The TFA requests all national border authorities/agencies to cooperate with each other and coordinate border control and procedures to facilitate trade. Such cooperation and coordination may include alignment of working days and hours, alignment of procedures and formalities, development and sharing of common facilities, joint controls and establishment of one stop border post control.

Standard 3.35 of the Revised Kyoto Convention lays down the principle that the Customs inspection of goods should take place in coordination with other competent authorities. The SAFE Framework of Standards takes the same approach as the TFA text.

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1. Each Member shall ensure that its authorities and agencies responsible for border controls and procedures dealing with the importation, exportation and transit of goods cooperate with one another and coordinate their activities in order to facilitate trade.

2.  Each Member shall, to the extent possible and practicable, cooperate on mutually agreed terms with other Members with whom it shares a common border with a view to coordinating procedures at border crossings to facilitate cross-border trade. Such cooperation and coordination may include:

    (a)    alignment of working days and hours;

    (b)    alignment of procedures and formalities;

    (c)    development and sharing of common facilities;

    (d)    joint controls;

    (e)    establishment of one stop border post control

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General Annex Chapter - 3 (Clearance and other Customs Formalities)

Transitional Standard 3.35 lays down the principle that Customs inspection of goods should take place in coordination with other competent authorities.  It requires that Customs establish effective communications with other competent authorities and, where possible, carry out their examination at the same time as the other authorities. This will ensure timely and efficient clearance of goods, thereby optimizing the use of resources and expertise.

3.35. Transitional Standard

If the goods must be inspected by other competent authorities and the Customs also schedules an examination, the Customs shall ensure that the inspections are co-ordinated and, if possible, carried out at the same time.

RKC Guidelines on RKC General Annex  - Chapter 3  (download)

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SAFE Framework of Standards (download)

The SAFE Framework includes, among other things, addition of a new Pillar 3 to foster closer cooperation between Customs and other government agencies, ensuring an efficient and effective government response to the challenges of supply chain security.

Coordinated Border Management Compendium (download)

The Coordinated Border Management (CBM) Compendium is helpful for WCO Members in their attempts to develop and implement CBM in their countries by incorporating best practices on different areas of CBM that Members could take reference from.

Single Window Compendium 

To support capacity building efforts, the WCO has developed a Compendium on “How to Build a Single Window Environment”. The Compendium comes in two volumes. Volume 1, called the ‘Executive Guide’, deals with aspects of Single Window that are of concern to senior management. Volume 2 is called the Professional Practice Guide and is a collection of tools and techniques to support technical experts working on projects to establish a Single Window.

The Compendium provides information and guidance at all stages of development of a Single Window Environment.  

    - Volume 1 (download)

    - Volume 2 (download)

Single Window Supplement (download)

The Supplement provides a succinct approach to the Single Window concept, which would be useful to Members and other stakeholders in the implementation/enhancement of Single Window environment.The Supplement would serve as a supplementary training package for national and regional Technical Assistance and Capacity Building activities. It was suggested to include best practices to the Supplement.

WCO Data Model

The WCO Data Model is a set of carefully combined data requirements that are mutually supportive and which will be updated on a regular basis to meet the procedural and legal needs of cross-border regulatory agencies such as Customs, controlling export, import and transit transactions.

Data Model Flyer (download)

Data Model general brochure (download)

Data Model technical brochure (download)

WCO Data Model Data Harmonization (download)

Guidelines on Customs-Tax Cooperation (download)

The Guidelines aim to provide reference guidance to Customs and Tax authorities who wish to go further in their cooperation and develop operational models which enable agencies to work together to their mutual benefit.

Coordinated Border Management (download)

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Singapore’s ‘whole-of-government’ approach to coordinated border management: maintaining its edge amidst new challenges (download)

Beginning the CBM process: the Botswana experience (WCO News, February 2015) (download)

BEST, an interagency collaboration model that’s keeping the United States safer (WCO News, February 2015) (download)

Coordinated Border Management in the Netherlands (WCO News, February 2015) (download)

Implementing New Zealand’s Joint Border Management System (WCO News, February 2015) (download)

Managing land borders, the innovative Finnish model (WCO News, February 2015) (download)

Strategy for Integrated Border Management (Croatia) (download)

Coordinated Border Management (Germany) (download)

Road Cargo System (ROCARS) (Hong Kong China) (download)

The Joint Border Management System (JBMS) (New Zealand) (download)

CBM Compendium introduces case studies of Germany, Singapore and United States

(The Compendium is available on the WCO Members’ Website)

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Yes/No Question

• Do you have regular meetings with CBRAs (Cross-Border Regulatory Agencies) to coordinate their activities to facilitate trade?

 

Quantitative indicators

• % of CBRAs involved in the joint meetings

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