Descartes Begins Testing With European Union Customs

VANCOUVER - IATA World Cargo Symposium -- Descartes Systems Group, a federated global network logistics solutions provider, announced that it has successfully filed its first Import Control System (ICS) test messages with European Commission's Taxation and Customs Union ("EU Customs Union") as part of its GLN Customs Filing and Compliance services.

In an effort to address the security and automation of trade shipments, the EU Customs Union is introducing customs compliance regulations to standardize and automate its customs filings process. European Union (EU) member states and the community have come together to form the electronic customs multiannual strategic plan (MASP). The goal of this plan is to provide the vision, objectives, strategic framework and milestones towards a paperless environment for customs and trade. The EU Customs Union Security Filing program is scheduled to go live on January 1, 2011 in all 27 member states of the EU. Descartes submitted its first ICS test message to the customs authority in Belgium.

"Today, we help our customers manage customs filings for existing regulations in a variety of countries around the world to ensure compliance and to help keep efficient shipment processes," said Jonathan Wasserman, Senior Vice President, Global Trade Compliance Solutions at Descartes. "With that experience, we look forward to having our customers ready for the EU mandate when the time comes. Our Global Filer solution is designed to enable organizations to streamline the customs filing process across the EU member states as well as other countries around the world. Logistics professionals have begun their planning and have begun working closely with Descartes' sales, IT and professional services teams to prepare for this important new set of regulations."

Descartes' Global Filer and Customs Filing and Compliance services are a part of Descartes' Global Logistics Network (GLN). The GLN helps automate, manage and streamline the end-to-end shipment process, from source to consumer, with ongoing real-time visibility. Descartes' customs filing and compliance services help companies meet regulatory requirements for international shipments for both international customs agencies and security initiatives.