SARS Customs mainstream communication channel with the South African business community has received a major boost, with the installation of a new EDI Gateway. This forms part of SARS’ commitment – relating to increasing demands on its ICT architecture – to meet the rapid increase in B2G (business-to-government) electronic transaction exchanges. Currently for every import, export or cross border declaration transactions, there are a minimum of 2 EDI interchanges per consignment – a Customs declaration message (CUSDEC), and a Customs response message (CUSRES).

Once cargo reports (cargo manifests and cargo notifications) are all being received electronically this average will increase substantially. The future customs clearance process envisages a totally paperless environment. Therefore, any instruction or notification regarding an import or export transaction will need to be handled via electronic messaging between Customs and the Trader. This implies significant more data storage and a reliable network ensuring continuity of business. At present trade declaration (SAD500) volumes are in the region of about 4, 3 million per annum. The need for high-volume / real-time processing is therefore a no-brainer.

The Customs Modernisation Programme (CMP) has undertaken a number of initiatives in regard to maintaining pace with world trends. It is currently reviewing its data models; consolidating import, export and cross border modes; and aligning all its data requirements with the WCO Data Model version 3. Combined with envisaged changes being brought about through the introduction of clearance within Customs Procedures, SARS’s desire is to adequately meet the demands of trade and its accession obligations regarding the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention. In the near future, Customs Response and Cargo Report data requirements will be aligned and consolidated in similar manner. This alignment therefore puts SARS in a position to consider a future migration path – the adoption of the Government Cross Border Regulatory message (GOVCBR).