Facilitating Trade:
Improving Customs Risk Management Systems
In the OIC Member States
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Box 4: SEED – Systematic Electronic Exchange of Data
SEED provides an automatic electronic exchange of data between Customs Administrations in
Western Balkans32 covering Customs Documents: Transit and Export Customs Declarations;
- TIR and ATA carnets;
- Simplified Procedure accompanied document (i.e., Invoice);
- Records about border crossings of empty trucks.
It is planned to extend the scope of the SEED system to include technical agencies and
inspections (Phytosanitary, Veterinary, etc.) in the data exchange
Such bilateral or regional information exchanges require a legal framework negotiated and
agreed bi-laterally or regionally by the participating governments and administrations. They
include, in the case of SEED Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreements (CMAAA);
SEED Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); and Protocol on electronic exchange of data
(which, among other things, defines the scope of data to be exchanged).
An example of regional initiatives and framework for the exchange of customs data is the ASEAN
SW, which is expected to allow in future 33 the exchange of the ASEAN Harmonized Customs
Declaration Document (ACDD) and supporting documents from other government agencies.
Pre-arrival exchange of information is also supporting CRM. An increasing number of CAs now
requires that operators submit declaration data and other information to CA before the arrival
and before departure of goods. In such a way CRM can be used to its full potential – see the EU
Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)34. The information is processed by the Import Control System
(ICS) so that these goods can be subject to customs control upon arrival at the first point of entry.
As well, the Customs Offices of Transit is receiving the data and risk results through the New
Computerized Transit System (NCTS).
In US trade, regulations from US Authorities are in place which could be called “customs
preclearance” or “push US Customs advanced information.” The US authorities require
declarations of the contents of each transported container at least 24 hours before the vessel
leaves the last port of loading. This rule enables a possible refusal of single containers to enter
US territory. The purpose of these pre-arrival requirements is not only to target shipments for
inspection upon arrival but to treat risk, whenever possible, before arrival, de facto before
departure. In the EU approach, whenever the customs office of the first port or airport of entry
in the EU identifies a risk for goods carried on the vessel or aircraft, it will pass on the risk results
to the customs offices in subsequent ports or airports, and can ask for assistance from the CA of
the partner country. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection have more than 600 law
enforcement officers and agriculture specialists stationed in 15 air preclearance locations in 6
countries35.
32 Albania (OIC MS), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia
33 Currently 4 ASEAM MS (Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia) are participating in the exchange of Certificate of
Origin (CoO). The exchange for the ACDD is expected to begin in 2018 and the exchange of the Sanitary-Phytosanitary and
Fishery Certificates is prepared.
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