12. Read different types of product warnings. Decide how their absence can be used to sue a tort. Give some other examples of product warnings.

• Do not use for drying pets. (in the manual for a microwave oven)

• Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish. (on a bottle of shampoo for dogs)

• Do not use while sleeping. (on a hair dryer)

• Do not place this product into any electronic equipment. (on the case of a chocolate CD in a gift basket)

Unit 5. Rights and Responsibilities of the Customs Authorities

Text 1

1. Read an extract from the Customs Code of the Customs Union and translate it into Russian. Use a vocabulary behind the text.

Duties, Rights and Responsibilities of the Customs Authorities

Legal Rights of the Customs Authorities and their Offices

I n carrying out the functions vested in them the customs authorities are vested with the following legal rights to:

[1] take measures stipulated by this Code for enforcing the observance of the customs legislation of the Russian Federation;

[2] demand the documents and information stipulated by this Customs Code;

[3] check the identification documents of the individuals and officials involved in customs-related operations;

[4] demand that individuals and officials certify their powers for performing specific operations or effecting specific activities in the field of the customs system;

[5] in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation on criminal investigation procedures, perform investigations with a view to detecting, preventing, stopping and exposing crimes, conduct on-the-spot investigations and interrogations pursuant to the provisions of the criminal procedural law of the Russian Federation assigning the investigation of such crimes to the customs authorities, expose and identify the persons responsible for preparing committing or having committed such crimes, as well as ensure safety of customs officers in discharge of the duties;

[6] conduct on-the-spot investigations and interrogations in their line of duty of the offences pursuant to the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation;

[7] investigate cases of administrative offences and prosecute the persons responsible for administrative offences pursuant to the provisions the Law of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences;

[8] in case of emergency, to use the communications facilities and means of transport belonging to organizations or public associations (except the communications facilities and means of transport owned by diplomatic missions, consular and other institutions of foreign countries or by international organizations) for preventing customs-related crimes, pursue and detain the perpetrators of such crimes or the persons suspected of having committed such crimes. The customs authorities shall be obliged to compensate any damages suffered by the owners of said communications facilities or means of transport in such instances upon their request for compensation submitted to the customs office concerned in accordance with the order determined by the Government of the Russian Federation;

[9] detain and escort to the service premises of the customs offices or to the offices of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation persons suspected of customs-related administrative offences or the perpetrators of such offences pursuant to the Russian legislation;

[10] perform documentary filing, video-taping, audio-recording, motion- or still-picture photography of the facts and events associated with the conveyance across the customs border of the goods and means of transport under the customs control and performance of other cargo-handling operations with such goods and means of transport;

[11] obtain from the information from various state bodies and agencies, as well as from natural persons which may be required for carrying out their duties pursuant to this Customs Code;

[12] make written reprimands to the heads of various state bodies and agencies, directors of enterprises, leaders of public unions and associations containing requirements to rectify their breaches of the customs regulations of the Russian Federation with subsequent verification of the implementation by said persons of requisite measures;

[13] bring lawsuits to the courts of justice or the arbitration tribunals pertaining to:

- compulsory collection of unpaid customs duties and taxes;

- compulsory collection of unpaid customs duties and taxes at the expense of the goods;

- in other cases stipulated by this Customs Code and other federal laws;

[14] establish and maintain official relations of advisory and consultative nature with various participants of foreign economic activities, the other persons whose functioning is associated with foreign economic activities, as well as with their trade unions (associations) for the purpose of interacting with them in the issues of introduction and adoption of the advanced customs registration and customs control mechanisms;

[15] carry out other functions stipulated by this Customs Code and other federal laws.

Notes

to carry out smth – проводить, выполнять что-л.

to vest (in smb) – наделять (правом), давать права

to stipulate – оговорить

to enforce the observance – обеспечивать соблюдение

in accordance with smth – в соответствии с чем-л.

on-the-spot investigation – расследование на месте

to prevent – предотвращать

to expose a crime – разоблачить преступление

the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation – Уголовно-процессуальный кодекс Российской Федерации

to assign – предписывать

to prosecute – преследовать в судебном порядке

to detain – задержать

perpetrator – преступник

request – просьба, запрос

to be obliged to do smth – быть обязанным сделать что-л.

to submit – представить

premise – помещение

the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation – Министерство внутренних дел Российской Федерации

administrative offence – административное нарушение

conveyance – провоз, перевозка

cargo-handling operation – процесс погрузки-разгрузки

natural person – физическое лицо

reprimand – предупреждение, выговор

to rectify – исправить

lawsuit – иск

to pertain to smth – относиться к чему-л.