Japan Customs’ experience in Pre-arrival examination

Japan Customs’ experience in Pre-arrival examination

Customs and Tariff Bureau 　Ministry of Finance

Pre-arrival Declaration

Document examination

Import Declaration

Import permission

Import Permission

Document examination

Departure Oversea Port

Store Cargoes or Containers in Customs Area

(including container yards)

Arrival Japanese

Port

Pre-arrival examination

Regular Import Declaration

1.Pre-arrival Examination system1.Pre-arrival Examination system

* Before import permission, some import declarations may undertake cargo inspection.

2.Effects of Customs procedures2.Effects of Customs procedures

1991 : Pre-Arrival Examination 1991 : Pre-Arrival Examination

Revised Kyoto Convention (1999)Revised Kyoto Convention (1999)

General Annex Chapter 3 (Clearance and other formalities)General Annex Chapter 3 (Clearance and other formalities)

Standard 25Standard 25

National legislation shall make provision for the lodging and registering or checking of the National legislation shall make provision for the lodging and registering or checking of the Goods declaration and supporting documents prior to the arrival of the goods.Goods declaration and supporting documents prior to the arrival of the goods.

In principle, import declaration may be filed to Customs only after the In principle, import declaration may be filed to Customs only after the arrival of goods to the bonded warehouse.arrival of goods to the bonded warehouse.

Since 1991, Customs accepts import declaration and relevant Since 1991, Customs accepts import declaration and relevant documents for preliminary examination. documents for preliminary examination.

- - conductconduct documentary examination before the arrival of goodsocumentary examination before the arrival of goods

-Notified Notified whether documentary examinations and/or whether documentary examinations and/or physical inspections are required or not before the arrival of physical inspections are required or not before the arrival of goodsgoods

Benefit to customs

Benefit to importers

⇒⇒ 　　 Facilitated release of goods for those not requiring Facilitated release of goods for those not requiring examinations/inspections upon arrivalexaminations/inspections upon arrival

Usage rate (in 2010)

3.History of pre-arrival examination3.History of pre-arrival examination

Sea cargoes Air cargoes

36% 52%

　　　 Why did we introduce pre-arrival examination?-needs of effectively coping with the increasing volume of trade with limited human and

financial resources -request from the private sector to further expedite the movement of goods

trial

introduced in 1991(gradually improved)

4.Explanation of pre-arrival examination in Japan 4.Explanation of pre-arrival examination in Japan CustomsCustoms

Type of cargo covered all types of imported cargo

Documents to be submitted pre-arrival declaration

(same form as general import declaration form )

Timing of submission any time after

①B/L is issued foreign exchange rate is ②　 announced

Switch to import declaration The pre-arrival declaration will be treated as a formal import declaration under certain conditions

pre-arrival examinationpre-arrival examination=merely change the timing of the =merely change the timing of the import declarationimport declaration

Only using the existing facilities and resources of each Member with minimum costs for legislation and training of officials

No requirement of legal nor organizational change

IT infrastructure not prerequisite

5.Implementation cost of pre-arrival 5.Implementation cost of pre-arrival examination examination

28.4

24.8

29.1

25.5

27.4

25.4

34.2

30.8

39.6

34.3

30.3

36.1

29.4

40.1

38.2

45.8

42.6

47.9

21.6

40.7

19.2

41.2

21.9

42.6

18.6

42.7

20.6

50.2

18

53.5

16.1

67.2

37.6

88.3

26.5

97.8

10.9

13.6

9.2

20.6

10.5

26.9

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180

With pre-arrival examination

Without pre-arrival examination
















Without pre-arrival examination(2

009)

(2006)

(2004)

(2001)

(1998)

(1996)

(1993)

(1992)

(1991)

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

1st

Hours

Port entry～Carrying in

Carrying in～Declaration

Declaration～Permit

6.6

4.4

1.6

5.91.3

5.1

24.2

1.5

4.1

1.7

6.2

6. 6. Import Lead Time Reduction by Pre-Arrival Examination Import Lead Time Reduction by Pre-Arrival Examination (sea cargo)(sea cargo)

7. 7. Import Lead Time Reduction by Pre-Arrival Examination Import Lead Time Reduction by Pre-Arrival Examination (air cargo)(air cargo)

4.2

7

3.7

4.1

4

3.1

6.8

8.7

7.5

4.5

8.6

8.7

18.8

26.1

3

27.5

3.1

26.8

5.2

31.3

11.1

39

7.2

34.8

20.1

42.9

21.7

41.6

0 10 20 30 40 50 60


















Without pre-arrival examination(2

009)

(2006)

(2004)

(2001)

(1998)

(1996)

(1993)

(1992)

(1991)

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

1st

Hours

Port entry～Carrying in

Carrying in～Declaration

Declaration～Permit

0.30.6

0.１ 0.7

0.2

0.5

0.１

0.１

0.6

0.7

0.１ 1.9

0.8

1.6

1.1

1.6

1.0

2.3

1.5

0.6

1.7

1.5

1.6

1.8

0.4

2.2

Thank you for your attention

More information :http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/case_studies_e/

pre_arr_exam_jpn_e.doc