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UNECE and FIA join forces to digitalize procedures for the temporary import of private and commercial vehicles

UNECE and FIA join forces to digitalize procedures for the temporary import of private and commercial vehicles

Signing of Transport MOU

The digitalization of the “carnet de passages en douane” – or “CPD” system –, which facilitates the temporary importation of private and commercial vehicles, is expected to greatly improve its efficiency, speed and transparency. Through enhanced data management, the digitalized “eCPD” system will reduce administrative burdens for customs procedures, make border-crossing operations more secure, and further support global mobility.

This is why UNECE and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 October 2021 to formalize their cooperation in the computerization of the CPD procedure (eCPD).

The CPD system is based on two international conventions (the 1954 Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Private Road Vehicles; and the 1956 Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles). Hosted by UNECE, the conventions combined have 96 Contracting Parties, where the system is implemented and managed by the FIA on behalf of the AIT/FIA CPD network and their and its affiliated members.

UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova said: “The 59 United Nations legal instruments on inland transport administered by UNECE provide a common framework for the development of efficient, safe and sustainable transport and mobility. Accelerating the digitalization of procedures under these tools is helping more and more countries to reap their benefits. UNECE is pleased to strengthen our cooperation with FIA in this area to further facilitate cross-border goods transport and mobility.”

FIA President Jean Todt said: “The strengthened partnership between the FIA and UNECE marks our joint commitment to promote a safe and sustainable mobility for all road users worldwide.  The digitalization of the CPD Distribution System will provide a solution that is needed by customs administrations to help manage risks and reduce border waiting times.”

The CPD system’s modernization aims at facilitating the safe electronic of data exchange between national customs systems related to the temporary admission of commercial and private vehicles according to the provisions of the CPD Convention.

It will also allow customs to manage the data on guarantees and replace the current functions of the paper CPD Carnet. the digitization of the CPD system is expected to provide further benefits such as the systematic availability of advanced information that would allow stakeholders to conduct risk assessments prior to the arrival of vehicles.

The digitalization of the CPD Distribution System is expected to speed up the border crossing for millions of automobilists around the globe by reducing significantly their administrative burden. Additionally, the exchange of customs information in a secure environment will prevent false submission of customs declarations.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Information Unit

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 12 34

Email: [email protected]

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