Centralised Clearance for Import System – CCI

Centralised Clearance is a simplified customs procedure provided for under Title V of the Union Customs Code (UCC), which became applicable on 1 May 2016.

It allows economic operators to lodge a customs declaration at the customs office of the Member State where they are established, even when the goods are physically presented at a customs office of any other Member State of the European Union.

In this way, the place of lodgement of the customs declaration is separated from the place of physical presentation of the goods, providing the possibility of managing customs procedures centrally.

What is the Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) System?

The Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) System is the new trans-European IT system that supports the implementation of the Centralised Clearance simplification, in accordance with the Union Customs Code, ensuring:
•    Digital processing of import customs declarations throughout their entire life cycle.
•    Exchange of information between the involved customs authorities of the European Union Member States.
•    Harmonised processing and exchange of customs data at EU level, based on the common data requirements of Annex B to the delegated and implementing acts of the Union Customs Code (DA/IA).

How does Centralised Clearance work?

The Centralised Clearance procedure is based on cooperation between the customs office at which the customs declaration is lodged and the customs office at which the goods are physically presented.

Through the CCI system, an electronic exchange of information takes place between the customs offices involved, for the purpose of processing and monitoring the declaration, carrying out the required controls and taking a decision on the release of the goods.

The procedure includes, in summary, the following key stages:

• Lodgement of the customs declaration at the competent customs office of the Member State where the economic operator is established.
• Presentation of the goods at the customs office of the Member State where they are physically located.
• Electronic exchange of information and control results between the customs offices involved through the CCI system.
• Decision on whether or not to release the goods.

What is the scope of the CCI system?

Its scope includes, in particular:

• Standard and simplified customs declarations, including pre-lodged declarations submitted before the presentation of the goods.
• Declarations through entry in the declarant’s records — EIDR, with or without presentation notification, where provided for.
• Supplementary declarations of a general, periodic or recapitulative nature.
• Basic import customs procedures, such as release for free circulation, customs warehousing, inward processing, end-use and temporary admission.
• Electronic exchange of supporting or additional documents between the competent customs offices.

What are the advantages of the CCI system?

Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) contributes to the simplification and acceleration of customs procedures, providing significant benefits for businesses operating in more than one Member State of the European Union.
In particular, the CCI system offers:

•    Centralised management of customs procedures through a single point of contact.
•    Faster processing and release of the goods.
•    Optimisation of supply chain and goods movement processes.
•    Reduction of the administrative burden and customs formalities.
•    Reduction of costs and of the required IT interconnections.
•    Strengthening of transparency, consistency and harmonisation of procedures between Member States.
•    More effective cooperation between businesses and customs authorities.

At the same time, through the electronic and automated exchange of information between the customs offices involved, the CCI system facilitates cross-border trade and strengthens the competitiveness of businesses in the European single market.

Who can apply for a Centralised Clearance authorisation?

Centralised Clearance for Import applies to economic operators carrying out import operations involving more than one Member State and requires a relevant Centralised Clearance authorisation. Economic operators interested in using the CCI simplification submit an application to the competent customs authorities, in accordance with Article 179 of the Union Customs Code.
An application for a CCI authorisation may be submitted by an economic operator who:

•    Is established in Greece.
•    Holds an Authorised Economic Operator for Customs Simplifications (AEOC) authorisation.
•    Carries out import operations involving at least one other Member State of the European Union.
•    Meets the conditions provided for by Union customs legislation for the use of the simplification.

The application for a Centralised Clearance authorisation is submitted through the myAADE digital portal, via the path: myAADE > Digital Services > Customs Services > CDS – Customs Decisions System.
The customs authority competent to examine the application is, in principle, the authority of the place where the applicant’s main accounts for customs purposes are held.
The CCL authorisation type is used in both the application and the authorisation.
Where the importer does not hold AEOC status or a CCI authorisation, the importer may use the simplification through an indirect customs representative, provided that the representative holds AEOC status and is the holder of a CCI authorisation. In that case, the indirect representative acts as the declarant under the procedure.

What are the related authorisations and guarantees?

The CCI authorisation may be combined, as appropriate, with other customs simplifications or authorisations, such as the authorisation to use a simplified declaration or the authorisation for entry in the declarant’s records (EIDR), in accordance with the conditions provided for in Union customs legislation.

In such cases, the relevant authorisations must be compatible with each other, in particular as regards the holder of the authorisation, the competent Supervising Customs Office and the customs procedures covered.

The provision of a guarantee is not, as a rule, a prerequisite for the granting of a CCI authorisation. However, a guarantee is required in the cases provided for by Union customs legislation, in particular where the CCI simplification is used in combination with special procedures, where a customs debt is incurred, or where deferment of payment of duties is used.

For the proper use of the simplifications, a comprehensive guarantee in accordance with Article 95 of the Union Customs Code is recommended, where required.

What are the key concepts and roles of the CCI system?

Centralised Clearance (CC) (Article 179 UCC, Article 149 DA and Articles 229–232 IA): authorises a holder to lodge, or make available, at the customs office competent for the place where that holder is established, a customs declaration for goods presented at another customs office within the customs territory of the Union.

Authorising Member State (AMS): The Member State granting the authorisation has a leading role. That Member State is the main point of contact for the applicant/holder of the authorisation. It is responsible for the authorisation procedure, the granting of the authorisation and the monitoring of the authorisation.

Participating Member State(s)
The participating Member States are all the other Member States involved in an authorisation. They are involved in the authorisation-granting procedure in accordance with the rules of the consultation procedure. Upon request, they support the AMS in the control procedure and provide it with information that may assist in the monitoring of the authorisation. The participating Member States are also responsible for ensuring that the holder of the authorisation complies with national requirements in matters of taxation and statistics.

Supervising Customs Office (SCI)
This customs office is responsible for supervising the placing of the goods under a customs procedure. It is also the customs office at which, in accordance with Article 179 UCC, the customs declarations are lodged, and which supervises the operations of the holder of the authorisation. Where combined with special procedures, it is recommended that the SCI also be the Supervising Customs Office for the special procedure.

Presentation Customs Office(s) (PCI)
The Presentation Customs Office is the customs office responsible for the place where the goods are actually located. It is also responsible, jointly with the Supervising Customs Office, for supervising the operations and the release of, and controls on, the goods.