Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
27
2.1.5. Cross-border Expansion
Previously Single Windows had a national orientation, focusing on supporting national
regulatory processes and national agency collaboration. The past years have seen an increase in
bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives for data exchange and regional Single Window
(RSW) Such regional initiatives aim for the exchange of structured and unstructured data across
the borders.
The drivers for these cross-border exchanges are i) pre-arrival information submission, customs
or manifest, ii) cross-border exchange of certificates, and iii) cross-border exchange of transit
information.
Examples of Regional initiatives are:
 The ASEAN Single Window (ASW) 24 . Launched in 200725 pilot test was competed in
2013 by seven of the 10 ASEAN MS. The scope of the pilot test was the exchange of 2
documents: the intra-ASEAN certificate of origin (ATIGA Form D) and ASEAN Customs
Declaration Document (ACDD). It is also planned to add a common commercial manifest
to this set.
 EU Customs Single Window which launched as a pilot project the EU Single Window –
Common Veterinary Entry Document (EU SW-CVED) in 2012 and entered into
production in December 2014. In a second phase four more certificates and permits will
be included;
 The Eurasian Economic Community (EEAU) aims to establish an “integration
information system” for information purposes and exchange of data26
 Bilateral sub-regional projects for electronic exchanges of Certificates of Origin in the
UEMA (Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire) and CEMAC (Cameroon and Congo).
The cross-border exchange of information can be on a peer-to-peer (country to country) basis,
or like in case of ASEAN and EU Common Single Window, through a central “hub” (centralized
connectivity layer).
Setting up a regional Single Window is a challenging task, as it requires interconnectivity and
interoperability of national Single Windows, data harmonisation and the existence of a legal
framework for the data exchange. The reality however is that national Single Windows use
different IT technology and architecture, and data andmessages are not frequently standardised
across the border.
24 For a summary on this initiative see: ASEAN, ASEAN Single Window. Lowering the Costs of Trade through Faster Customs
Clearance, unde
(accessed January 2017
25 The ASEAN SW is based on the ATIG and the ASEAN SW Agreement signed in 2005. The first technical and legal working
group met in March 2007
26 The EEAU Treaty contains a Protocol that can be read as a blueprint for a regional SW and a working party has been set up