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New mandatory date proposed for WCO3 messages

01.05pm 25 August 2017

General Information Important Notice

1 July 2018 is the proposed mandatory date for using the main cargo reporting and clearance messages in Trade Single Window.

Last year Customs and MPI deferred the mandatory adoption of WCO3 messages until after the introduction of the last major Trade Single Window release.

This work has now been completed, and we are proposing a mandatory date of 1 July 2018 for the main cargo reporting and clearance messages. More detail follow in the Summary of WCO3 Messages, and in the original 2012 TSW Industry Consultation Paper.

  1. Import Declaration
  2. Export Declaration
  3. Cargo Report Export (CRE)
  4. Outward Cargo Report (OCR)
  5. Inward Cargo Report (ICR), with the caveat that 1 July 2018 is the target date subject to successful pilot of the message in 2017. The mandatory ICR functionality will be:
    • All carriers (airlines and shipping lines) must use the WCO3 ICR message to report cargo on board a craft destined for NZ. However, both the commencement and mandatory date for use of the International Transhipment Request (ITR) and Domestic Transhipment Request (DTR) will be consulted separately once the business process pilot is completed – date to be confirmed. Current transhipment processes will apply till then
    • Airlines must report at FWB and FHL level, unless Customs authorises the consolidator/express courier to report FHL details
    • Sea freight consolidators (freight forwarders and integrators) must submit a consolidation ICR at least 48 hours prior to the ship’s estimated time of arrival in New Zealand.

The ICR mandatory date is a target pending the completion of a pilot because the functionality set out above involves new agency processes, especially for MPI. We want to ensure these are well tested in the real world before releasing to all clients. This requires industry participation in a pilot, and we are working to confirm participants now. How long the pilot takes to commence and complete will determine whether 1 July 2018 can be confirmed as the mandatory date.

A mandatory date for Advance Notice of Arrival (ANA) and Advance Notice of Departure (AND) will be consulted with Shipping NZ when we have completed piloting. Customs is already working with industry on adoption and mandating of the Excise Declaration.

We would like to make a decision on the mandatory date by 15 September 2017. Please email jbms@customs.govt.nz by 8 September 2017 to provide feedback or raise any queries. We are also happy to discuss any questions if you prefer.