of the [[PNR]], a joint unit (with the [[National Police (France)|National Police]];
** ''Musée National des Douanes'' ('''MND'''), the Museum;
** ''Service d'Analyses de Risques et de Ciblages'' ('''SARC''') which uses big-data to produce risk analysis to help local services to better detect frauds, under the supervision of the Sub-directorate D;
=== Decentralised Services ===
France is divided into 12 ''Directions inter-régionales'' (Inter-region Directorates). These 12 are divided into ''Directions régionales'' (Region Directorates).<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.douane.gouv.fr/articles/a12110-organisation-territoriale-de-la-douane-et-services-ouverts-au-public] Territorial organization</ref>
* 42 are inland directorate, which typically consists of:
**Managerial, training and logistic services;
**Customs ''Bureaux'': dealing with commerce;
**Customs ''Brigades'': Squads dealing with surveillance;
**Two regional units, the ''Service Régional d'Enquêtes'' ('''SRE''') ''Regional Service of (serious frauds) Investigations'', ''Service Régional d'Audits'' ('''SRA''') ''Regional Service of audits (before giving them a "trustee" status)'';
**A wines unit;
== Legal Framework ==
Unlike the [[French National Police]], Municipal Polices and the [[French Gendarmerie]], most customs officers do not gain their powers from the ''Code de Procédure Pénale'' (Code Of Criminal Procedure) but from the ''Code des Douanes National'' (''National Customs Code'').<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCode.do;jsessionid=678C48AE40AB6EDE4341DB578FC0411F.tpdila09v_1?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071570&dateTexte=20170509] French Customs Code, article 60 to 67 quinquies A</ref>
They can :
* search vehicles of any kind, merchandises, people, artificial islands, installations and constructions of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone, commercial buildings and habitations;
* perform drug tests on individuals;
* order a driver to stop, and if he does not comply use all necessary means to immobilize him;
* divert a ship to a French port;
* seize documents and merchandises;
* consult files of many administrations and nearly all companies which move goods or accomplish customs operations;
* open boxes send by postal service or express fret companies;
* perform identity checks, infiltrate criminal organizations
* investigate both nationally and internationally with foreign customs;
* requisition qualified people;
* take samples;
Some of these operations require prior approval by a magistrate.
However, the personnels of the SNDJ, nicknamed ''Officiers de Douane Judiciaire'' ('''ODJ'''), can not use these powers. They gained their powers from the Code of Criminal Procedure<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCodeArticle.do;jsessionid=678C48AE40AB6EDE4341DB578FC0411F.tpdila09v_1?idArticle=LEGIARTI000032654924&cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071154&dateTexte=20170902] Code of Criminal Procedure article 28-1</ref>
== Personnel ==
[[File:Directeur Douanes françaises 09891 unifrome.JPG|thumb|''Administrateur'' in uniform for land based officers (with silver insignia and képi).]]
[[File:French general official IMG 5064.JPG|thumb|''Administrateur'' in uniform for sea and air officers (with gold insignia)]]
[[File:Borgman1.jpg|thumb|''Agent de constatation de 1re classe''.]]
Category A ''(inspecteurs des douanes)'' is recruited from holders of a bachelor's degree; category B ''(contrôleurs)'' is recruited from holders of a high school diploma giving access to university studies; category C ''(agents de constatation)'' from holders of a vocational high school diploma.<ref>Category A: {{cite web |url=http://textes.droit.org/JORF/2009/06/24/0144/0070/ |title=Décret n° 2009-777 du 23 juin 2009 fixant l'échelonnement indiciaire applicable au corps de catégorie a des services déconcentrés de la direction générale des douanes et droits indirects |access-date=2010-04-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525014813/http://textes.droit.org/JORF/2009/06/24/0144/0070/ |archive-date=2012-05-25 }} 2010-04-15</ref><ref>Category B: {{cite web |url=http://www.fonctio.com/fiches-metiers/concours_metier-par1-877772.html |title=Métiers de la fonction publique : Tous les <u>CONCOURS</u> de la fonction publique de a à Z |access-date=2010-04-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173125/http://www.fonctio.com/fiches-metiers/concours_metier-par1-877772.html |archive-date=2009-10-04 }} 2010-04-15</ref><ref>Category C:http://www.carrieres-publiques.com/PAR_TPL_IDENTIFIANT/34/TPL_CODE/TPL_FIC_METIER_FICHE/PAG_TITLE/Agent+de+constatation+des+douanes+et+droits+indirects/2241-fiche-concours.htm 2010-04-15</ref>
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="text-align:ce-nter;"
! colspan=6| ''CATEGORY C''
! Colspan=6| ''CATEGORY B''
! Colspan=6| ''CATEGORY A''
|-
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-SGC.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-ADJ.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-ADC.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-SLT.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-LTN.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-CNE.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:PN-CEN.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-LCL1.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-LCL2.png|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-COL.png|80px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2|Agent de constatation
! colspan=2|Agent de constatation principal<br> de 2<sup>e</sup> classe
! colspan=2|Agent de constatation principal<br> de 1<sup>re</sup> classe
! colspan=2|Contrôleur de 2<sup>e</sup> classe
! colspan=2|Contrôleur de 1<sup>re</sup> classe
! colspan=2|Contrôleur principal
! colspan=2|Inspecteur
! colspan=2|Inspecteur régional
! colspan=2|Inspecteur principale
! colspan=2|Directeur
|}
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Colspan=10| ''ADMINISTRATORS''
|-
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-DIR.png|80px]]<br>''no pips''
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-DIR.png|80px]]<br>''+ 2 pips''
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-DIR.png|80px]]<br>''+ 3 pips''
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-DIR.png|80px]]<br>''+ 4 pips'' <ref name=General/>
| colspan=2|[[File:DF-DIR.png|80px]]<br>''+ 5 pips'' <ref name=General>[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000039202390 Arrêté du 4 octobre 2019 définissant la tenue d'uniforme attribuée au directeur général des douanes et droits indirects et à son adjoint] 2024-02-16.</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2|Administrateur
! colspan=2|Administrateur<br> supérieur
! colspan=2|Administrateur<br> général
! colspan=2|Directeur<br> général adjoint
! colspan=2|Directeur<br> général
|}
== Armament and equipment ==
=== Air ===
In 2010 the aircraft fleet consisted of [[Reims-Cessna F406]] maritime patrol aircraft; and [[Eurocopter EC-135]] and [[Eurocopter AS355|Aérospatiale AS355]] helicopters. Two Reims-Cessna F406s operated out of Martinique and the rest were based in metropolitan France.
From 2012 onwards eight [[Beechcraft Super King Air|Beechcraft King Air 350s]] replaced the F406s.<ref>[http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=113443 Surveillance maritime : La Douane va acquérir 8 nouveaux avions], Mer et Marine, 14 juin 2010</ref>
=== Maritime ===
[[File:Noiroit DF 12 Saint-Malo.jpg|thumb|upright|Swift boat ''Noroit'' (DF12), a [[Haize Hegoa type patrol boat|''Haize Hegoa'' type patrol boat]] of the French customs, moored in Saint-Malo]]
In 2010 the customs had 3 offshore patrol boats, 18 coastal patrol boats, 18 surveillance patrol boats and 5 speed boats. The boats are assigned as follows:
*North sea/Channel:
:1 Offshore Patrol Boat
:2 Coastal Patrol Boat
:1 Surveillance Patrol Boat
:2 speed boats
*Atlantic
:1 Offshore Patrol Boat
:4 Coastal Patrol Boat
:3 Surveillance Patrol Boat
:2 speed boats
*Mediterranean
:1 Offshore Patrol Boat
:8 Coastal Patrol Boat
:8 Surveillance Patrol Boat
*Antilles/South America
:4 Coastal Patrol Boat
:5 Surveillance Patrol Boat
*Polynesia
:1 Offshore Patrol Boat
:1 Speed boat
=== Ground forces ===
As of 2008 the Customs service had 3255 vehicles (including 355 motorbikes).
=== Small Arms ===
Customs Agents are now armed with the 9&nbsp;mm [[SIG Sauer Pro series|SIG Sauer SP 2022]] pistols as the standard issued sidearm, a French custom-tailored variant of the [[SIG Sauer Pro series|SIG Sauer Pro]]. The pistol was ordered to replace the several revolvers in service.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Law enforcement agencies of France}}
{{European Border and Coast Guard}}
{{Customs services}}
{{Border guards}}
[[Category:National law enforcement agencies of France]]
[[Category:Border guards]]
[[Category:Customs services]]
[[Category:Immigration services]]
[[Category:Coast guards]]
[[Category:Ministry of Finance (France)]]
[[Category:1791 establishments in France]]