Study Guide

To support negotiations between express carriers (or their trade associations) and individual administrations, and to achieve a more universal implementation of international best practice, the World Customs Organization has produced a set of guidelines for this area. The WCO Immediate Release Guidelines are the standard against which each country is expected to benchmark its express clearance activities.

Note: World Customs Organization Immediate Release Guidelines The WCO developed a set of release and clearance procedures in early 1990 to assist both Customs and trade in expediting the clearance of large numbers of small or negligible value goods across borders that were primarily being carried by courier and express mail services. These Guidelines operate on the principle of information being provided by the operator to Customs in advance of the arrival of the goods. In addition to the documentary and physical issues related to customs clearance of express consignments, the WCO Immediate Release Guidelines also place emphasis on the desirability of providing the information required by the control authorities through the use of information technology to exchange electronic data. The Guidelines state: “The Guidelines provide that the Customs will generally grant immediate release/clearance to all consignments, provided that the conditions laid down by Customs are met and that the necessary information required by national legislation is communicated at a stipulated time before the consignments arrive. The advance communication of that information is facilitated, in particular, through exchange of data electronically.” (WCO, IRG, pg 01 006)

The Guidelines cover the areas of most concern to both Customs and business. These include four categories of consignments, with outlines of appropriate procedures to deal with the generic risk represented by each. In addition, contentious issues such as de minimis limits are provided with guidance against which to construct or benchmark national standards. When examining the recommendations in the Guidelines, it is important to keep in mind that they are not part of an international treaty. They provide important and credible guidance, but they are not binding on any administration.

Use of electronic data is central to the Guidelines.

Benefits of using electronic data

↑ Speed Electronic data enables faster processing of express consignments through automated risk assessment and pre-arrival clearance.

✔ Accuracy Digital data submission reduces transcription errors and enables more reliable matching against risk profiles and compliance records.

↓ Cost Reduction Reduced administrative burden and paperwork costs for both business and government, supporting the economic case for express trade.

The Guidelines provide practical advice to all parties on the process and potential data requirements, while linking the needs of express consignments to the overall provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention on customs information technology issues, supplementing the principles set out in the legal text of the Revised Kyoto Convention.

The Guidelines provide an indicative list of data elements for the different categories of consignments, detailed in Appendix 1 of the Guidelines. Customs administrations are encouraged to limit data requirements to only those details deemed necessary to ensure compliance with customs laws. Consideration of the need for physical intervention by Customs and other control authorities at the frontier has also been taken into account in the WCO Immediate Release Guidelines, with recommendations on risk management and coordinated examinations detailed in section 12 of the Guidelines.

The pressure for continued development of processes that facilitate trade and ensure that the expansion in demand for express services is effectively met has led to a continuing dialogue between the industry and government at international, regional, and national level.

The need for dialogue between all levels of government and industry has been clearly recognized by both the express industry and the WCO, with encouragement to undertake negotiations on Memoranda of Understanding expressly provided for in section 16 of the Guidelines.

Reading 5: World Customs Organization, 2018, Immediate Release Guidelines To view, please click the following link: Immediate Release Guidelines