Testing the new and updated messages
Message declarants must test all the new and updated messages submitted to the new Customs Clearance System (UTU) as and when they are transferred for submission to the Customs Clearance System.
Apply for a new authorisation for message exchange customer status or an amendment to an authorisation in the Authorisations and Decisions Service. Software suppliers and providers of message exchange services must also apply for an authorisation for testing.
We will notify about the timetables
We will notify by customer notices
- about the timetable for the introduction of the new declarations
- about the time when you can start applying for testing. This is three months before the testing starts.
Apply for a new authorisation or an amendment to an authorisation
In order to test messages, you should apply for an authorisation for the message exchange customer status in the Authorisations and Decisions Service.
To use the service you will need an EORI number. You log in to the service using suomi.fi identification and the mandate “Applying for customs authorisations”.
If your business already has a decision on message exchange registration for some messages submitted to the Customs Clearance System and you start using new messages (e.g. transit or export messages), apply for amendment of this decision via the service. Customs only uses one authorisation, that is, decision on registration, for all messages submitted to the Customs Clearance System, and it is updated with an amendment application.
Once we have received the application, we will schedule a time for the testing with the business.
Who carries out the testing, how and when?
Software suppliers and providers of message exchange services will test the declarations first. After that, message declarants who use their own server certificates will test the declarations.
The software suppliers and service providers must test all test cases with Customs. The businesses submitting message declarations to Customs themselves must test a few test cases with Customs in the message exchange testing service.
The message exchange customers test their declarations mainly automatically in the Customs’ testing service. Any person participating in the testing should have the mandate “Message exchange with Customs”.
Who does not have to test?
A business that uses a service provider in generating and transmitting messages does not have to test the declarations with Customs, but is required to submit an application for message exchange to Customs.
Instructions for testing
Read here instructions for detailed advice on testing.
Apply also for messages regarding hearing
The messages regarding hearing are used for notifying message declarants of decisions, which may have unfavourable consequences for the declarants.
You can receive messages regarding hearing for any declarations under the new system. For example, if Customs intends to reject an invalidation request, sent by the customer, relating to a temporary storage declaration or any other entry declaration or notification, the customer will first be notified with a hearing request message.
If you have not applied for use of the messages regarding hearing and tested them, the hearing request will be sent to you by post.
If you have tested and previously started using messages regarding hearing, for example, in import, you have to start using them for other declarations as well, such as customs warehousing, entry and transit, if you intend to submit these declarations via message exchange. Otherwise, you will also receive the import hearing requests only by post.
Foreign business
First apply for suomi.fi registration (registering the mandate)
In order for a foreign business to be eligible for applying for message exchange customer status from Customs and for testing the new messages, the business must first apply for suomi.fi registration in the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s (DVV) mandate service provided by officials.
During the registration, the business provides in the mandate service provided by officials the name of the person in the company who can grant necessary mandates for transactions to an employee of the company. If the person granting mandates is a foreign citizen, they must have the identifier registered in the DVV’s Finnish Authenticator service
Suomi.fi registration in the mandate service provided by officials may take months, so it is advisable to start the process well in advance.
Once the business has obtained suomi.fi registration, mandates have to be granted within the company to an employee of the company, so that they apply for message exchange customer status in Customs’ Authorisations and Decisions Service as well as mandates to use the message exchange testing service.
Granting mandates within the company
- If the person granting mandates for transactions in the company applies in person for the authorisation for the status as a message exchange customer in the Authorisations and Decisions Service, or personally uses the message exchange testing service, they do not need a separate mandate for transactions for either of those services.
- If someone in the company, other than the person granting mandates for transactions in the company, applies for the authorisation of the status as a message exchange customer or uses the message exchange testing service, the person granting mandates for transactions must grant this employee a mandate in the Suomi.fi authorization service.
If the mandated employee is a foreign citizen, they must also register with the DVV’s Finnish Authenticator Identification Service and identify themselves through it to access the Authorisations and Decisions Service and the message exchange testing service.
Provide Customs with company’s information for testing
In order to be eligible for testing in the message exchange testing service, use Customs form 1131e and enter the EORI number of the company and the identifier you have provided to DDV during the mandate registration. Send the form to Customs in accordance with the instructions given on the form.