A. General Information
EU SEED (Systematic Electronic Exchange of Data)
B. Lessons Learned
To make available of pre-arrival data at the moment of beginning of customs procedure in the neighbour country (from the Customs Office of Departure – COoDep), and analysis of pre-arrival data using pre-defined risk criteria.
Facilitate the border crossing of the tracks with and without cargo, to enhance risk management procedures, to avail of trusted intelligence information, enhance post clearance audit efficiency. To enable participating Customs Administrations ICT systems to exchange information with relevant external public and private sector stakeholders on national level and or international level.
Improve regional cooperation, enhance risk analyses, provide capacity building activities, as well to improve overall trade facilitation activities in the region.
Pre-arrival information, customs declaration verification, intelligence related processes, overall business processes related to the border management.
SEED infrastructure established in region is operational and running:
- 7 SEED nodes (Tirana, Banja Luka, Podgorica, Skopje, Belgrade, Pristina, Rome). Each node is composed by SEED servers and communication equipment,
- 9 direct bilateral data exchange links + 2 links to the “middle server”: Pristina-Rome and Belgrade-Rome. These links covered all crossing-points inside the region.
- IT infrastructure and software are in place performing the automatic data matching, alarm module on pre-arrival data.
- SEED software comprises additional modules: VAT refunds, Cash flow, ATA carnets, Calculation of the Customs Debt, etc.
- Operational guidelines and instructions for the SEED system usage have been adopted by each Beneficiary Administration.
- SEED Programme has contributed to improve exchange of data at custom level with a positive impact on intra-regional trade flows.
- Green corridors/lanes initiative – identification of consignment of priority goods (essential goods – food/feed and medical devices from the WCO/WHO list). Sending of pre-arrival notifications to the responsible inspections, with overall objective of priority passage through BCPs.
- Common/Regional Risk Profiles (CRP) – proposing of common risk profiles, participation in joint customs action and reporting on efficiency on CRP operations.
- Single Administrative Document (SAD)
- SEED messages for Transit Declarations,
- SEED messages for Export Declarations,
- SEED message for Import Declarations – this message is used only for data matching, and is not transmitted to the neighbouring country,
- SEED messages for TIR carnets,
- SEED messages for ATA carnets,
- SEED messages for Simplified Procedure accompanied document (Invoice),
- SEED message for border crossings of the Empty Trucks,
- Common Risk Profile: 1) request, 2) response and 3) feedback
- NCTS IE001 (New Computerised Transit System) and WCO DM (Data Model) v3
- ECS IE501 (Export control System) and WCO DM (Data Model) v3
- ICS IE729 (Import control System) and WCO DM (Data Model) v3
- eTIR data model
- Data model created on UNECE (United Nations Economic Committee for Europe)
The main challenge was to agree about the common data sets and structures. It was solved by using of international standards (WCO data model and data models of similar EU systems). So, instead demanding data harmonization process, each beneficiary kept its own data models, but for purposes of data exchange, national data models are “transformed” to the commonly agreed models.
Information sharing coordination of processes for cross-border border management within the region can reduce security risks. Systematic data exchange can harmonize customs border procedures.
- Administrative (organisational and operational) capacity building
- Prevention of smuggling and enhancement in the fight against organised crime;
- Prevention of undervaluation – increasing the collection of customs duties;
- Prevention of corruption;
- Improvement of ‘Risk analysis’ on the pre-arrival data;
- Improvement of ‘Risk Profiling’;
- Opening of Customs IT infrastructure for secure and reliable communication with application and/or IT system of any external stakeholder;
- Improvement of overall technical capacity of Beneficiary Administrations;
- Acceleration of customs procedures and facilitation of legitimate trade;
- Regional Cooperation
- Promote/improve cross border communication and cooperation;
- Promote the EU concept of Integrated Border Management (IBM);
- Encourage countries (BAs) to work together;
- Provide sustainability in administrative cooperation;
- Reduce security risks in the Region;
EU integration perspective
- Excellent Interoperability/Interconnectivity exercise for the Administrations of the Region;
- Transformations from data models of local Customs Information System to already approved international standards (EU systems messages and WCO DM formats);
- One step towards a paperless customs (e-customs);
SEED Projects are funded from EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) multi-country funds.
During the development phase, overall project management was provided by Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency. At present, coordination of financial support from the EU is managed via the CEFTA Secretariat (technical secretariat of participating Customs Administration).
System maintenance and constant improvement is provided by the engaged outsource company.
Project in pipeline (SEED+) will include other border agencies in the systematic data exchange: Veterinary, Phytosanitary, Food Inspections and Agencies for Medicines.
In addition to data from the customs declarations, data from:
- veterinary health certificates for live animals, products of animal origin,
- phytosanitary certificate for export (and re-export) and
- certificate on pharmaceutical products
will be exchanged.
Other relevant stakeholders from public sector (regulatory agencies, responsible ministries, etc.) and private sector (economic operators requesting issuing of certificates, permits or licenses from the competent authorities) will be involved.
C. Relevant Standards
• Operational instructions for all user levels
• End-user manuals