1

Joint WCO–UPU questionnaire on electronic advance data preparedness

Country
Entity name or organization
Full name of the person completing the questionnaire /  Ms Mr
Position/title
E-mail
Date

Capturing data at the origin is vital for both the Post and Customs, as the regulatory and commercial environment will demand this data to facilitate customs processes.

The questionnaire is divided into four parts:

1Data capture

2Data exchange

3Data usage

4Miscellaneous questions

Before completing the questionnaire, the Post and customs authority of each member country must first answer the following question:

YesNo

In your country, do the designated postal operator and customs authority exchange electronic messages containing information on postal items? (e.g. an ITMATT message or CUSITM/CUSRSP,[1] or any other electronic Post–Customs messaging for the exchange of electronic data in a bilaterally agreed format, or an equivalent message locally defined by the government)  

If you answered YES, please complete the entire questionnaire. If you send or receive ITMATT, but have not yet implemented CUSITM/CUSRSP (or equivalent electronic messages between local Post and Customs), please also outline your implementation plans in the "future plans" table below.

If you answered NO, please complete the information in the "future plans" table below.

Future plans: Please use this table to inform us of any definite plans you may have to progress in your exchange of ITMATT and CUSITM/CUSRSP, or any other electronic Post–Customs messaging, by indicating in which year you plan to implement these messages:

2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
ITMATT
CUSITM (or other Post-to-Customs message)
CUSRSP (or other Customs-to-Post message)

Please send your completed questionnaire and/or comments to:

Mr Bilal Ahmad Khan
Customs and Transport Programme Manager
UPU International Bureau
Tel:+41 31 350 32 03
E-mail: / Mr P.N. Pandey
Technical Officer, Procedures and Facilitation Sub-Directorate
WCO
Tel:+32 2 209 93 55
E-mail:

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Part 1 – Data capture by the origin designated operator

This section is for the postal operator to complete.

1 / For which postal products do you collect information needed to generate ITMATT messages?
a / EMS (items with CN 23 – S10 prefix E) / 
b / Parcels (S10 prefix C) / 
c / E-commerce parcels, i.e. ECOMPRO parcels (if implemented, ECOMPRO parcels would bear an S10 barcode with prefix H) / 
d / Small packets (registered/insured – S10 prefix R or V) / 
e / Small packets (ordinary or express – optionally, S10 prefix U or L) / 
2 / For which customer types/methods of posting is CN 22/CN 23 customs data (e.g. sender name, addressee name, detailed description of contents) captured electronically?
a / Private or business customers[2] with direct transfer/interface of CN22/CN 23 data elements to the designated operator's electronic systems / 
b / Private or business customers without direct data transfer / 
Comments:
3 / If you send ITMATT for items posted by private or business customers who do not possess a dedicated system interface with you for direct data transfer (2b), how are the CN 22/CN 23 customs data elements electronically captured?
a / Customers can enter the data via the designated operator's web/mobile application, then take the item to the post office / 
b / Customers can enter the data at the accepting post office counter, using computers or web services provided there / 
c / Postal staff enter the data based on the physical CN 22/CN 23 as completed by the customer:
iat the accepting post office / 
iiat a domestic sorting facility / 
iiiat an external data entry centre / 
ivat the outward office of exchange[3] / 
d / Other, please specify: / 
4 / If you selected 2b, what system do you use to capture data for ITMATT messages?
i / UPU Customs Declaration System (CDS) / 
ii / UPU International Postal System (IPS) / 
iii / Other, please specify: / 
5 / For approximately what percentage of items with a CN 22/CN 23 is customs data electronically captured, meaning that an ITMATT could be sent if the destination is capable of receiving it?[4]
a / For private or business customers with direct transfer of CN 22 and CN 23 data elements to the designated operator:
iLetter-post small packets:_____%
iiLetter-post registered/express packets:_____%
iiiEMS:_____%
ivParcels:_____%
b / For private or business customers without direct transfer:
iLetter-post small packets:_____%
iiLetter-post registered/express packets:_____%
iiiEMS:_____%
ivParcels:_____%
c / Overall:
iLetter-post small packets:_____%
iiLetter-post registered/express packets:_____%
iiiEMS:_____%
ivParcels:_____%
Yes / No
6 / Do you have plans to expand coverage of ITMATT to other postal products or customer types not currently covered? /  / 
If so, please specify the products/customer types and anticipated dates in the box below:
Products/
customer types / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
Yes / No
7a / Are the criteria for the ITMATT weight-based? /  / 
If so, please specify:
If you have plans to implement weight-based criteria, please complete the following table:
Criteria / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
7b / Are the criteria for the ITMATT value-based? /  / 
If so, please specify:
If you have plans to implement value-based criteria, please complete the following table:
Criteria / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
7c / Are the criteria for the ITMATT content-based (the item contains declarable merchandise, regardless of value)? /  / 
If so, please specify:
If you have plans to implement content-based criteria, please complete the following table:
Criteria / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
7d / Are the criteria for the ITMATT postal product–based (i.e. currently limited to certain types of postal products and services, such as EMS, or EMS and parcels)? /  / 
If so, please specify:
Yes / No
If you have plans to implement postal product–based criteria, please complete the following table:
Criteria / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
7e / Aside from the criteria mentioned in a, b, c and d above, do you apply other criteria for capturing CN 22/CN 23 data? /  / 
If so, please specify:
If you have plans to implement other criteria, please complete the following table:
Criteria / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / Later than 2020
8 / What additional measures have you taken to increase the percentage of items for which CN 22/CN 23 data is captured electronically?
Part 2 – Exchange of data between destination designated operator and Customs
9 / Do you participate in the electronic exchange of advance data from ITMATT between destination designated operator and destination Customs? /  / 
Please answer the remaining questions only if you answered YES to question 9
10 / What kind of message do you use to electronically transfer the CN 22/CN 23 data of the ITMATT message to your customs administration?
aCUSITM / 
bA messaging standard defined by your Customs/government / 
cAnother means (please specify): / 
11 / What kind of message does Customs use to electronically advise you of the status of items?
aCUSRSP / 
bA messaging standard defined by your Customs/government / 
cAnother means (please specify): / 
12 / Please indicate the time of submission/transmission of electronic advance data for inbound items to destination Customs?
aPre-arrival / 
(Specify time, e.g. 4 hours before arrival) ______
bPre-loading / 
cOther (please specify): / 
Part 3 – Usage of data
13 / Is the CN 22/CN 23 data transferred from the ITMATT message to your customs administration for inbound international items used for test purposes only, or also in customs operational processes?
aCurrently not being used at all / 
bOnly in testing / 
cUsed in customs operational processes / 
cUsed in customs operational processes / 
Please answer question 14 only if you answered YES to question 13c.
14 / For what operational processes is the CN 22/CN 23 data in the ITMATT message used by your customs administration?
aRisk assessment[5] (e.g. identification of prohibited or restricted goods) / 
bDetermination of duty or tax / 
cAviation security[6] (e.g. detection of dangerous goods prior to dispatch by the origin designated operator) / 
dOther (please specify): / 
15 / What systems do you use for making fiscal and security decisions based on the inbound ITMATT messages with your customs administration?
aUPU CDS / 
bOther (please specify): / 
Part 4 – Miscellaneous questions / Yes / No
16 / Is there a data sharing agreement for the electronic exchange of customs data between the Post and Customs in your organization? /  / 
16a / If not, is there an informal arrangement in your organizationbetweenCustoms and the Post under which customs data is exchanged? /  / 
17 / Have you, as a designated postal operator, signed a data sharing agreement with other postal operators? /  / 
17a / If not, is there an informal arrangement with other postal operators under which customs data is exchanged? /  / 
18 / Does the customs authority in your country use the standard IT system ASYCUDA/
SYDONIA provided by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)? /  / 
18a / If not, what kind of information and communication technology systems are being used (e.g. a locally developed system)?
For fiscal application
For security
19 / Does your organization have a personal data[7] protection policy and procedures in place? /  / 
19a / What type of personal data protection policy and procedures would your organization require from a partner postal operator to facilitate the exchange of EDI messages containing personal details?
20 / Have you, as designated postal operator, signed a non-disclosure agreement[8] with your customs and border authority? /  / 
Planning to sign one on (date)
21 / Have you, as designated postal operator, signed a data protection agreement[9] with your national customs authority? /  / 
Planning to sign one on (date)

Please provide a contact person responsible for the exchange of customs data between Posts

Country
Entity name or organization
Full name /  Ms Mr
Position/title
E-mail
Date

The UPU and WCO are committed to helping their members to develop and implement Post–Customs electronic processes. Please feel free to contact us for assistance in completing this questionnaire or if you need further information on electronic advance data.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

[1] ITMATT (ITeMATTributes) messages carry customs declarations (CN 22, CN 23 and CP 72) between postal operators. CUSITM provides an electronic representation of the data specified on the paper forms CN 22, CN 23 and CP72. CUSRSP is the electronic "response" from Customs, indicating its decision and optionally providing feedback on information, security or tax/duty, or requesting additional information. Since March 2011, CUSITM/CUSRSP has been a joint standard message set by the UPU and WCO and compliant with WCO Data Model V3.

[2] "Private customers" are loosely defined as individual mailers usually sending C2C items, often for personal reasons. "Business customers" are mailers making larger or frequent shipments (B2C or B2B) in support of their commercial activity. Business customers often have an account with the designated operator.

[3] "Office of exchange" is an office designated by a country to directly exchange international postal items with a foreign office of the same kind, as per the relevant provisions of the UPU Convention and its Regulations.

[4]The purpose of question 5 is to determine your current capability to generate ITMATT for the various products and customer types, regardless of whether destinations are able to receive ITMATT.

[5]According to Standard 6.3of the Revised Kyoto Convention and the corresponding guidelines, "risk management" is defined as the systematic application of management procedures and practices which provide Customs with the necessary information to address movements or consignments that present a risk.

[6]This question is intended for future use as regards electronic advance data.

[7]For the purposes of this questionnaire, "personal data" refers to any information needed to identify a postal service user.

[8] For the purposes of this questionnaire, "non-disclosure agreement", also known as a "confidentiality agreement", refers to a contractual instrument aimed at defining the scope of confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes (but wish to restrict access to by third parties), including the relevant provisions applicable to the treatment of such confidential content.

[9] For the purposes of this questionnaire, "data protection agreement" refers to a contractual instrument aimed at dealing appropriately with personal data as defined above.