Origin
The Union Customs Code (UCC) comes into being as a set of rules and procedures for the regulation of business activities from a country to the rest of the world, streamlining the administration of customs and creating regulations that ensure security for the worldwide logistics.The bases that support the UCC are: cooperation, fluidity, technologic adaptability, compromise and security.
Evolution
In the past, the Customs Administrations examined the loads when they arrived to the port. Nowadays, the inspection and evaluation of the containers take place before the arrival. That's possible because of the advanced electronic information, which allows us to identify high risk containers or loads.
The existing technological growth over the last years resulted in an amendment of the Customs Code (UCC), which entered into force on May 1st 2016. The aim of such an amendment is speeding up and facilitating the procedures in the customs and adapting the outdated legislation, currently existing after 25 years without any updates.
Lately, on May 17th at Lamaignere we have carried out a training plan to explain the changes that have been made in the Customs Code.
Which aspects are adjusted by the new Customs Policy?
Some of the most significant measures are:
- One-stop-shop system: Connecting by electronic means all customs, turning them into a single one.
- Approved exporter: It is no longer required to be the owner of the commodity, a contract with the buyer is enough to be able to export.
- Authorized Economic Operator: The new changes of the Customs Code aim to ensure that all exporting companies are Authorized Economic Operators, in order to simplify proceedings.
- New Customs Regimes: Divided in two groups: General and Special. The general ones include the free circulation of goods and the exports. The special ones include the internal and external transit, storage (customs warehousing and free zones), special destinations (temporary import and final destination) and inward and outward processing arrangements.
- The UCC is imposed above the national laws of each country.
Which are the consequences and benefits of the amendments of the Customs Code?
· Improved security against acts of terrorism.
· Reduced risk of economic hardship.
· Improved security against theft and diversion of cargo.
· Improved security against illegal transport.
· Improved security against the illegal movement of goods.
· Reduced risk of evasion of duties and taxes.
· Increased confidence in international trading systems.
· Facilitation dividends.
If the Customs can trust commercial parties to identify, evaluate and resolve the existing threats within the logistics chain, the risks are reduced. Consequently, those concerned about security will benefit.
Currently, our
Customs Area has been able to successfully adapt to the changes required by the UCC, whose deadline to be implemented will be on 2020. We have been more than 100 years giving advice to our clients in this topic and some figures that demonstrate it are the more than 40 000 handlings carried out during the last year, as well as our status as Authorized Economic Operator, since 2012.
SHARE:
Chile 
United States 
Mexico 
Korea 
Panama 
Colombia 
Portugal
Arab Emirates 
Uruguay 
