What is a CCI clearance?
UCC centralised clearance for import (CCI) is a simplified customs procedure within the EU that allows you to clear goods in another part of the community from your country.
To accomplish this, you lodge the customs declaration at your supervising office, which then coordinates the clearance with the presentation office in the other country. During this process, the two offices will decide if documents or physical controls are needed or if the clearance needs amending.
After your clearance is validated, the presentation office will charge taxes based on local rates. They will also assign your supervising office to collect these taxes. After paying taxes, your supervising office will inform the presentation office to release the goods.
What are your benefits?
As a trader, you will find that the following processes become easier for you, even though more entities are involved at the customs level:
You gain the advantage of a single customs contact in your chosen country, eliminating the need for multiple brokers and customs offices across the community.
You benefit from standardised declarations, which replace various documents and datasets for each country, making customs compliance auditing and training more straightforward.
You enjoy the convenience of centralised finances, allowing you to pay taxes to a single office and manage a singular customs account.
You experience reduced administrative costs through streamlined processes and consolidated accounts.
Who can use CCI clearances?
You are eligible for UCC centralised clearance for import (CCI) if you clear goods in multiple EU countries and have obtained customs approval for a licence.
To obtain a CCI licence, you need to:
- Possess an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certification.
- Utilise digitalisation in your customs processes.
- Obtain permission from each member country where you are clearing goods.
More digitalisation on the horizon
Presently, the utilisation of CCI clearances involves the participation of customs offices within the country of declaration. Nevertheless, the goal is to transition the entire process to a digital format.
Spain is presently conducting tests on the EU centralised clearance mechanism. This system will improve the current UCC centralised clearance for imports by allowing complete clearances through a single trade window. The plan is to extend this testing phase into 2024.
If you already have a CCI licence and operational setup, you could be among the first to reap the advantages of the upcoming system.
Interested in using the UCC centralised clearance for import procedure?
Customs Support is at your service. With operations in 13 European countries, we offer businesses like yours assistance with import declarations, export declarations, and customs consulting. Contact one of our experts for assistance in obtaining a CCI customs licence today.
