Improving Customs Transit Systems
In the Islamic Countries
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Figure 13: Paper-based OTS (Old Transit System) processes
Source: UNECE71
NCTS optimizes the management of the Transit System by using informational technology. The
following instruments are set up in order to support the NCTS:
 The legal base, valid in the EU and in the EFTA countries;
 The telecommunication network between all the Customs administrations involved;
 The Central Databases to distribute the common information to all National
Administrations and to test the national systems;
 A set of information technology applications to assist the national applications to join
NCTS ;
 A Central Help Desk (CHD) and a Technical Centre (TC) to monitor and to support the
operation of the NCTS.
The Customs Office List (COL) is maintained by National Administrations via the Central
Services/Reference Database (CS/RD) and has been made available on the public Europa
website. A download facility has also been provided. The Management Information System
(MIS) is available for consultation on the public Europe website since March 2004.
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