Border Security, Ports of Entry and Integrated Border Management Law

For the purposes of this Law, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them: International borders: the land, river, maritime and air boundaries defining the territory of the Republic of Iraq under the Constitution, law and agreements in force. Border port of entry: an official location designated for the crossing of persons, goods or means of transport, including land and railway crossings, seaports and international airports. Border zone: an area designated for protection and surveillance purposes by regulation issued under this Law. Integrated border management: coordination of policies, operations and data among competent bodies to ensure security, sovereignty and facilitation of legitimate movement. The Authority: the Border Ports Authority. Border Command: the Border Forces Command within the Ministry of Interior, or the formation legally succeeding it. Body operating at a port of entry: any ministry or body not attached to a ministry exercising a statutory function within the port.

This Law aims to protect the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq and the integrity of its borders; prevent unlawful crossings, smuggling, organised crime, terrorism and human trafficking; unify operational management of ports of entry; ensure implementation of federal customs and security policy; facilitate legitimate movement of persons and goods; reduce duplication and paperwork; improve integrity and transparency; protect travellers' rights; and strengthen federal cooperation and cooperation with the Region, governorates and neighbouring states in accordance with the Constitution.

Protecting international borders; formulating and implementing national security policy; customs and foreign trade policy; and regulating nationality, residence and cross-border movement are federal responsibilities exercised under the Constitution. No local or regional body may establish an international port of entry, change its status, or impose a sovereign or customs measure inconsistent with federal law. Implementation shall involve institutional coordination with regional and governorate authorities wherever necessary.

Integrated management does not mean merging all bodies into a single agency or removing their technical mandates. Customs retains responsibility for customs procedures, security bodies for their respective mandates, and health, agricultural, environmental and regulatory bodies for theirs, provided that they operate within a unified operational model, mandatory data exchange and coordinated on-site command under this Law.

Border management shall be based on legality, unified sovereign decision-making, risk management, intelligence-led selective inspection, data exchange, documented procedures, separation of security and service channels where possible, restrictions proportionate to risk, non-discrimination, protection of privacy, continuity of legitimate trade, financial and administrative oversight, and accountability for decisions.

Persons, goods and means of transport are prohibited from crossing international borders outside official ports of entry, except where the law permits military operations, rescue, emergencies or official missions under a documented order from the competent authority. The authorities shall close smuggling routes and unofficial crossings and shall not convert realities on the ground into legal recognition of them.

Border security measures shall preserve human dignity, detention and investigation safeguards, children's rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the principle of non-refoulement where applicable under Iraq's obligations. Border security requirements may not be used as a pretext for collective punishment or discrimination based on identity, origin or affiliation.

A National Council for Integrated Border Management shall be formed, chaired by the Prime Minister or an authorised representative and comprising the ministers and heads of relevant federal bodies. The Council shall have no separate legal personality and shall not establish a parallel apparatus; its technical secretariat shall be located within the Border Ports Authority. The Council shall adopt national border policy, allocate responsibilities, resolve operational conflicts, and approve emergency and interoperability plans.

The Council shall include representatives of appropriate rank from the Ministries of Interior, Finance, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Transport, Health, Agriculture, Trade and Planning, the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, the National Security Service, the Border Ports Authority and competent oversight bodies. A representative of the Kurdistan Region, the governorate concerned or any specialist body may be invited when a matter within its mandate is considered, without prejudice to the constitutional distribution of powers.

The Council shall approve the national integrated border management strategy, the responsibility matrix, criteria for opening and closing ports, readiness levels, data exchange policy, infrastructure investment priorities, the risk management framework, plans to combat smuggling and unlawful crossings, performance indicators, and coordination mechanisms with neighbouring states.

The Border Ports Authority shall continue as a federal authority attached to the Council of Ministers, possessing legal personality and administrative and financial independence within the law. It shall serve as the body responsible for administration, coordination and institutional operations within official ports of entry, without replacing customs, police, judicial or technical inspection authorities.

The Authority shall manage shared port infrastructure; organise vehicle and traveller flows; monitor bodies' compliance with unified operating procedures; operate the joint command centre; identify violations; manage attendance and restricted-area access records; collect performance indicators; ensure electronic connectivity between bodies; and report to the Council of Ministers and oversight bodies.

The Authority shall be headed by an official of special grade appointed under the Constitution and law on the basis of competence, experience and integrity, responsible for administration and institutional operations, without intervening in other bodies' technical decisions. The internal regulations shall determine the Authority's structure, staffing establishment and units specialising in operational security, data, integrity and infrastructure.

The Border Forces Command within the Ministry of Interior shall protect the borderline and areas between official ports of entry, combat infiltration and cross-border smuggling, and monitor land, river and water routes within its mandate. It shall coordinate with the armed forces and other agencies through joint plans for threats exceeding its capabilities or falling within national defence.

The General Commission of Customs shall exercise its responsibilities for valuation, tariffs, origin, declarations, release, investigation and customs enforcement under customs and financial legislation. It shall comply with the shared data system and risk management and shall not repeat inspections without a documented lawful reason.

The competent body within the Ministry of Interior shall verify travel documents, visas, residence status, and decisions prohibiting or permitting entry and departure in accordance with the law. Its procedures shall be electronically connected to the port platform, respecting data protection rules and preventing disclosure of sensitive data to unauthorised persons.

Health, agricultural, veterinary, environmental, standards, security and other bodies shall perform their technical functions at ports in accordance with the law. They shall operate through a unified referral system specifying when inspection is required, who performs it, the maximum time allowed and acceptable documents. Additional approvals not provided for by a law or regulation in force are prohibited.

Governorates shall, within their mandates, provide services outside the port's sovereign operational perimeter, including local roads, municipal services and development of surrounding areas. They shall not exercise federal passport, customs or border security functions. The Authority shall conclude service protocols with them specifying responsibilities, funding and maintenance.

Operational arrangements at ports within the Kurdistan Region shall be governed by implementation agreements between the federal government and the regional government, ensuring uniform federal standards for sovereignty, security, customs, residence and foreign trade, real-time data exchange, and auditing of revenue and procedures, while respecting the Region's constitutional responsibilities for its internal affairs.

No international port of entry may be established, permanently closed, or have its type, operating hours or permitted crossing category changed except by a Council of Ministers decision, upon the National Council's recommendation and following security, financial, logistical and technical studies, taking the views of the governorate or Region concerned where appropriate.

Ports shall be classified as land, railway, maritime or air ports, and may be classified by function as ports for persons and goods or for specialised or seasonal commercial movement. Their classification, operating hours and available services shall be published. An unauthorised category may not pass except under a reasoned emergency decision.

A port shall not open to the public unless it meets requirements for security, safety, passport control, customs, communications, backup power, basic inspection, a holding area, safe separation of inbound and outbound movements, an electronic registration system and an emergency plan. Phased operation under published restrictions may be permitted where risks meet acceptance criteria.

The port director shall head the operational coordination centre and shall not have authority to cancel a technical decision issued by a competent body. The director may organise the spatial and temporal sequence of procedures, request the attendance of the competent official, document obstruction, and refer violations to the Head of the Authority and the official's parent body.

A joint command centre shall be established at each major port, comprising permanent or on-call representatives of the principal bodies. It shall monitor queues, incidents, alerts, inspection results, cameras and system continuity. All exceptional decisions shall be timestamped and their issuers identified.

In coordination with competent bodies, the Authority shall adopt unified operating procedures for each type of port, specifying sequencing, handover points, responsibility for each decision, service levels, escalation cases and communication channels. Local instructions inconsistent with them are prohibited except in an urgent security situation, with the reason and duration documented.

Where possible, traveller routes shall be separated from freight, entry from exit, private vehicles from commercial vehicles, and dangerous consignments from general freight. A fast lane may be established for trusted operators or frequent travellers under published criteria that do not compromise risk-based inspection.

Port operating hours shall reflect traffic volumes, agreements with the state on the other side, and the capacity of Iraqi bodies. The operating hours of bodies within the port shall be aligned so that it does not remain open while a body required for release is unavailable. Changes shall be published with reasonable advance notice unless they are urgent.

On a security recommendation, the Prime Minister or an authorised representative may temporarily close a port or restrict movement during war, unrest, an epidemic, a disaster or a grave threat. If an immediate decision cannot be obtained, the port director may suspend movement for hours to the extent necessary, provided that the competent bodies are notified and the decision is subject to review.

Public, restricted and highly sensitive areas shall be designated within each port. Only holders of valid electronic authorisation linked to identity, role and time may enter restricted areas. Permits shall lapse automatically when their justification ends, an employee is transferred, or a contract expires.

The Border Forces Command shall prepare an annual sector plan identifying risk levels, gaps, unofficial routes, patrol deployment, and priorities for towers and aerial and river surveillance. Its strategic elements shall be presented to the National Council, while operational details shall be withheld from publication.

The geographical responsibility of border units shall be defined through approved official digital maps, with deployment points linked by clear communication lines. No security gap shall be left between the responsibilities of Border Command and a port, between two federal formations, or between federal and regional forces.

The armed forces may support the Ministry of Interior in border protection in the event of an external threat or major armed danger, or by decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Policing and procedural responsibilities shall remain with the competent civilian bodies unless another legal arrangement is established.

Radar, thermal cameras, sensors, unmanned aircraft, secure communications and warning systems may be used in border areas in accordance with the law. Data retention and access rules shall balance security requirements with privacy.

Border Command shall prepare and periodically update a national register of unofficial crossings, routes and high-risk locations. A closure, surveillance or field engineering plan shall be established for each location. Detailed vulnerabilities shall not be made public where disclosure would harm security.

Surveillance of river and water sections of the border shall be organised through coordination among the Ministry of Interior, naval forces, Ministry of Water Resources, port authorities and environmental bodies. Responsibility for interception, rescue and investigation shall be specified for each sector.

Unauthorised tunnels, passages and facilities crossing borders or facilitating smuggling shall be treated as threats to sovereignty. They may be closed, removed or secured by order of the competent authority, while preserving evidence and notifying the judiciary where a crime is suspected.

A security buffer may be designated in parts of the border zone, imposing proportionate restrictions on construction, excavation, photography or unusual movement. Restrictions shall be specified by a published regulation, with exemptions for residents' rights, land and farms to the extent permitted by security necessity, and compensation for expropriation or direct damage under the law.

Forces and civilian bodies shall adopt outreach programmes with border communities for reporting dangers, smuggling, mines and disasters. Informal informer networks outside the law and exploitation of residents' economic needs are prohibited. Reporters' confidentiality shall be protected under legislation in force.

The Ministry of Interior shall establish a unified protocol for infiltration, armed clashes, smuggling, rescue, and discovery of bodies or missing persons. It shall specify when an incident is a security, criminal or humanitarian matter, and who is responsible for the scene, evidence preservation and referral to the judiciary.

Traveller entry and departure procedures shall take place at a clearly designated service point using automated document reading and verification of validity, basic data and prohibition records in accordance with the law. Additional questioning and screening shall be limited to what risk indicators or legislation justify.

Security bodies may not repeat the same identity and document checks or questions without an independent functional justification. Verification results shall be transmitted electronically to the next body instead of re-entering data manually.

No citizen may be prevented from leaving the country, nor any person prevented from entering or detained at a port, except on a lawful basis and under a verifiable decision issued by a competent authority. The official shall be able to see the decision's status, duration and issuing body without disclosure of more data than necessary.

A person shall be referred to secondary screening where there is a lawful reason or documented risk indicator. Secondary screening shall be separate from the general queue; its start, end, reason and responsible body shall be recorded. The person's basic needs shall be met, and the person shall not be held longer than necessary.

The best interests of the child shall be respected in border procedures. Children shall not be separated from their parents or lawful accompanying persons except where protection requires it or under a competent decision. Procedures shall verify the accompanying person's relationship and prevent child trafficking without arbitrarily obstructing families.

Ports shall provide accessible routes and assistance for persons with disabilities, older persons and patients, without unlawful charges. Requesting assistance shall not exempt a person from security or legal requirements.

If a person at the border expresses a serious fear of return or requests protection or asylum, the person shall immediately be referred to the competent body under applicable legislation and international obligations and shall not be automatically returned before their legal situation is assessed. Protection procedures shall be separated from criminal investigation where there is an independent suspicion.

A person showing indicators of human trafficking or exploitation shall be treated as a potential victim pending specialist assessment, and shall have access to protection, care and an interpreter where needed. The person shall not be punished for an act directly connected with trafficking except in accordance with the law.

Where a valid arrest warrant or judicial request is identified, the competent law enforcement body shall execute the measure and hand over the person under an official record stating the time, authority and reasons. The person shall not remain in the custody of civilian port employees after handover is completed.

Each port shall provide a clear means of submitting complaints about treatment, extortion, delays or discrimination, with a tracking number and the ability to submit after departure. Complaints involving suspected crime or corruption shall be referred directly to the competent body.

The state shall adopt a single electronic window for submitting data and documents relating to the movement of goods across borders. Bodies shall reuse data already entered. A service user may not be required to provide a paper copy of electronically authenticated information except during system failure or where a specific legal provision requires it.

Advance information on the consignment, means of transport, carrier, importer or exporter may be required within reasonable timeframes and standards, to assess risk and determine inspection before arrival. Trade secrets shall be protected, and data shall not be used for an unlawful purpose.

Inspections shall be based on a national risk management system integrating customs, security, health and technical indicators and assigning consignments to channels according to risk level. A high inspection rate shall not be an end in itself; performance shall be measured by targeting accuracy, release time and compliance.

Where appropriate, priority shall be given to X-ray equipment, scanners, automatic weighing and non-intrusive detection before opening a consignment. Equipment results shall be electronically linked to the declaration and stored in a manner preventing images from being substituted or separated from the consignment's identity.

A package or container shall not be opened for manual inspection except under a risk criterion, audit selection or lawful reason. The reason for opening, personnel involved, start and end times, and condition of seals shall be recorded, and the consignment shall be resealed with a traceable seal.

Numbered or electronic seals shall be used for consignments requiring them, with the chain of custody documented from entry to release or transit. Loss of or tampering with a seal shall require investigation but shall not alone justify confiscation of goods without completing the procedures.

International transit movement shall be governed by procedures ensuring financial or customs guarantees, tracking, routes and deadlines, using recognised international transport systems where applicable to Iraq, without opening cargo at every point without a reason.

Safe routes and areas shall be allocated for dangerous goods, chemical, biological and radiological materials, explosives and fuel. Their import, export or transit shall be permitted only with the required licences and controls and under the supervision of the competent technical body.

Unauthorised or non-compliant medicines and health supplies shall not be released. Approvals shall be verified electronically with the Ministry of Health and the competent regulatory body. No port employee may create a substitute approval or grant an oral exemption.

Veterinary, agricultural and health quarantine procedures shall be applied according to risk assessment and approved certificates. National digital systems shall be used to verify certificates. Maximum periods for sampling and laboratory results shall be set where possible to prevent goods from spoiling.

Vehicles, trains, ships and aircraft shall be subject to entry and departure registration and verification of crew, cargo and operational data. Violations shall be linked to the means of transport, rather than the driver alone, where responsibility lies with the carrier or operator.

Goods may be released against a guarantee, undertaking or deposit of samples where the dispute concerns value, classification or a technical result not involving a grave health or security risk, in accordance with customs law and relevant legislation.

The Authority shall connect port systems through a federal interoperability platform that does not require replacement of existing specialist systems, but enables exchange of data, decisions and timestamps through standard interface specifications and a transaction log that unauthorised employees cannot alter.

Priority shall be given to developing and connecting existing national systems, including customs systems and government platforms for transit, certificates and transport, before purchasing a parallel system performing the same function. Any new project shall identify a gap not addressed by the current infrastructure.

System permissions shall be granted according to job role and the principle of least privilege; shared accounts are prohibited. Multi-factor authentication shall be used for sensitive functions, and every login, amendment or highly sensitive query shall be logged for audit purposes.

A source body shall be designated for each principal field. A consuming body shall not alter identity or consignment data whose original source is another body. A correction mechanism shall preserve the audit trail, reason and identity of the employee authorising the amendment.

Bodies shall exchange the minimum necessary data in a timely manner. Isolated databases that prevent enforcement of the law or require citizens to carry documents already available to the state are prohibited. This does not entail disclosing raw intelligence to persons without clearance.

Data shall be classified as public, restricted or secret according to its nature, with retention, deletion and archiving periods defined. Sensitive data shall be encrypted in transit and at rest. Traveller or trade data may not be used for commercial, political or personal purposes.

Systems shall comply with national cybersecurity standards and maintain incident response plans, backups and periodic continuity tests. Each port shall have an emergency operating mode allowing minimum border functions to continue during network outages without enabling transactions outside the record.

Advanced analytics may be used for risk assessment provided there is a legal basis, auditable criteria and human review of decisions affecting entry rights, detention or confiscation. A risk model alone shall not constitute sole evidence of a crime.

Inspection, receipt, handover and sensitive storage areas shall be covered by cameras under a security plan. Recording retention periods shall balance investigation needs and privacy. Deliberately disabling a camera, changing its angle or erasing recordings outside documented maintenance procedures is prohibited.

The Authority shall publish aggregate data on numbers of travellers, vehicles and consignments, processing times, closures, service levels and complaints, without revealing trade or security secrets, to enable public scrutiny and improve planning.

The Council of Ministers shall adopt a unified code of conduct for port personnel covering gifts, hospitality, dealings with intermediaries, disclosure of interests, contact with traders, use of information and contact with parties outside working hours. The code shall apply in addition to disciplinary and integrity laws.

No sum, fee, charge or service payment may be collected at a port outside official rules and channels. Verifiable electronic or official receipts shall be issued. A local cash fund may not be maintained except in an exceptional case specified by law and treasury instructions.

Posts presenting the highest risks through direct contact with money, consignments and inspection decisions shall be identified and subject to a considered rotation policy that does not cause loss of expertise. A competent employee's assignment may be extended following a risk review and reasoned approval.

Holders of posts specified by regulation shall disclose commercial interests, influential family relationships and any activity that could create a conflict. They shall not process transactions concerning themselves, relatives, business partners or entities in which they have a direct interest.

The Authority, Commission of Integrity, Federal Board of Supreme Audit and competent oversight bodies may conduct unannounced audits within their respective mandates, including comparison of digital records with cameras, seals, weights and stock. Audit plans shall remain confidential so that audits do not become merely formal exercises.

Secure and confidential channels shall be provided for reporting bribery, smuggling, manipulation and pressure on employees. Retaliation against good-faith reporters is prohibited. Where possible, the reporter's identity shall be kept separate from the investigation file.

The activities of customs brokers, agents and service providers within ports shall be regulated through licences, published lists, official fees and violation records. Unlicensed intermediaries may not enter restricted areas or be used to sell queue positions or influence.

Each body shall establish a programme to detect internal collusion, misuse of privileges, and leaks of consignment data or patrol schedules, respecting employees' rights and ensuring that security vetting does not become an instrument of arbitrary treatment.

Procurement of port infrastructure, equipment and services shall comply with public procurement and financial oversight laws. Where possible, the body defining specifications shall be separate from the contracting committee and the body receiving equipment and verifying its performance.

Where corruption, smuggling, forgery or abuse of authority is suspected, evidence shall immediately be preserved and the case referred to the competent investigative body; an administrative penalty alone shall not suffice. An administrative settlement may not conceal a criminal incident.

Legally authorised employees of the relevant bodies shall exercise judicial enforcement powers within their mandates. This Law does not confer general enforcement status on every Authority employee. A joint procedures manual shall specify who records the incident, who receives it, who prepares the report and who refers it to the judiciary.

A seizure report shall be prepared under the relevant law and include the time and place of the incident, identities of the personnel involved, descriptions of seized items and seals, photographs, weighing or inspection data, and initial statements. Where possible, it shall be electronically linked to the transaction and consignment.

Every receipt or handover of seized items shall be recorded with a timestamp, recipient's identity, purpose and storage location, using appropriate containers or seals. The judiciary shall be notified of any material break in the chain of custody; a gap shall not be remedied through a subsequent undated report.

This Law shall not restrict an investigating judge's power to order reinspection, expert examination or testing where necessary. During reinspection, the condition of evidence shall be preserved, changes documented, results compared with the initial report, and reasons for differences stated.

Warehouses and yards designated for seized items shall be managed through inventory controls, cameras, seals and defined access permissions. Dangerous or perishable materials shall be separated and lawfully disposed of, rather than retained until they spoil where the law permits sale, destruction or re-export.

Laboratory and standards tests shall be conducted by an accredited body or competent official laboratory. Samples shall be linked to consignments through tracking codes preventing substitution. An interested party may request a second test or counter-expertise under the law where a reference sample can be retained.

The interested party shall be notified of the reason for seizure or non-release, the body making the decision and the means of objection, unless the law prohibits disclosure of confidential information needed for an ongoing investigation. Goods or vehicles may not be held in limbo without a written decision.

Joint instructions shall set deadlines for referring cases and seized items to the judiciary or competent body to prevent loss of evidence or spoilage of goods. Exceeding a deadline shall be subject to review and an explanation of the reason.

Respecting judicial independence, the Authority and Supreme Judicial Council shall establish administrative communication channels to standardise requirements for reports, evidence preservation, electronic notifications and legal training, without interference in a judge's decision or the course of proceedings.

Each port shall maintain a multi-hazard emergency plan covering armed attacks, fires, explosions, dangerous materials, epidemics, floods, power and cyber system failures, and overcrowding. It shall identify alternative command arrangements, assembly and evacuation points, and communication with the other side of the border.

Border health measures shall be implemented by decision of the Ministry of Health or competent body under the law, limited in time and geographical scope, proportionate to risk, and periodically reviewed. Port management shall not create health requirements on its own initiative.

During crises, priority shall be given to the movement of medicines, food, fuel, relief materials and critical infrastructure supplies under specific risk controls. This shall not exempt them from inspection, but shall provide a coordinated fast channel.

During electronic system outages, a pre-numbered emergency register or secure alternative shall be used. Transactions shall be entered into the system immediately upon restoration, marked as completed during the outage. Personal files or unapproved applications may not be used to store border data.

In coordination with the security force commander, the port director may evacuate part of the port or suspend a particular route in the event of immediate danger, while maintaining emergency corridors, notifying the Authority and competent authorities, and recording the reason for the decision and when it is lifted.

Major ports shall conduct periodic exercises testing evacuation, medical response, system outages, hazardous materials incidents and attempted breaches. Weaknesses and remediation plans shall be documented without publishing details that could be exploited to compromise security.

The National Council may establish sector coordination rooms for the western, eastern, northern, southern or maritime borders as needed, comprising federal bodies and representatives of the Region and governorates. These rooms shall not create new sovereign powers.

Uniform federal standards for tariffs, documents, residence and security data shall apply at all international ports. Local operational needs shall be addressed through a published implementation procedure that does not change the federal rule or create a fee or exemption not established by law.

If a disagreement arises between a federal body and a body in a Region or governorate over a border procedure, the minimum measures necessary for security and protection of rights shall continue. Unilateral decisions completely halting port movement are prohibited. The dispute shall immediately be referred to the National Council or competent judicial authority according to its nature.

In coordination with competent bodies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall designate official channels with neighbouring states for border incidents, operating hours, return of persons and missing vehicles, health coordination and rescue. Local arrangements with implications for sovereignty may not be established outside these channels.

Joint contact points or centres may be established on both sides of the border under an approved governmental agreement or memorandum to exchange operational information and coordinate movement. No foreign body may exercise executive authority within Iraqi territory except as permitted by a ratified agreement and a law in force.

Information on consignments, vehicles, travel documents and risks may be exchanged with states and organisations under agreements and the law, respecting purpose limitation and data minimisation. Sensitive data shall not be transferred where doing so threatens fundamental rights, an Iraqi investigation or national security.

Coordinated operations against smuggling, trafficking or transnational crime may be conducted with neighbouring states by decision of the competent federal bodies. Each force shall remain within its own state's territory unless an explicit international and domestic legal basis provides otherwise.

The Authority shall develop a multi-year investment plan prioritised by risk, traffic volume and infrastructure condition, coordinating with the Ministries of Planning, Finance, Transport and Interior and other bodies to prevent duplicate projects or facilities disproportionate to the port's size.

Ownership of federally funded land, buildings and equipment shall be registered in the name of the competent legal body. A unified asset register for each port shall identify the owner, user and body responsible for maintenance, preventing disputes when management changes.

Inspection or surveillance equipment shall not be purchased unless the procurement study includes operating, maintenance, software, spare parts and training costs, useful life and a replacement plan. Maintenance shall be budgeted before expansion through purchases of new equipment.

Cafés, parking, warehouses and non-sovereign commercial services shall be governed by transparent contracts and published charges, with their areas separated from security and customs decision-making areas. No commercial concession may enable its holder to influence the order of transactions or access data.

Neither the Authority nor port management may introduce a fee or charge without a legal basis. Applicable charges and payment methods shall be displayed prominently and published online. Direct cash collection shall be prohibited wherever electronic payment is possible.

The Authority's budget shall form part of the federal general budget, with clear classifications for operations, maintenance, security and digital infrastructure. Sovereign port expenditure may not be financed through local collections outside state accounts.

Bodies operating at ports may jointly procure electricity, communications, maintenance, inspection and general services where this reduces costs and avoids multiple suppliers. Each contract shall remain subject to financial, competition and audit legislation.

National border policy, expenditure, agreements and results shall be subject to parliamentary oversight under the Constitution. The government shall submit an annual report to the Council of Representatives covering general trends in smuggling and crossings, infrastructure condition, processing times, projects and financial oversight, withholding operational details whose publication would harm security.

The Federal Board of Supreme Audit shall exercise its mandate over the Authority, expenditure, revenue and systems with financial implications, and shall have access to digital records under the law. Bodies shall follow up audit findings through a time-bound corrective plan.

The Commission of Integrity shall exercise its responsibilities for corruption offences, illicit enrichment and conflicts of interest under the law. The Authority, Ministry of Interior and customs shall provide organised access to data necessary for investigations in response to lawful requests.

The National Council shall adopt uniform indicators, including traveller crossing time, consignment release time, inspection rate, targeting accuracy, number of system outages, complaints, integrity violations and the proportion of digital transactions. No single indicator shall be used to judge performance.

Bodies shall periodically study goods release time from arrival to permission to depart, distinguishing the time attributable to each body, the service user or the laboratory. Aggregate results and plans to reduce unjustified delays shall be published.

Each port director shall submit a monthly report to the Authority covering traffic, violations, stoppages, incidents, service time and coordination problems. Reports shall be consolidated into a national dashboard enabling comparison of ports and detection of deviations.

The Authority shall publish laws, instructions, operating hours, charges, services, lists of licensed customs brokers, complaint procedures and general statistics. A procedure affecting the public may not be kept secret merely because a security body issued it, where it does not reveal operational details.

The Council of Ministers may commission an independent academic, oversight or advisory body to assess the border system or a particular port for integrity, efficiency, security and trade facilitation, protecting confidential data and without replacing constitutional bodies.

Every employee or service member shall be responsible for decisions or actions taken within their mandate. A superior's order shall not exempt them from liability where it constitutes a manifest crime or requires collection of an unlawful sum or admission of a person or consignment contrary to a binding decision.

Without prejudice to any heavier penalty, anyone exploiting their port position to facilitate smuggling or unlawful crossing, alter an inspection result, arrange queue priority in exchange for a benefit, or obstruct a transaction for extortion shall be punished under laws in force.

Intentionally altering weights, images, seals, entry and departure data, inspection results, custody records or procedure times to conceal a violation shall require referral to the competent investigative bodies, in addition to disciplinary liability.

Anyone intentionally entering a restricted area, using another person's card, identity or permit, or assisting such conduct shall be punished under the law. Employment-related liability shall be doubled where the offender is an employee or contractor entrusted with the access system.

Penalties under existing laws shall apply to unlawful crossing, smuggling, trafficking and forgery; this Law does not create double punishment for the same act. Anyone requesting international protection or showing indicators of trafficking shall be referred to the appropriate legal process.

The use of a transport, customs clearance or warehousing company shall not exempt the natural person responsible. Administrative measures may be taken against a licence or contract where a repeated pattern of violations is established through procedures ensuring notice, response and appeal.

No administrative penalty may be imposed on a service user or company without a statutory provision or lawful delegation. It shall be written, reasoned, proportionate and open to complaint or appeal. Detention of goods may not be used to pressure payment of a disputed fine where the law permits an alternative guarantee.

This Chapter shall not prejudice judicial jurisdiction or customs, penal, counter-terrorism, anti-trafficking, narcotics control, integrity, procedural or other penal legislation.

A decision refusing entry, seizing goods, stopping a vehicle, revoking a licence or imposing an administrative penalty shall be written or electronically recorded and state its legal basis, issuing body and means of objection, unless the law permits withholding part of the reasons to protect an investigation or confidential information.

Each body shall establish an expedited procedure for complaints against its border decisions and determine them within a period appropriate to the transaction. A complaint shall not prevent recourse to the courts where permitted by law.

Priority shall be given to complaints concerning medicines, perishable goods, detained travellers and vehicles carrying aid or essential materials, without compromising investigations or security.

Claims for compensation for seizure, damage, unlawful delay or abuse of authority shall be governed by state and employee liability rules under laws in force. Delay resulting merely from a lawful inspection shall not automatically entitle a person to compensation.

An applicant shall be entitled to information on the status of their transaction, the body holding it, missing documents, official charges and expected service time, excluding information whose disclosure is prohibited by law.

Language assistance shall be provided where possible in matters concerning rights, investigations or protection. Persons with disabilities shall be entitled to reasonable accommodation to complete procedures.

The Border Ports Authority established under Law No. (30) of 2016 shall continue with its legal personality, rights, obligations, assets and employees, adapting its units and functions to this Law without interruption of service.

Border Ports Authority Law No. (30) of 2016 shall be repealed upon this Law's entry into force. Regulations, instructions and decisions issued under it shall remain effective insofar as they do not conflict with this Law, until replaced within the specified periods.

Instructions governing the Border Ports Authority's units and functions and all operational instructions shall be reviewed within one hundred and eighty days. Provisions creating duplication, allowing non-uniform procedures, or conflicting with interoperability and risk management shall be repealed.

Within ninety days of publication of this Law, the Council of Ministers shall approve a transition plan specifying stages for connecting systems, allocating responsibilities, classifying ports, auditing permits, establishing command centres and transferring contracts and projects, without suspending port operations.

Within ninety days, the Authority shall prepare a national matrix specifying, for every port procedure, the decision-making body, implementing body, body receiving the result and completion time. The non-security version shall be published for the public.

The principal bodies shall connect to the national platform within no more than eighteen months. The Council of Ministers may extend the period for a particular body by a reasoned decision where a documented technical or contractual obstacle exists.

All cards and permits for access to restricted areas shall be reviewed within six months of entry into force. Those not linked to a current role or valid contract shall be cancelled. Permits shall not transfer automatically to the new system.

In coordination with the Authority, the Ministry of Finance shall, within one hundred and twenty days, prepare a national register of fees and charges collected at ports, halt collections lacking a lawful basis or valid decision, and unify payment and collection channels.

Customs, passports, foreigners' residence, health, agricultural and veterinary quarantine, transport, penal and procedural laws and all other specific laws shall remain in force. This Law shall operate as a framework for coordination and integrated management unless an amendment or repeal is expressly provided.

The Council of Ministers shall issue regulations needed to define the border zone, port opening criteria, integrated management, data protection and emergencies. The Authority and competent ministries shall issue technical instructions within their respective mandates within one hundred and eighty days.

Three years after entry into force, the government shall submit to the Council of Representatives a comprehensive assessment of the Law's effect on border security, smuggling, revenue, crossing times, integrity and interoperability, accompanied by any necessary draft amendments.

This Law shall enter into force ninety days after publication in the Official Gazette.