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Customer Notice 11 January 2017
Changes in Finnish Customs’ data systems in 2017–2020 due to new customs legislation

Publication date 11.1.2017 13.00
Press release

The Union Customs Code aims at the implementation of an electronic operational environment, which means significant changes to the data systems of businesses and of Customs during 2017-2020.

The Union Customs Code aims at the implementation of an electronic operational environment, which means significant changes to the data systems of businesses and of Customs during 2017-2020. The schedules for the implementation of the electronic systems are included in the Work Programme of the Commission of the European Union. According to the currently effective Work Programme, the implementation of national systems would start with the declaration systems for export and transit in October 2019, at the earliest.

National data systems are based on integrated data contents and declaration models

Some of the systems based on the Work Programme will be developed by the Commission and implemented throughout the entire European Union. Some data systems will be implemented at the national level, but according to integrated models. In order to facilitate the preparation and interpretation of the new Customs Code, the Commission of the European Union has issued declaration models using business process modelling. The modelling gives a clear forecast of the impact that future changes will have on business activity. Finnish Customs will introduce declaration models to its customer cooperation groups during 2017. More information on business process models is available on the Commission website.

Finnish Customs’ new declaration system is based on the data model of the EU. The data model is based on the new Customs Code and the joint data model of the World Customs Organization which is used for ensuring the world-wide integration of data. The aim is to issue national message descriptions, which companies can use to update their message exchange systems, about one year prior to the implementation of the new declaration system. The detailed message descriptions for export and transit are to be issued in October 2018.

First Commission system REX taken into use on 1 January 2017

The REX system for registered exporters is the first new EU-wide system that was taken into use on 1 January 2017. The first companies to register into the system are those that import products originating in developing countries to the EU. These companies issue certificates of origin based on which GSP benefits can be applied for.

Supplier of the customs clearance system selected

Finnish Customs is renewing its entire customs clearance system. The agreement on the acquisition of a new customs clearance and tariff system was signed on 14 December 2016. The new customs clearance system will be implemented for customer use in stages.

Further information is available from Ms Minna Gustafsson and Mr Veijo Alatalo. Our e-mail addresses are of the format firstname.lastname(at)tulli.fi.

Customer notice