In addition to the customs regimes mentioned, there are also common rules on customs inspections, mutual administrative assistance and cooperation among customs authorities.  A consolidated customs document has been developed, but is not yet in use.   Furthermore, a virtual training program on customs matters is being carried out.  

Consolidated Customs Document (DUA)

The purpose of the DUA is to unify the customs declaration among the Member Countries, harmonize customs procedures, standardize the data required for trade operations and streamline the information demanded from foreign trade operators.

Work is fairly advanced on the respective Community draft Decision.   The text of the Decision approving the DUA, the 67 Community data comprising it and the respective instructions have already been prepared.  The design of the printed form and the timetable for the DUA’s implementation are all that remain to be completed.  

Mutual Assistance and Cooperation among the Customs Administrations of the Andean Community Member Countries (Decision 478) (08.06.02).

Decision 478 stipulates that the Member Countries will give each other assistance and cooperation and will exchange information in order to implement customs legislation correctly and, in particular, to prevent, investigate and fight customs offenses.  Cooperation, facilitation and mutual assistance among the Customs Administrations and Services are useful instruments for preventing, investigating and restraining customs offenses or violations of customs legislation.  Inasmuch as these offenses and violations are damaging to the economic, fiscal and trade interests of the respective countries and considering that customs inspections should not go beyond what is strictly necessary to guarantee the correct application of customs duties and other taxes and compliance with customs legislation, it is necessary to strengthen that cooperation on customs matters in order to make the fight against customs fraud more effective.   

Andean Integrated Tariff (ARIAN) (12.12.03).

The ARIAN, approved through Decision 572, is a system for collecting, validating and incorporating into a database all of the information and regulations created by the Andean Community’s decision-making bodies by opening up, as needed, subdivisions of the Common Andean Nomenclature (NANDINA) for goods that are subject to specific regulation.   

The ARIAN System has two subsystems:

i) The ARIAN Central Subsystem, charged with collecting and distributing ARIAN information, for whose operation the Andean Community General Secretariat will be responsible, and

ii) The ARIAN National Subsystems, charged with ensuring the consistency of and updating the common external tariff and the measures received, for whose operation the national customs administrations of the Member Countries will be responsible.

The ARIAN, which is based on the Common Nomenclature – NANDINA, has been established as a tool to facilitate the dissemination and application of the common external tariff, foreign trade statistics, and related Community policies and measures.   

Its entry into force was postponed to January 1, 2007 considering that any NANDINA amendments after the ARIAN became effective could result in the latter’s revision and adjustment.

Andean Customs Training Program (12.12.03).

The objective of this Program, approved through Decision 573, is to lay the groundwork for common training in customs matters.  The  Simón Bolívar Andean University is responsible for coordinating, organizing and carrying out the Program and for the trainers’ training.

Andean Customs Inspection System (12.12.03)

This system, established by Decision 574, contains the regulations to be applied by the Customs Administrations of the Member Countries to control foreign trade operations.

It stipulates that customs inspections can be carried out during the following phases:

a) Prior inspection by the customs administration before the customs declaration is accepted.  

b) Inspection during customs clearance, as of the moment the customs declaration is accepted by customs up to the moment the goods are cleared or shipped.   

c) Subsequent inspection after the clearance or shipment of the goods that have been cleared for a given customs regime.