Tullverkets logotyp. Tillbaka till startsidan

Entry and exit summary declarations

From 1 July 2009, you have to send pre-arrival and pre-departure information to the customs authority for all goods entering or leaving the EU, according to EU legislation. The purpose is to protect the EU from dangerous goods and to meet the increased security requirements in world trade. The information should be sent in the form of entry and exit summary declarations.

What are entry and exit summary declarations?


Entry and exit summary declarations are electronic messages that you send to Customs a certain time before your goods enter or leave the EU.

Different kinds of summary declarations


Goods leaving the EU
  • Export declaration including pre-departure information. The exporter/declarant is responsible.
  • Separate exit summary declaration — used only in the few cases where no export declaration is required. The carrier is responsible.
  • Transit declaration including pre-departure information. The declarant is responsible.

Goods entering the EU

  • Entry summary declaration. The carrier is responsible.
  • Transit declaration including pre-arrival information. The declarant is responsible.

Transitional arrangements — new requirements introduced step by step
The requirements for entry and exit summary declarations will be introduced step by step.

There are e.g. some exceptions to the requirement of providing pre-departure information. You can find out more about these exceptions by following the link below, ‘Exceptions from the general rules´.

Furthermore, though the option to send separate exit summary declarations already exists, neither this declaration nor the entry summary declaration will become mandatory until 1 January 2011.

Despite the transitional arrangements for pre-arrival and pre-departure information, we will carry out risk analysis on all goods.

Exceptions from the general rules
Important dates regarding entry and exit summary declarations

Conditions for submitting pre-departure information
From 1 October it is mandatory to include pre-departure information in the export declaration. To submit such a declaration you need to meet certain conditions.

  • You need authorisation to submit electronic declarations.
  • You must have the possibility to receive the export release message ZEM, and to print the Export Accompanying Document, EAD. This requires that you apply for an authorisation.

If you have authorisation to use the Customs Internet Declaration, TID, you do not need to apply for a ZEM authorisation.

Even if you already have authorisation to submit electronic declarations through EDI, your IT system must be  adapted to the new requirements. It is essential that you can send export declarations including pre-departure information and receive ZEM. If you have authorisation to use TID, you do not need to make any changes.

Technical specifications
Legislation covering entry and exit summery declarations

Declarations


Entry summery declaration
Exit summery declaration
Export declaration including pre-departure information
Transit declaration

Further information


Authorised Economic Operator, AEOexternal link