1. International standards in use for e-customs in Europe
Jean-Luc Delcourt
TAXUD-C-1
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

2. Context Customs declarations at the centre of Customs processes
Vector for data exchange (B2C, C2C)
Helps identify good flows – Risk-analysis
Customs declarations <> « Summary » declarations
Paper support > IT systems
Security concerns
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

3. Presentation structure
Customs declarations
Origin: Single Administrative Document (SAD) – International standards
Harmonisation of simplified procedures
Summary declarations (“Cargo report”)
Origin: Cargo manifest
Supply chain security >>
Electronic Customs
The steps
Single window
International standards
Perspective for South Caucasus
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

4. SAD - context SAD (1988): EU + EFTA
Rationalised and reduced administrative documentation
Ensured openness in national administrative requirements
Reduced amount of data
With possibility for countries to require or not some of the data elements (“Optional boxes”)
Standardise and harmonise data
Which implies use of common codes for certain data elements
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

5. SAD Standardizes and harmonizes data (1)
Use of common codes for as many data elements as possible
Trader identification numbers (boxes 2, 8 ...)
Delivery terms (box 20)
Nature of transaction (box 24)
Preference codes (box 36)
Procedure codes (box 37 – partially)
Valuation method code (box 43)
Special mentions (box 44 – partially coded)
Tax types (box 47)
Mode of payment (box 47)
Warehouse identification (box 49)
Guarantee (box 53)
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

6. SAD Standardizes and harmonizes data (2)
As far as possible international standards
Country codes (iso alpha 2 codes – ISO 3166-derived) (Boxes 15, 17, 21, )
Currency codes (box 22 – ISO 4217))
Modes of transport (boxes 25 and 26 – UN-ECE rec. 28)
Customs offices (box 29, 51 – UN LOCODE - partially)
Package codes (box 31 UN-ECE rec. 21)
Commodity code (box 33 – HS code)
Documents identification (boxes 1, 40, 44, partially 1001 Edifact codes)
...
More in my next presentation ...
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

7. Simplified declarations Harmonisation
Context: the security amendment of the Customs Code
Need to minimize disruptive effects on private and public IT systems
Important to :
avoid multiple changes of legislation that would affect customs data collection in quick succession.
ensure coherence throughout the data collection chain from Pre-arrival / pre-departure information to SAD declaration data.
Need to harmonize first steps of simplified procedures
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

8. Summary declarations Harmonisation (1)
Summary declarations (“Cargo report”)
Origin: Cargo manifest
Objective: Identify goods to ensure efficient customs control
EU law not very detailed
Supply chain security >>
new data,
new data flows,
EU harmonisation necessary
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

9. Summary declarations Harmonisation (2)
New security environment: Consequences for Customs
Origin: International developments
EU response: New Customs code security-related provisions:
Electronic information exchange between customs administrations;
Rationalisation of customs controls
safety and security-related controls at entry or exit of goods into or from the Community,
transfer of those concerning fiscal matters to the place where the trader is established;
Provide reliable traders with special, user-friendly options;
require traders to provide customs authorities with information on goods before they are imported into or exported from the European Union, via electronic summary declarations;
introduce risk selection criteria that will apply throughout the Community and that will be supported by a co-ordinated computerised system.
WCO framework of standard: WCO data model, AEO concept
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

10. Summary and Simplified declarations Harmonisation
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Council regulation N° 648/05
Commission Regulation N° 1875/06 (Implementing provisions, which include data requirements).
Most provisions to be applicable on
Some provisions (AEOs) on
RESULTS
Harmonise security data
Integrate simplified procedures
Define necessary requirements for adequate risk-analysis
Ensure coherence throughout the data collection chain
Ensure that data is provided by party best able to provide it reliably
Ensure balance between :
objective security needs and
minimization of burden for traders
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

11. Electronic customs EU Project Objectives
Commission and EU Member States objectives
To deliver pan-European e-Government services,
To provide for efficient, effective and interoperable information and communication systems between public administrations,
To enable exchanges and process of information across Europe in a secure manner.
Actions: They shall set up and operate:
What? Electronic customs systems which are secure, integrated, interoperable and accessible,
Why?
To facilitate supply chain logistics and customs processes for the movement of goods into and out of the European Community and
To reduce the risks of threats to the safety and security of citizens
How? By minimising the remaining differences between Member States' Customs processes.
Programme structured in 3 stages.
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

12. Electronic customs EU Project Stage 1
Builds on existing work, notably NCTS and work in the field of risk management
It creates the foundation for an electronic customs declaration environment by adding ICS, ECS and NCTS-TIR to the existing NCTS.
Provides aspects of the EU electronic customs vision which also address trader concerns:
Economic Operators' Registration and Identification System,
Authorised economic operators (AEO),
This work is on-going; Objective: Initially operational by 2009.
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

13. Electronic customs EU Project Stages 2 and 3
More ambitious aspects of the electronic environment to lead to:
Completion of a fully automated export and import system (AES and AIS),
Completion of the Integrated Tariff Environment (ITE).
EU Customs Information Portal
Some preparatory work will begin during the earlier stage, the aim would be for the main developmental, testing and implementation to be after 2009.
Stage 3
Single Window project. This would put in place the final elements foreseen in the electronic customs initiative;
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

14. Single window in the EU
What: To enable economic operators to lodge electronically and once only all the information required by customs and non-customs legislation for EU cross-border movements of goods.
How:
By fostering the development of national single windows systems in all Member States
By ensuring that national single window systems and EU centrally-managed systems operate smoothly together.
Details of Single Window design currently discussed within EU.
Programme coordinated by DG TAXUD.
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

15. International standards
Wherever possible, all these developments are conducted in coherence with international instruments such as:
WCO framework of standards – WCO data model
UN-ECE standards and recommendations
Where this is not possible, the EU links with the relevant organisations to maintain those instruments.
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

16. Data requirements harmonization from the perspective of the SAD and its use in South Caucasus
By nature, the SAD encourages and presupposes
Data requirements as harmonized as possible in their definitions and representations
The use of international standards for data and codes
This enables traders to provide export and import data to customs at a lower cost: Data can be « recycled »:
from export to import formalities / declarations,
from commercial to Customs documentation.
This ensures better quality of data for Customs administrations.
The connection and integration of national procedures in a coherent, global standards-compliant, modernized framework is paramount for the development of the economy and the modernization of public systems.
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi

17. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION
ANY QUESTIONS ?
Jean-Luc DELCOURT
European Commission - TAXUD C/1
Telephone:
Fax:
Web: E-customs page of TAXUD website
23-24 June 2009
Conference on trade facilitation, single window, data harmonization and SAD in the South Caucasus – Tbilisi