As the international focal point for trade facilitation
standards and recommendations, UNECE develops instruments to reduce, harmonize
and automate procedures and paperwork in international trade. This work is
supported by the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).
UN/CEFACT additionally develops and maintains the only international standard
for electronic data interchange (UN/EDIFACT - United Nations Electronic Data
Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport). This standard is used
to exchange structured information between computers and is critical to
the implementation of management techniques such as just-in-time manufacturing.
UNECE Trade Facilitation Recommendations - Summary Description
The full text of these recommendations can be found on the UN/CEFACT web
page.
1. United
Nations Layout Key for Trade Documents
Provides an international basis for the standardization of documents used
in international trade and transport, including the visual representation of
such documents. The UN Layout Key is intended particularly to serve as
a basis for designing aligned series of forms employing a master document in
a reprographic one‑run method of document preparation; it can also be
used to develop screen layouts for the visual display of computerized information.
3. ISO Country Code for Representation of Names of Countries
Known as the “ISO ALPHA-2 Country Code,” for use in representing
the names of countries, dependencies, and other areas of special geopolitical
interest for purposes of international trade whenever there is a need for a
coded alphabetical designation.
4. National Trade Facilitation Bodies
Recommends that Governments establish and support national trade facilitation
bodies with balanced private and public sector participation in order to identify
issues affecting the cost and efficiency of their country’s international
trade; develop measures to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of international
trade; assist in the implementation of those measures; provide a national focal
point for the collection and dissemination of information on best practices
in international trade facilitation; and participate in international efforts
to improve trade facilitation and efficiency.
5. Abbreviations of INCOTERMS
Proposes abbreviations of the International Chamber of Commerce’s trade
terms, known as INCOTERMS, for acceptance and use by Governments and international
organizations whenever these terms are referred to in abbreviated form, including
electronic data transmission and processing.
6. Aligned Invoice Layout Key
Applies to the design of commercial invoices for international trade in goods.
The layout key can also be used as a basis for designing invoices in other
instances. Invoices based on this Recommendation are intended - to the extent
possible - to present the required data in such a way that the invoice could
complement or in certain cases replace existing documents (e.g. Customs
invoices, consular invoices, declarations of origin, etc.).
7. Numerical Representation of Dates, Time and Periods of Time
Establishes a method for a standardized and unambiguous all‑numerical
designation of a given: date, time of day and period of time. It applies to
all cases where these data are presented as separate entries in numerical form
but not when they are part of a plain language text.
8. Unique Identification
Code Methodology – UNIC
The Unique Identification Code Methodology is a unique referencing system
for use between parties as a means of referring to a trade transaction and/or
consignment. The objective is to reduce the number and different styles of
references.
9. Alphabetic Code for the Representation of Currencies
Encourages the use of the three‑letter alphabetic codes of International
Standard ISO 4217, “Codes for the representation of currencies and
funds,” for application in international trade and their use in commercial
transactions when currencies are expressed in coded or abbreviated form. The
code is designed to be equally suitable for automated or manual applications.
10. Codes for the Identification of Ships
Recommends that participants in international trade, including ship owners,
port authorities and other parties involved in maritime transport of goods,
use the International Maritime Organization's Ship Identification Number Scheme
for the unique identification of ships; and recommends to use only the final
seven characters of the IMO number in EDI applications.
11. Documentary Aspects of the International Transport of Dangerous
Goods
Sets forth actions to harmonize information requirements and to simplify
documentary procedures for the transport of dangerous goods in order to decrease
complexity and increase accuracy and efficiency.
12. Measures to Facilitate Maritime Documents Procedures
This Recommendation aims at the simplification, rationalization and harmonization
of procedures and documents used to evidence the contract of carriage in maritime
transport. The Recommendation is currently under revision.
13. Facilitation of Identified Legal Problems in Import Clearance
Procedures
This Recommendation proposes solutions to various problems related to import
clearance procedures.
14. Authentication of Trade Documents by means other than signature
Seeks to encourage the use of electronic data transfer in international trade
by recommending that Governments review national and international requirements
for signatures on international trade documents, in order to eliminate the
requirement for paper documents by meeting the requirement for signatures through
authentication methods/guarantees which can be electronically transmitted.
It also recommends examining current commercial documents to identify those
where signature could be safely eliminated and promotes the necessary changes
in commercial practice.
15. Simpler Shipping Marks
Describes a simple and standardized approach to identify cargo in order to
reduce costs, mistakes, confusion and shipment delays. The Standard Shipping
Mark established in this Recommendation should be used for marking on packages
moved internationally by all modes of transport, for reproduction in related
documents, and for data elements in trade data interchange.
16. UN/LOCODE - Code
for Ports and other Locations
Recommends a five-letter alphabetic code for abbreviating the names of locations
of interest to international trade, such as ports, airports, inland freight
terminals, and other locations where Customs clearance of goods can take place,
and whose names need to be represented unambiguously in data interchange between
participants in international trade. The UN/LOCODE’s code list currently
contains 60,000 codes for locations around the world. Existing codes can be
reviewed and new codes submitted through the UN/LOCODE web page.
17. PAYTERMS – Abbreviations
for Terms of Payment
Provides abbreviations for certain terms of payment, referred to as “PAYTERMS”,
for use in international trade transactions as appropriate. The “PAYTERMS” apply
to commercial transactions relating to the provision of goods and/or services.
18. Facilitation Measures Related to International Trade Procedures
Outlines a series of measures related to the movement of goods, presented
in groups covering different phases of a common international trade transaction,
which on their own would not justify an independent formal recommendation,
but which Governments should consider implementing. Each section describes
the application area, outlines the procedures and documents covered, and describes
the particular problems for which facilitation measures are provided.
19. Codes for Modes of Transport
Establishes a one-digit numerical code for representing transport modes and
provides for a second digit for sub-divisions which might be required. This
Recommendation applies to all cases where mode of transport is represented
in coded form in international trade documents and where a simple code structure
suffices.
20. Codes for Units of Measurement used in International Trade
Provides three character alphabetic and alphanumeric codes for representing
units of measurement for length, area, volume/capacity, mass (weight), time,
and other quantities used in international trade. The codes are intended for
use in manual and/or automated systems for the exchange of information between
participants in international trade.
21. Codes for Passengers, Types of Cargo, Packages and Packaging
Materials
Presents the lists of coded representations of package type names used in
international trade.
22. Layout Key for Standard Consignment Instructions
Presents a layout key, based on the UN Layout Key for Trade Documents, for
the design of Standard Consignment Instructions intended to convey instructions
from either a seller/consignor or a buyer/consignee to a freight forwarder,
carrier or his agent, or other provider of service, enabling the movement of
goods and associated activities. This Recommendation is relevant to the movement
and handling of goods, Customs, distribution of documents, allocation of charges
and special instructions.
23. Freight Cost Code - FCC
Provides a naming system to be used for the establishment of harmonized descriptions
of freight costs and other charges related to the international movement of
goods. It also specifies an unambiguous coded representation of those descriptions.
This Recommendation applies in all cases where descriptions of freight costs
and other charges have to be stated in plain language or in coded form in trade
data interchange, be it in paper documents or by electronic means.
24. Trade
and Transport Codes
Provides Transport Status Codes to satisfy requirements for exchanging coded
information about the status of consignments, goods or means of transport at
a certain time or place in the transport chain. Representation of transport
status codes can be given in plain language or in coded form. The codes provided
for in this Recommendation are intended for use in manual and/or automated
systems for the exchange of information between all participants in international
trade.
25. Use of the UN/EDIFACT Standard
Recommends coordinated action by Governments to promote UN/EDIFACT as the
single international standard for electronic interchange of data (EDI) between
public administrations and private companies of all economic sectors worldwide.
There are currently over 200 UN/EDIFACT messages available for the exchange
of data between organizations that can be found through the website.
26. Commercial Use of Interchange Agreements for Electronic Data
Interchange
Promotes the use of interchange agreements between commercial parties using
Electronic Data Interchange in connection with international commercial transactions.
The Recommendation includes a Model Interchange Agreement for international
use. Though designed for bilateral agreements between two trading partners,
the Model Interchange Agreement, with adjustments, can be implemented in multilateral
relationships such as in a trade community or association.
27. Preshipment Inspections
The UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT)
undertook to produce a recommendation discouraging the practice of preshipment
inspections (PSI) in general while supporting the WTO instrument regarding
preshipment inspections where such inspections are considered necessary as
an interim measure.
28. Codes for Types of Means of Transport
This Recommendation establishes a common code list for the identification
of the type of means of transport. It has particular relevance to transport
organizations and providers, Customs and other authorities, statistical offices,
forwarders, shippers, consignees and other parties concerned with transport.
31. Electronic Commerce Agreement
UN/CEFACT is proposing with this Recommendation a model for a contractual
approach of electronic commerce operations. This approach takes into consideration
the need for a framework of basic provisions to be agreed by business entities
combined with the flexibility required to conduct day-to-day commercial transactions.
32. Recommendation on E-Commerce Self-Regulatory Instruments
This recommendation emphasizes the need for the development, support and
promulgation of voluntary codes of conduct for electronic business so as to
support the development of international trade, and calls on governments to
promote and facilitate the development of relevant self-regulation instruments,
national and international accreditation schemes, codes of conduct and trustmark
schemes.
33. Single Window Recommendation
This Recommendation responds to the need to harmonize and simplify the exchange
of information between government and trade. It encourages Governments and
those involved in international trade and transport to establish a ‘Single
Window’ facility for lodging standardized information and documents to
fulfil all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements. Such
a facility can simplify and expedite information flows between trade and government
and can lead to better harmonization of data across governmental systems, bringing
gains to all parties involved in cross-border trade. The Recommendation indicates
how authorities and agencies involved in a ‘Single Window’ facility
can coordinate their inspections and controls and provide facilities for payment
of relevant duties, taxes and fees, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing
the administrative overheads associated with international trade.
UNECE Trade Data Elements Directory (TDED)
The standard data elements included in the Directory are intended to facilitate
interchange of data in international trade. These standard data elements can
be used with any method of data interchange, on paper documents as well as
with other means of data communication; they can be selected for transmission
one by one, or used within a particular system of interchange rules, e.g. the
United Nations syntax rules for Electronic Data Interchange For Administration,
Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT) developed within the UNECE and published
as International Standard ISO 9735. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 of the Directory
constitute International Standard ISO 7372.
Website
UN/CEFACT Technical Specifications
The UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business has prepared
a number of Technical Specifications:
Business Requirements Specifications aim at standardizing
business processes, business transactions and information entities used by
industries in a supply chain. A business process is the detailed description
of the way trading partners intend to play their respective roles, establish
business relations and share responsibilities to interact efficiently with
the support of their respective information systems. Each business transaction
is realized by an exchange of business documents (also called messages). The
business documents are composed of Business Information Entities (BIE), which
are preferably taken from libraries of reusable business information entities.
Website
The UN/CEFACT Core Components Technical Specification describes
and specifies a new approach to the problem of the lack of information interoperability
between applications in the e-business arena. Traditionally, standards for
the exchange of business data have been focused on static message definitions
that have not enabled a sufficient degree of interoperability or flexibility.
A more flexible and interoperable way of standardizing Business Semantics is
required. The UN/CEFACT Core Component solution described in this specification
presents a methodology for developing a common set of semantic building blocks
that represent the general types of business data in use today and provide
for the creation of new business vocabularies and the restructuring of existing
business vocabularies.
Core Components developed using the Core Components Technical Specification
can be found in a UN/CEFACT database [Core Component Library ].
The UN/CEFACT Modelling Methodology (UMM) is a Unified
Modelling Language (UML) approach to designing the business services that each
business partner must provide in order to collaborate. It provides the business
justification for the service to be implemented in a service-oriented architecture
(SOA). The steps for implementing UMM and the resulting artefacts are explained
in the UMM description website.