Customs officers in reserve may carry out temporary back-up duties at the request of the officials under whose authority they are placed, or specialist duties corresponding to their professional qualifications.
When taking part in these missions, reserve customs officers may be authorised to exercise the powers devolved to customs officers. A decree in the Council of State specifies the authority competent to issue these authorisations and the conditions under which reserve customs officers may exercise the aforementioned powers.
When they take part in missions that expose them to a risk of aggression, reserve customs officers may be authorised to carry a weapon. A Conseil d’Etat decree specifies the authority responsible for issuing authorisations, the types of weapons that may be authorised and the conditions required of reservists, particularly in terms of training and physical fitness.