A bonded warehouse, or bond, is a building or other secured area in which dutiable goods may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty. It may be managed by the state or by private enterprise. In the latter case a customs bond must be posted with the government.

Using the OPR procedure enables you to claim relief from duty on the Community goods which have been exported for process, as long as you can show that the exported goods were used to produce, or are incorporated into, the products you are importing. Before you can claim duty relief under OPR, however, you must be authorised to use the arrangements.

Duty is relieved on imports of non EC goods which are processed in the Community and re-exported, provided the trade does not harm the essential interests of Community producers of similar goods. It can provide relief from Customs duty, specific Customs duty (formerly CAP charges), anti dumping duty and countervailing duty.