Europe to Introduce its Own Advanced Cargo Information Ruling in 2009

(CIFFA eBulletin – Shipping News)

Europe will introduce its own 24 hour rule equivalent on both imports and exports for all 27 member states of the European Community, which will come into force in July of next year.

The move follows similar actions in the United States and other countries, following the World Customs Organizations Safe framework, which was established in 2005. However, Europe’s version will differ slightly from its counterparts in that it will incorporate a requirement for advanced cargo information for import as well as export cargo, which like the 24-hour rule in the U.S., will see the freight forwarder or a customs agent filing the data on behalf of the importer to customs who will receive the data in real time. The difference between the U.S. 24-hour rule and Europe’s is that the ruling is for both import and export cargo. Security filings must be submitted to customs both pre-arrival and pre-departure.

The challenge for the European Commission, however, has been in streamlining a process which is suitable across its 27 member states that have until now had 27 separate customs administrations. An EC representative explained that a risk analysis assessment would be made at the first port of call in the EC. The risk assessment will then be available to other EC member states customs administrations. If, for example, after cargo arrives in Rotterdam, it then needs to be transshipped to the Czech Republic, then any information compiled on that cargo will be accessible by customs officers at the final port of discharge.