The Kingdom of the Netherlands
and
the Republic of Ecuador,
hereafter referred to as the Contracting Parties,
Considering the importance of accurate assessment of customs duties and of ensuring
proper enforcement by their customs administrations of prohibitions, restrictions
and measures of control in respect of specific goods;
Considering that offences against customs law are prejudicial to the economic, commercial,
fiscal, social, public health, public security and cultural interests of the Contracting
Parties;
Considering that illegal cross-border trafficking in weapons, explosives, chemical,
biological and nuclear substances, endangered species, hazardous goods as well as
in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors constitutes a danger to
society;
Recognizing the need for international co-operation in matters related to the application
and enforcement of their customs laws;
Convinced that action against customs offences can be made more effective by close
co-operation between their customs administrations based on mutually agreed legal
provisions;
Having regard to the Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance, the Declaration
on the Improvement of Customs Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance (the
Cyprus Declaration) and the Resolution on Security and Facilitation of the International
Trade Supply Chain, adopted in December 1953, July 2000 and June 2002, respectively,
by the Customs Co-operation Council, now known as the World Customs Organization;
Having regard to international conventions containing prohibitions, restrictions and
special measures of control in respect of specific goods;
Having regard also to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of
1948;
