The stowing of goods, as part of the transport operation of dangerous goods by sea, falls under international rules of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) of the International maritime Organisation (IMO) to which Member States, but not the European Community, are signatories.

1. Customs authorities may, in accordance with the conditions laid down by the provisions in force, carry out such controls as they deem necessary to ensure that customs rules and other legislation governing the international movement of goods between the customs territory of the Community and third countries and the presence of goods that do not have Community status are correctly applied.

"Risk" means the likelihood of an event that may occur in connection with the international movement of goods between the customs territory of the Community and third countries and the presence of goods that do not have Community status, which:

4. In the context of the controls provided for in this Article, customs and other competent authorities, such as veterinary and police authorities, may exchange data received in connection with the international movement of goods between the customs territory of the Community and third countries and the presence of goods that do not have Community status. They may also communicate such data to the customs authorities of Member States and the Commission, where this is required for the correct application of relevant legislation, so as to protect the security of citizens and businesses or to detect or prevent irregularities.

"specific goods or movements": goods or movements which, by their very nature, call for specific provisions, and in particular industrial plant; vessels and aircraft; sea products; goods delivered to vessels and aircraft; staggered consignments; military goods; goods to or from offshore installations; spacecraft; motor vehicle and aircraft parts; and waste products;

Goods' flows reflect the movement of a good from one location to another.