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Traffic Manual

IV.1.3.1. NCTS Organization

NCTS is a computerized transit system for the exchange of electronic messages. These messages replace various paper documents and certain transit system procedures.

The exchange of electronic messages occurs at three levels:

  • between economic operators and customs ("external domain");
  • between the customs of a country ("national domain");
  • between the different national customs administrations and between them and the Commission ("common domain").

The main elements and messages used in NCTS operations are as follows:

  • the transit declaration, which is submitted in electronic format – the message “Declaration data” (IE015);

  • the master reference number (MRN), which is a unique record number assigned to a transit declaration by the competent authority and printed on the transit accompanying document (TAD)/transit/security accompanying document (TSAD) and the list of articles (LOA)/transit/security list (LOATS), in order to identify the transit operation;

  • the DAT/DATS, which is printed at the customs office of departure or at the operator's premises after the goods are released for transit and which accompanies the goods from departure to destination;

  • the message "Advance Arrival Notice – AAR" (IE001), sent by the customs office of departure to the declared customs office of destination indicated in the declaration;

  • the "Advance Transit Notice - ATR" message (IE050), sent by the customs office of departure to the declared customs office(s) of passage to notify them in advance that the goods are going to cross the border;

  • the message "Border Crossing Notification – NCF" (IE118), sent by the customs office of effective passage to the customs office of departure to notify the passage of goods;

  • the message "Notice of Arrival – AA" (IE006), sent by the customs office of effective destination to the customs office of departure upon arrival of the goods;

  • the message "Results of control at destination" (IE018), sent by the effective customs office of destination to the customs office of departure (after verifying the goods where necessary).