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Traffic Manual

IV.2.3.4. Verification of the transit declaration and control of goods

Article 35 of Appendix I to the Convention
Article 188 of the CAU
Articles 238 and 239 of the AE

After the customs office of departure has accepted the transit declaration to verify the accuracy of the data:

  • will examine the declaration and supporting documents;
  • will require the declarant to provide other documents, if any;
  • will examine the goods, where appropriate;
  • will take samples for analysis or for a detailed examination of the goods, where appropriate;
  • will verify the existence and validity of the guarantee.

The existence and validity of the warranty is verified by the warranty reference number and access code (see further information in Part III).

Before the goods are released for transit, the NCTS checks the integrity and validity of the guarantee in the Guarantee Management System (GUM) with respect to the following information, depending on the level of control:

  • the amount of the guarantee is sufficient (in the case of a global guarantee, whether the available amount is sufficient);
  • The guarantee is valid in all Contracting Parties involved in the transit operation;
  • The guarantee is established in the name of the holder of the regime.

The GUM will then record the use and report it to the NCTS.

If the goods are to be examined, the examination shall be carried out at the places designated by the customs office of departure and during the hours set for this purpose. The regime holder will be informed of the place and time. However, customs authorities may, at the request of the holder of the procedure, examine the goods at other locations or outside official opening hours.

If minor discrepancies are detected, the customs office of departure will notify the holder of the regime. To resolve these discrepancies, the customs office of departure will make minor changes (in agreement with the holder of the regime) to the declaration data so that the goods can be released for transit.

If significant irregularities are detected, the customs office of departure will inform the holder of the procedure that the goods will not be released, issuing the message "Refusal of release for transit" (IE051) and will record this unsatisfactory result.

The customs office of departure records the following code regarding the control results in message IE001:

  • «A1» (Compliant): when the goods are released for transit after physical inspection (total or partial) and no discrepancies have been detected;
  • «A2» (Deemed compliant): When the goods are released for transit after an exclusively documentary control (there is no physical control) and no discrepancies have been detected or there has been no control;
  • «A3» (Simplified procedure): when an authorized shipper releases the goods for transit.