The NCTS is a Europe-wide system that is based on electronic declaration and processing and is designed to provide better management and control of Union and Common Transit.
The NCTS is a Europe-wide system that is based on electronic declaration and processing and is designed to provide better management and control of Union and Common Transit. It involves all European Union (EU) member states and all Common Transit Convention (CTC) member countries.
The NCTS systems of all National Administrations are connected to each other by a central domain in Brussels, so the details and progress of a transit movement can be monitored by all interested parties at every stage.
The main objectives of the NCTS are to:
- increase the efficiency and effectiveness of transit procedures
- improve the prevention and detection of fraud
- accelerate transactions carried out under a transit procedure and to offer security for them
To use the NCTS, traders need the facility to send and receive electronic messages to and from the UK NCTS. Connected traders receive electronic responses advising of key decisions during both departure and destination, such as:
- acceptance of declaration
- release of goods
- notification of discharge of liability, that is, the release of the guarantee that is in place throughout the lifespan of the movement to cover the duties at risk during the movement of goods
Traders cannot interface directly with the NCTS to input or amend data or to access records and reference data. Instead, they exchange defined structured messages with the system.
In certain circumstances, where Simplified NCTS Procedures are used by Authorised Consignors/Consignees, processing and release will be automatic and allow, depending upon the conditions of authorisation, for ‘out-of-hours‘ clearance. This will allow for selective, risk-based controls, and for the processing of declarations and the release of goods to become largely automatic.