Facilitating Trade:
Improving Customs Risk Management Systems
In the OIC Member States
11
 Cooperation with stakeholders (airlines, shipping lines, agents, airport/port operators,
competitors);
 Other customs administrations and international sources;
 Open source information (Internet, Really Simple Syndication – RSS, etc.), social media
(Facebook, Twitter, etc.);
 Tax collection agencies;
 Informants.
Despite a growing trend towards automation and use of IT systems in CRM, the role of the
Customs officers cannot be overseen. Customs Intelligence offers, and risk analysis experts, and
the operational staff at borders and informants are valuable information sources for the CRM
and are need to understand and give meaning to date and documents.
In addition to human sources, CAs can use an open source of information like message services,
newsgroups, and other external forums.
2.1.4 Risk Management at Border Crossing Point
Border crossings points (BCP) are the official points of entry and exit into a country and national
customs territory. Goods are placed under customs control and are subject to compliance with
national regulations including customs law and traffic regulations. The customs clearance
procedure itself, however, does not necessarily take place at the border crossing point. Thus,
different control procedures apply at border crossing points, and the riskmanagement approach
and practices also differ. The differences in risk management at border crossings and risk
management as part of the customs clearance procedure lie with the nature of risks and sources
of information used for targeting. In addition, targeting is commonly not automated.
At BCP, the control of commercial risks is less important compared to the control of risks related
to public health, environmental protection, national security and fight against terrorism
. Security is the main border threat and has grown in importance in past years 6 due to the
focus on fighting terrorism. Smuggling of weapons and prohibited goods that can be used for
attacks should be prevented at border crossings. CA and other government agencies also enforce
regulatory objectives, such as protection of human, plant and animal life and the environment
are also enforced at border entry points, to prevent harmful substances, pests, and diseases to
enter the territory. Because of this different environment and nature of risks, Customs officers
at BCP, therefore, have to rely on different information sources for the risk management. The
targeting at BCP uses local profiles, intuition, intelligence and other information sources from
third parties, such as military, immigration, forwarding agents as explained above.
Entry procedures at border crossing points frequently cause long waiting times and delays as
traffic volumes are growing and the infrastructure and design of border stations are often not
adapted to the border control operations. Effective control of goods, passengers, and means of
transports is therefore complex and difficult. A specific risk management approach at BCP
enables CA to improve performance and to facilitate border crossing, including through
simplification measures such as fast lanes. Integrated border management and Common IT
systems are essential aspects underpinning risk management at border crossing points.
6 Michel Zarnowiecki, Borders, their design, and their operation, in Gerard McLinden, Enrique Fanta, et al (2011) Border
Management Modernization, (World Bank) page 43