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Tools and Instruments
Tools
Tools are non binding informal publications developed by the WCO to assist their Members and traders in the field of Customs. The pertinent trade facilitation tools are as follows:
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Application of Information and Communication Technology – ICT Guidelines
Information and communication technologies (IC technologies) enable Customs to increase the quality of their control activities while, at the same time, enhancing their level of trade facilitation.
The WCO has developed Guidelines to help Administrations implement the Standards and Recommended Practices contained in the Revised Kyoto Convention. The intent of the ICT Guidelines of the Revised Kyoto Convention is to focus the attention of Customs administrations on the impact of IC technologies on the business of Customs, and to outline the potential advantages to Customs that will result from the use of IC technologies to enhance their program and service delivery.
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WCO Data Model
The Information Management Sub-Committee of the WCO (IMSC) is responsible for the maintenance of the WCO Customs Data Model, in order to keep the Data Model up to date with changing or new requirements in the Customs and trade environment. The Terms of Reference of the IMSC apply.
To ensure continuity and stability in Customs and traders IT systems, changes to the WCO Customs Data Model should be kept to a minimum, be driven by strong business needs and agreed upon by consensus.
The purpose of these procedures is to provide a method whereby requests for changes, deletions, and/or additions to the WCO Customs Data Model covering:
- business process and information models,
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data elements,
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codes,
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message implementation guidelines (MIGs),
can be progressed in a logical and co-ordinated manner through the IMSC.
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Unique Consignment Reference (UCR)
The Unique Consignment Reference UCR is a reference number for Customs use and may be required to be eported to Customs at any point during a Customs procedure.
The UCR should be:
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applied to all international goods movements for which Customs control is required;
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used only as an access key for audit, consignment tracking and information, reconciliation purposes;
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unique at both national and international level;
applied at consignment level; -
issued as early as possible in the international transaction.
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Immediate Release Guidelines
The WCO developed a set of release/clearance procedures in early 1990 to assist both Customs and trade with expediting the clearance of large number of small or negligible value goods across borders that were primarily being carried by courier and express mail services. These Guidelines operated on the principle of information being provided by the operator to Customs in advance of the arrival of the goods.
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Advance Passenger Information (API) Guidelines
In order to cope with a dramatic growth in passenger traffic, Customs administrations implemented various measures to facilitate the movement of passengers while maintaining appropriate control. One of the measures developed in co-operation with the airline industry was the development of the Advance Passenger Information System. The WCO and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) jointly developed the WCO/IATA Guidelines on Advance Passenger Information in 1993 as a tool to help their members implement this system.
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Time Release Study
One of the methods used for the review of clearance procedures is to measure the average time taken between the arrival of the goods and their release. This facilitates Customs to identify both the problem areas and potential corrective actions to increase their efficiency. The use of automation and other sophisticated selectivity methods can allow Customs to improve compliance and at the same time improve facilitation for the majority of low risk goods.
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Customs International Benchmarking Manual
The Customs International Benchmarking Manual was developed to provide guidance to administrations for improving their efficiency and effectiveness by comparing procedures or processes with the same or similar procedures or processes carried out by others. This process would then assist administrations in identifying and implementing best practice.
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Glossary of International Customs Terms
The purpose of the Council's Glossary is to set down in a single document definitions of certain Customs terms in order to establish a common Customs terminology, intended not only to facilitate the work of the Council, but also to assist Members and non-Members, international organizations and trade circles to develop a uniform approach to the Customs and Customs-related questions with which they are concerned.
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