Transit fallback procedure

Procedure for the continuity of the operation

To prevent interruptions to the company’s operation, a fallback procedure (business continuity procedure) can be used for the T transit procedure and the TIR procedure if one of the following systems is temporarily out of order:

  • the customs electronic transit system
  • the electronic system of the holder of the procedure
  • the data communication link between the holder of the procedure and Customs.

Permission to use the fallback procedure must be obtained from Customs.

Authorised operators

  • The authorised consignor and the authorised consignee of the T transit procedure or TIR transit procedure must use an electronic form to obtain permission to use the fallback procedure: Transit fallback procedure (Webropol form in Finnish)
  • If the company cannot use the electronic form, then permission can be obtained by using the form: Request for the use of fallback procedure (Customs form no. 289, in Finnish) or a free-form request with the same information by email to: spake.passitus(at)tulli.fi
  • The request is at the same time a permission to use the fallback procedure.

Other operators

  • When the transit procedure is started as a standard T transit procedure or a TIR procedure at the customs office of departure, the holder of the procedure/declarant must, at the customs office of departure, orally request permission to use the fallback procedure. Customs gives permission by accepting the T transit declaration or TIR Carnet for processing without a submitted electronic declaration.

 Interruption in the Customs system

A separate permission to use the fallback procedure is not needed, if the outage is in the Customs transit system. Customs informs about interruption with an email message. Customs informs about planned outages with a message at least two days in advance. Subscribe to disruption notices

Ending the fallback procedure

Customs must be informed when a fallback procedure is ended. The notification is deemed to have been given, the next time the electronic transit declaration is submitted for approval.

Points to consider

The following documents, including loading lists, can be used for the fallback procedure:

  • Single Administrative Document SAD (pages 1, 4 and 5)
  • the Transit Accompanying Document TAD or the transit/Security Accompanying Document TSAD without the barcode and the MRN movement reference number
  • Tir Carnet without electronic declaration
  • SSD form for submitting safety and security data, when needed

The forms must be filled in and submitted to Customs in triplicate.

Presentation of comprehensive guarantee certificates

When T transits are started using the fallback procedure and the comprehensive guarantee is used, the holder of the procedure must present their comprehensive guarantee certificate TC31 or TC33 at the customs office of departure, so that Customs can ensure that a right to sign the transit declaration exists.

If the transit declaration has been submitted during the fallback procedure and the export declaration has been submitted electronically, then the procedure code and movement reference number MRN for the previous export procedure is registered in box 40 of the transit declaration. The authorised consignor must send the export accompanying documents together with the transit declaration to Tornio Customs for discharge. In the standard procedure, the customs office of departure discharges the export procedure when opening the transit.

Providing safety and security data

If the goods arrive to the Union from a third country or exit the Union, then safety and security data must be submitted before the arrival or exit of the goods.

Transports arriving from outside the Union

If safety and security data is submitted as part of the T transit declaration (with the Transit/Security Accompanying Document TSAD), then safety and security data does not have to be submitted separately.

If no safety and security data has been provided as part of the T transit declaration or if the goods are transported under a TIR Carnet, then the safety and security data are submitted with a separate Security and Safety Document (SSD form). If there is an interruption in Customs’ Safety and Security Declaration Service (AREX), then the safety and security data is provided with an administrative document, a commercial document or a transport document.

Transports exiting the Union

When the transport arrives to the place of exit and the safety and security data has been submitted as part of the T transit declaration (with the Transit/Security Accompanying Document TSAD), then safety and security data does not have to be submitted separately. The TSAD form and the goods are to be presented at the customs office of exit.

If the company cannot submit an electronic transit declaration for the TIR transport, then the safety and security data are provided with a separate Security and Safety Document (SSD form) or with an administrative document, a commercial document or a transport document. The completed SSD form or an equivalent document must be presented to Customs at the place of exit or already at the place of dispatch of the goods - where the document is stamped. The stamped document must also be presented to the customs office of exit.

If the approved TIR Carnet is presented to Customs at the place of exit without the SSD form confirmed with a Customs’ stamp, then the safety and security data must be submitted to Customs with an exit summary declaration at the place of exit. If Customs’ Safety and Security Declaration Service (AREX) is out of order, then the safety and security data is provided with an SSD form.

 

If the authorised consignor has already submitted electronic transit declarations before using the fallback procedure, but the processing of the declarations has been interrupted before their release for a customs procedure, then the authorised consignor must cancel them in their own system.

The authorised consignor provides each T transit declaration, regarding a procedure for the continuity of the operation, with a number and keeps a diary of the started T transit procedures. The following information must be entered in the diary:

  • the date of the transit procedure
  • the transit declaration number
  • ID information on the transport vehicle
  • the customs office of destination

Page 1 of the SAD form or the TAD/TSAD documents must be scanned and sent by email to the Electronic Service Centre of Customs (passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi) at least 30 minutes before the transport of the goods begins.

The authorised consignor must send a transit declaration by email to the Customs Electronic Service Centre (passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi), at least 30 minutes before transport of the goods begins.

The authorised consignor fills in the transit declaration in accordance with the existing instructions and adds:

  • a stamp regarding the procedure concerning the continuity of the operation or the stamp for the fallback procedure in box A or the MRN box
  • the address for Tornio Customs to page 5 of the SAD form in the box “The copy of the document to be returned to” or adds it to the TAD/TSAD form to be returned
  • the text “Signature waived – 99207” to box 50 of the form, if the authorised consignor does not have to sign
  • a stamp, in accordance with the Implementing Regulation, Part II Chapter II in Annex 72–04 of the Union Customs Code, to box C “Office of Departure”, unless the forms have been pre-stamped
  • the particulars: “Authorised consignor – 99206”
  • the affixed seals and the time limit to box D “Control by office of departure” of the form

If the T transit has already started in the fallback procedure, then the authorised consignee does not need to apply for a separate authorisation.

When the transport arrives to the authorised consignee’s facilities, the authorised consignee must register the condition of the seals as well as the ID number of the warehouse in the TAD of the transit declaration or on page 4 of the SAD form. The supplemented TAD or page 4 of the SAD form are sent by email to spake.passitus(at)tulli.fi.

If Customs has not been in contact with the authorised consignee or has not arrived at the location within 30 minutes from when the TAD or SAD document was sent, then the authorised consignee can remove the possible seals and unload the goods.

After the goods have been unloaded, the authorised consignee sends the unloading report, the T documents and possible attachments to: Tornio Customs, Transit follow-up, P. O. Box 47, FI-95401 Tornio or by email to passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi.

The unloading report must especially include possible excess goods, missing goods and any other possible breaches of regulations.

A procedure for the continuity of the operation has already been used at the customs office of departure, and noelectronic TIR transit declaration has been submitted:

  • A separate form to initiate the fallback procedure is not necessary.
  • On page 2 (volet 2) of the TIR Carnet, fill in the condition of the seals and the warehouse ID (business number + R extension code).
  • Notify Customs of the arrival of the goods by sending a copy of page 2 (volet 2) by email to the Electronic Service Centre: passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi
  • If Customs does not contact the holder of the authorisation or arrive to inspect the goods within 30 minutes of the declaration being sent, the holder of the authorisation is allowed to remove the seals and unload the goods.
  • After unloading the goods, the authorised consignee takes the TIR Carnet and the unloading report on paper to a customs office open for business and with customer service. The customs office then returns the stamped TIR Carnet with the necessary particulars to the person who presented it.

The unloading report must include possible excess goods, missing goods and replacements and any other possible breaches of regulations.

The fallback procedure functions in the following way when the TIR Carnet is submitted electronically in the transit system at the customs office of departure, but the Customs system or the authorised consignee’s system is out of order

  • Fill in the condition of the seals and the warehouse ID (business number + R extension code) in the TAD that arrived together with the TIR transport.
  • Instead of a reception message, the holder of the authorisation sends the TAD and possible list of items by email to the Electronic Service Centre’s transit follow-up, passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi.
  • If Customs does not contact the holder of the authorisation or arrive to inspect the goods within 30 minutes, the holder of the authorisation can remove the seals and unload the goods.
  • After the goods have been unloaded, the authorised consignee sends the unloading report, the TAD and possible attachments all in paper format to: Tornio Customs, Transit follow-up, P. O. Box 47, 95401 Tornio or by email to passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi

The unloading report must especially include possible excess goods, missing goods and replacements and any other possible breaches of regulations.

The holder of the authorisation must ensure that the TIR Carnet, the TAD and the unloading report are presented without delay at any customs office open for business. The customs office returns the stamped TIR Carnet with necessary particulars to the person who presented it.

The use of special loading lists

Customs can, on request, accept a transit declaration with a supplemented loading list, which differs from the format set by the Implementing Regulation, Part II Chapter III in Annex 72-04 of the Union Customs Code. Such a list can only be used, if the company accounts are based on an electronic data processing system and the list is drawn up in a way that makes it easy for Customs to use, and if the list contains all information which is required in accordance with Part II Chapter IV of the Annex.