When importing consolidated air freight, SumA data has traditionally been submitted at the master AWB level. In the future, customs authorities intend to track each shipment at the HAWB level (individual shipment level) in order to conduct risk assessments more accurately following an ICS 1 declaration. This is also understand as 1:1 referencing. This is not a new requirement. It is already enshrined in the ICS 1 legal framework (legal basis: UCC, § 127 et seq.) and has been part of the Union Customs Code (UCC for short) since 2013.

The party presenting the shipment assumes liability to Customs for the accuracy of the information provided and for complying with any instructions contained in any restriction notes! It must be ensured that every single shipment is actually counted and presented. To do this, the consolidated cargo must be unpacked. To keep the resulting extra work to a minimum, Customs makes a small concession.  The freight forwarder—provided it is located within the customs district of Frankfurt Airport (in the CCS)—can complete the customs clearance process at its gateway.

The 1:1 referencing means that, during the clearance process, the information stored in ATLAS based on the ICS 1 declaration (ENS or EsumA)—particularly regarding risk-based restrictions—is displayed in such a way that it can be tracked and processed at the first airport of entry into the EU.

Legal basis: UZK, § 127 et seq.

The new rule for consolidated freight applies to the airline as the primary importer of the goods into the European Union, the agents GHA and Airline CHA, and, newly, freight forwarders authorized to make the customs declaration (with an EORI number).

New to Frankfurt: authorized freight forwarders are permitted to present consolidated freight shipments at an on-airport customs bonded warehouse!  Declarations must be filed at customs warehouses within the jurisdiction of the Frankfurt Airport Cargo Border Customs Office. Transfer shipments, including those in the RFS, must therefore also be declared on-airport.

Freight forwarders who wish to use FRA-OS/Import must register for FRA-OS/Import. Freight forwarders who wish to qualify to handle customs declarations must register in FRA-OS/Import in a database specifically designated for this purpose (“White List”)!

1:1 Referencing - The Process

These carriers may, by means of a so-called “procedure notification” (which must include a shipment ID), perform the presentation of this shipment at an on-airport customs bonded warehouse. Authorization must be confirmed by the airline’s CHA in each case. The authorized party will then automatically receive the import data record transmitted from FRA-OS/Import.

Many freight forwarders already send so-called “transit lists” to FAIR@Link. In the future, these lists will also be used to request the import data record. This means the data record will only be available if it has been requested and confirmed by CHA or the airline. Of course, the freight forwarder can also use the transshipment list to authorize its service provider to access the data record. This makes the transshipment list even more important, and—due to its new/additional function—it will be called a “procedural notification” going forward.  Once the shipment has been assigned, the carrier can handle the pickup itself, and CHA knows who will pick up the goods and whether it may need to handle the pickup itself.

As an alternative to this procedure, the freight forwarder can also send a message to FRA-OS via EDI or complete the process online at the web client of FAIR@Link.

If the goods no longer have to be presented exclusively to the CHA but can also be presented to the freight forwarder, customs will not know where the goods are for a few hours. For this reason, customs requires that shipments be traceable through status updates from everyone who handles the shipment—starting with the ground handling service that unloads the aircraft.

As a freight forwarder, the first thing you must do is specify which AWB you are claiming. This is done via the procedure notification (formerly the transshipment list). The confirmation is sent automatically in FRA OS. This means you don’t need to call anyone or send an email. Your handling partner will ensure that the information reaches you as quickly as possible.

As soon as the goods arrive at your warehouse, Customs expects a status update regarding the warehouse receipt. This ensures the necessary transparency.