Submitting information at different levels

When Swedish Customs develops new systems linked to new customs legislation, the submission of data follows completely new structures through which data is entered at different levels.

Swedish Customs is gradually developing new IT systems linked to new customs legislation. All data submission in the new systems is based on a data model developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). It is designed according to specific structures, according to which data is entered at different levels.

Previous structure

In the past, we have been used to a main level (declaration) that could have one or more goods items attached to it. This structure still exists in the systems that have not yet been updated to the new legislation, such as the import and export systems in TDS.

New structures

The new structures have several different main levels as well as sub-levels linked to the main levels.

The two different structures used are based on the information contained in one of these documents:

• Invoice
• Transport document

Structure based on invoice data (Shipment structure)

The structure based on invoice data consists of two main levels and goods items linked to one of the main levels. This structure will be used for a number of customs declarations, such as a customs declaration for release into free circulation.

As the structure is essentially based on the data contained in an invoice, the reference to an invoice number is a key element in this submission.

Three levels of the shipment structure

The structure consists of the following three levels:

• Declaration
  Declaration is the highest main level. It contains in most cases data that can only be repeated once in a declaration, such as the LRN number.

• Goods shipment (shipment level)
  Goods shipment is also considered to be a main level. Data at this level is considered to apply to all goods items. For example, an invoice entered here should be relevant for all goods items. If an invoice only applies to a specific goods item, the information should instead be entered at goods item level. In a standard customs declaration, the goods shipment level cannot be repeated.

• Government Agency Goods Item (goods item level)
  This level contains information that applies to a specific goods item, such as the commodity code. If you have several invoices that apply to specific goods items, each invoice must be entered on each goods item.

Structure based on transport document data (Consignment structure)

The structure based on transport document data consists of three main levels, with sub-levels linked to two of the main levels. This structure will be used inter alia for an entry summary declaration and a temporary storage declaration. The structure is mainly based on data contained in different transport documents, such as:

• A transport document in the case of ship transport (e.g., a Master Bill of Lading)
• An air waybill for air transport (AWB)
• A consignment note in the case of road transport.

Just as an invoice number is a key element of a customs declaration, reference to a transport document number is an equally key element of a declaration to be declared according to the structure based on transport document data.

Five levels of the consignment structure

The structure consists of the following five levels:

• Declaration (main level)
  The data elements at declaration level shall contain general information that applies to the whole declaration.
• Master consignment (main level)
  The data elements at master consignment level shall contain horizontal information that applies to the transport document referred to at this level. Only one transport document can be referenced per master consignment. Depending on the type of transport document referred to, one or more master consignments ca be declared.
  
• Master consignment item (sub-level)
  This is a sub-level of the master consignment level. The data elements at master consignment item level should contain information from the different items of the transport document referred to in the master consignment.
  
• House consignment (main level)
  The data elements at house consignment level should contain overall information that applies to the transport document referred to at this level. Only one transport document can be referenced per house consignment. Depending on the type of transport document referred to, one or more house consignments can be declared.
  
• House consignment item (sub-level)
  This is a sub-level of the house consignment level. The data elements at house consignment item level should contain information that is more detailed and can be found in the different positions of the transport document referred to in the house consignment. At this level, the item (commodity description or commodity code) should be described and package details provided. Choose whether each “item” corresponds to all goods in a whole container or whether each “item” corresponds to all goods of a certain type.