Virtual Operational Cooperation Unit, the Mutual Assistance Broker, and the Customs Information System - OLAF

Joint opinion of 17 October 2011 on notifications for Prior Checking regarding the Virtual Operational Cooperation Unit, the Mutual Assistance Broker, and the Customs Information System (Joint cases 2010-0797, 2010-0798, 2010-0799)

This Opinion jointly addresses these three systems, all of which aim to enhance cooperation between customs authorities in the Member States, the European Commission and in some cases third countries and international organisations. To this end, they allow the exchange of information on persons, companies and goods under suspicion of infringing customs and agricultural legislation, in order to request connected authorities to take certain actions regarding them (e.g. specific checks, discreet surveillance). The systems involve the processing of sensitive data (suspicion of criminal behaviour, health data). A Joint Opinion was appropriate because the three systems are closely related and use the same platform. Recommendations include, among others, providing better information to data subjects as well as evaluating retention periods and the necessity of certain data categories.