This document provides Guidance on using the main class levels of the WCO Data Model (DM), i.e., GoodsShipment, Consignment or BorderTransportMeans in Cross Border Regulatory Procedures (CBRPs). The Guidance aims to ensure consostent and clear usage of main class levels when implementing the WCO DM. Consistent implementation will enhance interoperability.
The WCO DM was designed to allow maximum reuse of data and minimum redundancy. It means that a class could be used in different levels of the WCO DM structure in different contexts of CBRPs.
The recurrence of the main classes in different levels of the WCO DM structure often needs clarification on which class level they should be used. When an incorrect class level is used, the message structure won’t optimally serve the purpose of the data structure and could cause interoperability issues.
As a basic principle, the main class levels are associated with specific procedures, as indicated in the table below.
Main Class Level | Associated CBRP | Primary source information |
---|---|---|
Declaration /GoodsShipment | Customs declaration | Goods transaction documents (e.g., invoice, proof of payment, packing list, etc.) |
Declaration /Consignment | Cargo report | Transport contract document (e.g., bill of lading) |
Declaration /BorderTransportMeans | Conveyance report |
Apart from the main procedures in which the classes are exclusively used at the top level, some of these are also used or referenced in other procedures.
The GoodsShipment class level is the primary base for the Import/Export Declaration, data that is required by CBRArelating to the clearance of goods. The procedure is consistent with Standard 3.8 of the General Annex (GA) of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC): “The declarant shall be held responsible to the Customs for the accuracy of the particulars given in the Goods declaration and the payment of the duties and taxes.”
For declaration procedures, the Declaration/GoodsShipment class level should be used.
The GoodsShipment class level describes what goods are shipped. It also provides information on the movement and handling of goods shipped together on one or more means of transport.
The Consignment level is the primary basis for Cargo report, the formalities conducted prior to the lodgment of the goods declaration. The Cargo report procedure is consistent with Standard 4 of the Specific Annex (SA) A of the RKC: “The carrier shall be held responsible to the Customs for ensuring that all goods are included in the cargo declaration or are brought to the attention of the Customs in another authorized manner.” In addition, the definition of Chapter 1 of the SA outlines cargo declaration as “information submitted prior to or on arrival or departure of a means of transport for commercial use that provides the particulars required by the Customs relating to cargo brought to or removed from the Customs territory.”
For cargo report procedures, the Declaration/Consignment class level should be used.
The Consignment level describes how goods are shipped and provides details about the transport between a consignor and a consignee as specified in the transport contract document. The Consignment level contains information on the items specified in the commercial contract between the consignor and the consignee and are transported in single or multiple shipments.
Consignment information may be referenced in a Customs declaration to describe its relation to a GoodsShipment. For this purpose, the Declaration/GoodsShipment/Consignment class level should be used.
The BorderTransportMeans class level is the primary basis for Conveyance reports, a procedure where the carrier reports details on the means of transport.
The BorderTransportMeans class level also includes information about itinerary details, identification of the means of transport, arrival location, transport equipment, bunker, waste, persons on board and stores.
For the Conveyance report procedures, the Declaration/BorderTransportMeans class level should be used.
Transport means and itinerary details may be included in a Cargo report or other Consignment-based messages. For this purpose, the Declaration/Consignment/BorderTransportMeans class level should be used.
Subsequently, to describe details about transport means and its itinerary of manifest or other consignment-based information referenced in a Customs declaration, the Declaration/GoodsShipment/Consignment/BorderTransportMeans class level should be used
The UML diagram above visualizes multiple occurrences of the WCO DM Main Classes. It should be noted that even though based on the same class, each instance of the class may contain different data elements. As an example, the top-level BorderTransportMeans uses many more data elements compared to the Declaration/GoodsShipments/Consignment/BorderTransportMeans class level. The Declaration/Consignment/BorderTransportMeans class level uses the least data elements.