Advance Cargo Shipment Data - European Union
The development of a European advance cargo risk assessment system started in 2005 with the amendment of the European Community Customs Code EC Regulation 2913/92 through EC Regulation 648/2005. This regulation entered into force in May 2005, but several of its mandatory electronic advance cargo data reporting requirements would only become effective when the European Commission could develop detailed implementing provisions.
These implementing provisions were subsequently published in two Commission Regulations - EC Regulation 1875/2006 and EC Regulation 312/2009. The advance cargo data reporting requirements were scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2009. However, the mandatory electronic advance cargo data reporting requirements for imports into the European Community as well as for certain goods exported from the Community are now scheduled to become effective on December 31, 2010.
These European Commission regulations introduced:
- a requirement for economic operators, like ocean carriers, to electronically provide customs authorities with information on goods prior to import to or export from the European Community
- for deep sea containerized maritime shipments, the advance cargo data for risk assessment purposes must be lodged no later than 24 hours before commencement of loading
- uniform Community risk-selection criteria for controls for safety and security reasons
The new European cargo security rules will impact a significant amount of containerized shipments, which is estimated to be approximately 13 million containers in 2007 - more than that of the United States, which imported approximately 11.5 million containers in the same year. As the WSC and IHS Global Insight report on liner shipping in the European Union demonstrates, one third of global containerized import and export shipments relate to the European Union.
The World Shipping Council supports the European Community's efforts to establish a cargo security risk analysis and assessment capability and to apply that capability through advance mandatory electronic filing of shipment information. Through its involvement in the European Commission's Trade Contact Group and various Commission-chaired working groups, the WSC is assisting the Commission and the EU Member States in the development and implementation of the European advance cargo security rules.
Learn more about the European advance cargo security data filing requirements.
Learn more about the data elements required for risk assessment in the European Union.
For more information about the European Community's cargo security rules, visit the European Commission's website.