WCO Discusses Anti-Counterfeiting, "10+2," and AEO Benefits in Oct Report

All “10+2” Elements May be Incorporated into WCO SAFE Framework

The report explains that the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards (SAFE) lists the maximum number of data elements that Customs Administrations should require for international trade security purposes. Six of the elements contained in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiative known as “10+2” are already included in SAFE. These include: Seller, Buyer, Ship to Party, Importer of Record Number, Consignee Number, and Commodity Tariff Number.

During WCO Council sessions, WCO Members decided that the remaining “10+2” data elements in so far as they relate to maritime traffic should be incorporated into the SAFE Framework. The WCO SAFE Working Group was scheduled to meet on October 13-14, 2010 to discuss the practicalities surrounding the inclusion of the remaining “10+2” data elements.

New Anti-Counterfeiting Tool Will Allow Customs to Use Trade’s Photos & Info

The WCO states that a new anti-counterfeiting tool, known as the Interface Public-Members (IPM) will be available free of charge to Customs administrations as of December 2010. The IPM aims to establish an interface between Customs and the private sector and to facilitate cooperation between them.

With IPM, rights holders will be able to input a wide range of product information: fact sheets, packaging details, photos, comparisons between genuine and fake goods, established routings, rights holders’ contact details and case studies for use in the event of goods actually being detained or seized. Customs officers will be able to access information on products provided by rights holders upon typing a product name, category or keyword into a multi-criteria search engine.

In addition, Customs and rights holders will be able to use this interface as a secure means of communication to share information on a variety of issues such as training seminars, relevant studies and reports, and the IPM will serve as a useful training aid for Customs officers.

Value of EU AEO’s “Vague” Benefits Questioned, Specific Benefits Were Expected

The WCO report discusses the benefits of the EU’s AEO program in several places. In an explanation of French AEO benefits, the report explains that there are three rankings, the highest being reserved for operators holding AEO “Customs simplification” certificates and combined (or full) “Customs simplifications and security and safety” certificates. It states that each accreditation level offers a package of Customs procedures, simplifications and facilitation with respect to inspections. Level 3, reserved for AEOs, grants operators access to the full range of Customs procedures as set out in a European Community Regulation, and also offers them advantages when it comes to inspections.

It adds that operators holding “Customs simplifications” and “full” AEO certificates are notified that they enjoy reduced levels of physical and document inspections on almost all goods. This reduction takes into account an operator’s accreditation ranking, including the type of goods that will be imported and/or exported, and trade flows.

However, the WCO report also contains an editorial which questions the benefits of the EU’s AEO program. He states that the three-tiered EU model offering such vague benefits as “fewer” delays and “lesser” physical inspections is a far, frustrating cry from the flexible realism of the WCO revised Kyoto Convention’s “Authorized Person” where the benefits are specific.

(See WCO report for other issues including a CITES toolkit, Africa’s efforts to combat counterfeits, futuristic containers, etc.)

Summary compiled from the October edition of the WCO News magazine, courtesy of the WCO - www.wcoomd.org.