1. Single Window Environment – Implications for Customs
Ladies & Gentlemen
My name is S P Sahu. Call me ‘SP’. I work for the World Customs Organization. The World Customs Organization is headquartered in Brussels.
It is the only intergovernmental organisation exclusively focused on Customs matters.
It has worldwide membership (174 countries).
It is the voice of the global Customs community.
It is particularly noted for its work in areas covering the development of global standards for customs
Such as simplification and harmonisation of Customs procedures
Trade supply chain security,
Trade Facilitation
The enhancement of Customs enforcement and compliance activities.
Anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives
Integrity promotion
Runs a global sustainable capacity building program.
The WCO also maintains the international Harmonized System goods nomenclature,
Administers the technical aspects of the WTO Agreements on
Customs Valuation and
Rules of Origin.
S.P. Sahu
World Customs Organization
International Single Window Conference
05-08 November 2008
Dakar, SENEGAL

2. Agenda Single Window to Government
Its place in regulatory reforms
Customs & the Single Window Environment
Architectural approaches
Alternative paths to the ‘To-Be’ position
Data Harmonization
What and how of this Central Issue!
Conclusion
In the next 20 minutes I will place before you, the customs perspective of the Single Window Environment.

3. Single Window Environment Definition
“a cross border, ‘intelligent’, facility
that allows parties involved in trade and transport
to lodge standardised information,
mainly electronic, with a single entry point
to fulfil all import, export and transit related regulatory requirements.”
It has several legal implications for stakeholders
Within the legal domain there is a very broad range of separate and important considerations .
for example, the agreements between agencies that must be in place to enable single window imply very carefully worded comprehensive agreements.
There are complex matters of resource sharing, costs,
integrated risk assessment and data sharing.
The legal aspects of data security, confidentiality and identity management across a number of databases.
Legal implications of international single window development includes fundamental sovereignty considerations.
UN/CEFACT draft recommendation 35 documents the main legal factors,
WCO UNCITRAL joint project to address many of the legal issues.
legal powers exercised by Customs, such as the authority to examine goods on behalf of other agencies.

4. Single Window Facility - Features
Single Gateway – inwards & outwards
Harmonized & Standardized Data
Legal agreements in place
Integrated Risk Assessment (sharing of intelligence, IT architecture options )
Audit trail; archiving
Current situation is characterized by redundant, duplicate, and
different data using different automated systems, different
forms, or both.
The result of duplicating the current situation results in undecipherable confusing, redundant chaos
The Single Window will allow the transmission of
one standard set of data, distributed and used by all
Agencies.
Single point of data submission
Transmitted to appropriate authorities
Ability to reuse data – submit once use many times
Single point of response
Data standardisation
Combined online trans. status
Online report capability

5. Benefits of a Single Window
Benefits for Government
Supply chain security increased
More effective and efficient use of resources
Correct revenue yields
Improved trader compliance
Increased accuracy of trade figures
Benefits for Industry
Reduced cost of compliance
Faster clearance and release
Predictable application/explanation of rules
Effective and efficient deployment of resources
A single window would have benefits for both industry and government. Here are some benefits for each.

6. Streamlined Reporting Domestic & International
Regulation Reform
SW “Wheel”
Trade Facilitation
Enablers
International Supply
Chain Security
Integrated Risk
Assessment
N2N Exchange
Collaboration
International
of Information
G2G Exchange of
Information
Interconnectivity
Ports
Reporting Licences,
Certificates, Permits,
Crew, Conveyance,
Dangerous Goods
Consolidated Fee
Structure Review
Standard Processes
Across Agencies,
Streamlined Reporting
Data Hub
SDS
Legislative Review
& Amendment
Agency and Industry
Change Management
This wheel shows the areas adoption of a Standardised Data Set could be expected to impact dependant on the extent of implementation.
Option A: Implement the SDS into Current Environment
the SDS option explores the impact of introducing the SDS into the current environment without the implementation of a Single Window system.
which is effectively a whole of government information collection system for trade activity and a messaging system that would translate and pass information to the appropriate authority’s existing systems.
would provide a mandatory single point of submission and a single point of response for all government related international trade activities. This option provides a comprehensive view of international trade activity, an opportunity for increased integrated risk assessment and more complete statistical reporting.
seeks to maximise the use of “international” trade data. Here, export data (provided by exporters or other governments) could be used to pre-populate and validate import and transit data. This would be dependent on having a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) or other supply chain track and trace system in place. Option D development would be in concert with B or C above.
Option B: Front-End with Single Window Capabilities
Option C: Fully Functional Domestic Single Window
Option D International Single Window
These include data architecture, information exchange (B2G, G2G and N2N), the potential for standardised processing and legislative and process review.
Now I will explain the 4 options being explored for submission to Government.
Domestic & International
Identity Management – s
Security, Access
& Privacy
Architecture

7. Customs and Single Window
Customs has the dominant role at the border
US ITDS and SAFE Port Act
Similar legislative/administrative arrangements in CA, AU, KO, NL etc.
Technological neutrality for data standards
Adopting a whole-of-government approach to border regulatory processes and associated data
Customs is the largest and most important border agency in terms of its intrusion into
trade transactions, its information gathering and the spread of its business activity. As such,
Governments usually see Customs as the natural agency to be the focus of single window
development. This does not necessarily imply that single window will be owned or run by
Customs, but even if that is the case, Customs will be the major stakeholder purely owing to
its wide business coverage at international borders.

8. Single Window to Government
The Single Window environment is a complex technical issue, but it cannot work without the politics and other non-IT issues being examined first.
It is crucial to get the policy, legal and administrative frameworks analysed and sorted before looking at technical options.
Political commitment and strong leadership vital.
I have often seen that the first thing that people jump to is IT!
Today, IT happens to be the least of problems in a Single Window program!
Single window is no doubt a very complex technical issue. But it cannot work without the political and non-IT issues being examined first.
As is the case for any significant change, it will not happen without the commitment of
key decision-makers, and single window is particularly affected by this factor. In order to
implement a single window environment, a range of Government agencies must be
convinced of its merits, but even more importantly, that the new system does not imply any
diminution of their respective powers and mandates.
Typically Customs will be at the focus of any single window development, and it is common for other agencies to view it as a potential .power grab. by Customs.
Strong leadership is vital in such a potentially charged
situation, including appropriate lobbying by industry.

9. Single Window to Government
Single Window environment requires Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) of “all regulatory agencies” at the border.
BPR changes will have associated information implications
The most significant being the need for data harmonization.
By its very nature, single window implies significant changes to the ways in which
Customs and other border regulatory agencies interact with each other and with trade.
BPR is a term which describes the means by which that change can be analyzed, documented.

10. Single Window- Pathway to Standards
WCO Data Model Version 3
UN Recommendation 33
WCO Guidelines on “Data Harmonisation and Single Window”
WCO and UNCITRAL a comprehensive “guide” covering (almost) all possible legal requirements, MOU’s, agreements, pitfalls and benefits when setting up or operating a SW. (Also Draft R.35)

11. Architectural Approaches
Consignor
ucr
Single
Window
Immigration
Carrier
ucr
Agriculture
ucr
Forwarder
TRADE
Veterinary
Customs Broker
ucr
Phytosanitary
The WCO Customs Data Model will also aim at including other governmental regulatory requirements in order to establish a single window environment. This may allow traders to exchange information only once with a single official body, preferably Customs, to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to an import or an export.
The overall concept of single window reporting is not particularly new. In a number of countries Customs have been for years the sole authority to receive declaration information and to share or distribute this information to other bodies within the government.
Also the issue of co-ordinated intervention at the border had been addressed already in the previous Kyoto Convention of 1973.
On the one hand the concept as such is convincing to both trade and Customs, but many attempts failed due to internal political reasons.
The WCO has launched a new action to draft a coherent single window concept. The Revised Kyoto Convention, the Data Model and the UCR are all necessary pre-requisites for this. The WCO will also continue the G7 work on other regulatory departments’ data requirements in order to make the WCO Customs Data Model fully single window enabled.
The G7 Initiative already gave political impetus to the idea of single window. It will be important to continue this political support to arrive at a satisfactory solution for both trade and governments.
ucr
Consignee
Customs
ucr
Bank
Bank

12. Single Window to Government
Consignor
ucr
Immigration
Single
Window
Customs
Carrier
ucr
Agriculture
Forwarder
ucr
Veterinary
Customs Broker
ucr
Phytosanitary
The WCO Customs Data Model will also aim at including other governmental regulatory requirements in order to establish a single window environment. This may allow traders to exchange information only once with a single official body, preferably Customs, to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to an import or an export.
The overall concept of single window reporting is not particularly new. In a number of countries Customs have been for years the sole authority to receive declaration information and to share or distribute this information to other bodies within the government.
Also the issue of co-ordinated intervention at the border had been addressed already in the previous Kyoto Convention of 1973.
On the one hand the concept as such is convincing to both trade and Customs, but many attempts failed due to internal political reasons.
The WCO has launched a new action to draft a coherent single window concept. The Revised Kyoto Convention, the Data Model and the UCR are all necessary pre-requisites for this. The WCO will also continue the G7 work on other regulatory departments’ data requirements in order to make the WCO Customs Data Model fully single window enabled.
The G7 Initiative already gave political impetus to the idea of single window. It will be important to continue this political support to arrive at a satisfactory solution for both trade and governments.
ucr
Consignee
Bank
ucr
Bank
Internal
Customs
Processing

13. Single Window to Government
Consignor
Immigration
Data base
Data
Repository
(provider)
Single
Window
Customs
Carrier
Agriculture
Forwarder
Veterinary
Customs Broker
Phytosanitary
The WCO Customs Data Model will also aim at including other governmental regulatory requirements in order to establish a single window environment. This may allow traders to exchange information only once with a single official body, preferably Customs, to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to an import or an export.
The overall concept of single window reporting is not particularly new. In a number of countries Customs have been for years the sole authority to receive declaration information and to share or distribute this information to other bodies within the government.
Also the issue of co-ordinated intervention at the border had been addressed already in the previous Kyoto Convention of 1973.
On the one hand the concept as such is convincing to both trade and Customs, but many attempts failed due to internal political reasons.
The WCO has launched a new action to draft a coherent single window concept. The Revised Kyoto Convention, the Data Model and the UCR are all necessary pre-requisites for this. The WCO will also continue the G7 work on other regulatory departments’ data requirements in order to make the WCO Customs Data Model fully single window enabled.
The G7 Initiative already gave political impetus to the idea of single window. It will be important to continue this political support to arrive at a satisfactory solution for both trade and governments.
Consignee
Bank
Bank
Internal
Customs
Processing

14. Single Window to Government
Consignor
ucr
Immigration
Single
Window
Customs
Carrier
ucr
Agriculture
Forwarder
Forwarder
ucr
Veterinary
Declarant
ucr
Phytosanitary
Consignee
Bank
ucr
The WCO Customs Data Model will also aim at including other governmental regulatory requirements in order to establish a single window environment. This may allow traders to exchange information only once with a single official body, preferably Customs, to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to an import or an export.
The overall concept of single window reporting is not particularly new. In a number of countries Customs have been for years the sole authority to receive declaration information and to share or distribute this information to other bodies within the government.
Also the issue of co-ordinated intervention at the border had been addressed already in the previous Kyoto Convention of 1973.
On the one hand the concept as such is convincing to both trade and Customs, but many attempts failed due to internal political reasons.
The WCO has launched a new action to draft a coherent single window concept. The Revised Kyoto Convention, the Data Model and the UCR are all necessary pre-requisites for this. The WCO will also continue the G7 work on other regulatory departments’ data requirements in order to make the WCO Customs Data Model fully single window enabled.
The G7 Initiative already gave political impetus to the idea of single window. It will be important to continue this political support to arrive at a satisfactory solution for both trade and governments.
Bank
ucr
Internal
Customs
Processing

15. Data base Data Repository Single Window (provider) All of Government
Consignor
Data base
Data
Repository
(provider)
Single
Window
All of
Government
(provider =
company or
government
e.g.
Customs or
Taxes or
Statistics or
Border Prot.
or separate
Unit or…etc.) ??
Carrier
Statistics
Forwarder
Immigration
Customs Broker
Agriculture
Consignee
Veterinary
Bank
Phytosanitary
Bank
Customs Broker
Customs
Carrier
Police
Bank
Defence
The WCO Customs Data Model will also aim at including other governmental regulatory requirements in order to establish a single window environment. This may allow traders to exchange information only once with a single official body, preferably Customs, to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to an import or an export.
The overall concept of single window reporting is not particularly new. In a number of countries Customs have been for years the sole authority to receive declaration information and to share or distribute this information to other bodies within the government.
Also the issue of co-ordinated intervention at the border had been addressed already in the previous Kyoto Convention of 1973.
On the one hand the concept as such is convincing to both trade and Customs, but many attempts failed due to internal political reasons.
The WCO has launched a new action to draft a coherent single window concept. The Revised Kyoto Convention, the Data Model and the UCR are all necessary pre-requisites for this. The WCO will also continue the G7 work on other regulatory departments’ data requirements in order to make the WCO Customs Data Model fully single window enabled.
The G7 Initiative already gave political impetus to the idea of single window. It will be important to continue this political support to arrive at a satisfactory solution for both trade and governments.
Private persons
 Environment
SMEs
 Unit
Insurance ?? ??

16. Data base Data Repository Single (provider) Window All of Government
company or
government
e.g.
Customs or
Taxes or
Statistics or
Border Prot.
or separate
Unit or…etc.) ??
Consignor
provider
Statistics
Carrier
Immigration
Forwarder
Agriculture
Customs Broker
Veterinary
Consignee
Phytosanitary
Bank
Bank
Customs Broker
Customs
Carrier
Police
Bank
Defence
The WCO Customs Data Model will also aim at including other governmental regulatory requirements in order to establish a single window environment. This may allow traders to exchange information only once with a single official body, preferably Customs, to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to an import or an export.
The overall concept of single window reporting is not particularly new. In a number of countries Customs have been for years the sole authority to receive declaration information and to share or distribute this information to other bodies within the government.
Also the issue of co-ordinated intervention at the border had been addressed already in the previous Kyoto Convention of 1973.
On the one hand the concept as such is convincing to both trade and Customs, but many attempts failed due to internal political reasons.
The WCO has launched a new action to draft a coherent single window concept. The Revised Kyoto Convention, the Data Model and the UCR are all necessary pre-requisites for this. The WCO will also continue the G7 work on other regulatory departments’ data requirements in order to make the WCO Customs Data Model fully single window enabled.
The G7 Initiative already gave political impetus to the idea of single window. It will be important to continue this political support to arrive at a satisfactory solution for both trade and governments.
Private persons
 Environment
SMEs
 Unit
Insurance ?? ??

17. Integrated Risk Assessment
Export Data To Verify Import & Transit Data for Goods, Crew & Conveyance
Increased Cross Functional Assessment Capability
International Trade Data
Approvals: Permits, Licences, Certificates, Visas
Trade Transaction
International
Cross Functional Assessment
Profiling
Profiling
Crew
Conveyance
Goods
Increased Access To ..
Trader History & …
Agency Approvals
Increased Access to Other Agency Approval Information & Transaction History
Holistic Approach to Profiling

18. SW Data Harmonisation Essentially to do with “standards”
Aim is to reduce redundancy, duplication and ambiguity
Capture/Define/Analyze/Reconcile
WCO Data Harmonization Guidelines V2
UNTDED

19. Data Harmonization
Capturing – a simple (and real) example from the US ITDS:
Port of Unloading (Loc. where goods are removed from a ship)
Port of Unlading (where consignment is taken off the airplane)
Port of Unloading Domestic/Foreign
Port of Unlading Domestic/Foreign

20. Data Harmonization Defining & Analyzing
All are “the location where the goods are removed from the conveyance”
Loading/Lading are synonymous
“Foreign/Domestic” determined by transaction – export implies “foreign”
Locate existing coded & free text means of how such a location might be represented (UN, ISO, Domestic Codes)

21. Data Harmonization Reconciling Agree on one name (say “unloading”)
“Foreign/Domestic” can be eliminated
In UNTDED = “Place of Discharge”
Used in this way in WCO DM (Ref. 3225)
6 data representations become 1

22. Normalization

23. Single Window & WCO DM
WCO DM to be considered as the authoritative source of B2G and G2G data
Version 3 is the initial Single Window version
Administrations contributed participating agencies’ Single Window requirements
Representatives of participating agencies took part in deliberations directly or indirectly
Transport
Maritime/IMO, IATA, IRU
Agriculture
Environment (Basel Convention)
Sanitary-phytosanitary 23

24. Conclusion Solutions are available Political will and commitment VITAL
Governments to accede to relevant instruments
Industry support to generate political will and continued commitment
Co-ordination and Co-operation with business and within Government essential
Have the essential Legal amendments in place
Start now, to have it operational 5 years from now.
In conclusion,
many of the needed solutions are readily available
we need strong political will and commitment for multilateral action
We need industry support to attract the attention of political leaders; we believe that WCO instruments are in the interest of world trade.
And we need to continue a formal and permanent dialogue with business for co-operation and co-ordination of policies and strategies.

25. THANK YOU QUESTIONS? S.P. SAHU Technical Officer
WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION
Rue du Marché 30, 1210 Brussels, Belgium
: +32 (02) , : +32 (02)
internet: