Newsletters

Starting from 1 July 2024, the Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) system enters its first phase of implementation. This new trans-European system aims to ensure the digitalisation of the centralised clearance process at the European level, as defined in the Union Customs Code (UCC). Initially, it is available for use by businesses in Bulgaria, Estonia, Spain, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania. Other Member States are planning to join gradually in the coming year.

Centralised Clearance is one of the most significant UCC simplifications, allowing economic operators to submit a customs declaration for goods at the supervising customs office in one Member State, which are physically presented to a customs office in another Member State. All contacts take place with the supervising customs office, acting as a one-stop shop. The customs declaration processing and physical release of goods is coordinated among the customs offices involved.

The main objective of the new system is to enable an automated functioning of the centralised clearance process for imports at European level. It ensures seamless electronic exchange of information between customs offices, reducing administrative burdens for Member States' customs administrations when processing customs declarations for imports. This reduces the number of actors involved, simplifies the process for bringing goods into the EU, and allows EU businesses to use CCI simplification in a digital environment.

The first phase of the CCI system will enable automated processing of standard customs declarations for placing goods that are physically presented to customs at a customs office in another Member State under release for free circulation, customs warehousing, inward processing, and end-use. EU companies will be able to benefit from faster customs clearance, reduction of customs procedures, eliminating the need for transit procedures, reduction of administrative workload through a single contact, cost savings with centralised processes, providing transparency and compliance and competitiveness in a globalised market, boosting business with customers and partners regardless of their location.

Economic operators interested in using CCI simplification must hold a CCI authorisation. They should apply to the competent customs authorities in their EU Member State, which may grant an authorisation. Further details on this are available in the Business Guidelines on CCI, issued by the European Commission. The second phase of the CCI system, scheduled for release on 2 June 2025, will extend the possibility to process simplified declarations, supplementary declarations, entry into the declarant’s records, excise goods, and goods in the context of EU trade with special fiscal territories.

Source: DG TAXUD