National Single Window TradeLink System

- Mauritius Experience

Presented By:

Dabeesing Charansingh

Assistant Director/Head IT, MRA Customs

Project Manager, National Single Window

WCO Accredited Expert

Agenda

• Old Business Process before TradeLink System

• Overview on the Single Window TradeLink System

• Implementation Team Structure

• New Process – Single Submission at agencies level through CMS

• Benefits

• Challenges

• Improvements

• Conclusion

• AoB/Demo

Old Business Process (before 2016)

• Fully manual

• Importers/Exporters have to move physically to the office tosubmit the application

• Queuing for payment which is in a different location

• After payment, go back to the respective agencies to showpayment receipt

• The help desk officer check all the documents and paymenteffected before processing the application

• The application move physically to various officers up to thepermanent secretary for final approval.

• Usually an application required 3-4 signatures before approval

• Importers/Exporters have to call or move physically to the officeto check status of their application.

Old Business Process (before 2016)

• Certain controlled goods require more than 1 agencies toapprove. So same documents are submitted physically to theother agency for approval. Another payment involved for permitclearance.

• Certain cases whereby an agency is awaiting for approval fromanother agency creating deadlocks!

• Bottlenecks in the existing system for document submission,payment of application and processing of application

• Usually approval for application range from 1-2 weeks (onlydocumentary check) to 8-12 weeks (Physically verification andtesting of samples)

• After permit approval by agency, the importer/exporter canimport the consignment.

Old Business Process (before 2016)

• Upon arrival of consignment, the manual process starts againtaking another few weeks for final clearance by agencies.

• Most of the cases involve only documentary checks

• The approved application is then scanned and submitted toCustoms together with the Customs declaration for Customsclearance.

• Customs in collaboration with relevant agencies conduct physicalverification, fumigation and sample testing in the port area.

• Such verification in the Port Area is very costly to the importers asstorage fee in the Port Area is involved

• In conclusion, the existing business process was lengthy, timeconsuming and costly to the stakeholders (involve both direct andindirect costs).

Freight Forwarders

DeclarantsMinistry of Commerce

Banks

Freeport Operators

Freight Forwarders

Declarants

MPA/CHCL

Freeport Developers

CustomsShips/Airlines

Agents

MPA/CHCL

Freight Stations

Hauliers

TradeNet

Server

CMS

External CMS Users

Customs Officers

The Trade Community in Mauritius (2016 onwards)

TradeLink

Mauritius Network Services Mauritius Cargo Community System

MRA Customs

Team Structure

Steering Committee (MOFED (Chair), Customs, EDB, MCCI, Agencies )

Business Process

Re-engineering(EDB(Chair), Customs, MOFED,

MNS, MCCI, Agencies )

Software Development

and Testing(Customs (Chair), MNS,

Agencies)

- Drafting project user

specification

- Streamline Business Process

- Report to the steering

committee the various re-

engineering which require

amendments to the law,

agencies regulations

- Prepare Agencies’ guidelines

- Data Mapping Harmonization

- Draft Technical Specification

- Report to the steering committee the

project developments and challenges.

- Ensure project development being

done within set timeframe

- User Acceptance Testing and

deployment

High Level Commitment

from Ministry of

Finance. Project was

approved in the

Mauritius Parliament

The Three (3) main Processes in the National SW

1. Agencies with both Permit Requirements (before importation) andclearance

– National Plant Protection Office (NPPO) - Phytosanitary

– Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB) (Potatoes, Onions and Seeds)

– National Agricultural Products Regulatory Office (NAPRO )(Tea and Tobacco)

– Ministry of Health and Quality of Life - Pharmacy Board (PB)

– Film Classification Board (FCB)

– Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping (Fish)

– Dangerous Chemical Control Board (DCCB)

– Divisional Veterinary Services (DVS)

– Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security Authority (RSNSA)

2. Agencies processing only clearance– Ministry of Health and Quality of Life – Food Import Unit (FIU)

3. Agencies requiring Permits but clearance is done by Customs– Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection (General Goods)

Application

for PermitSingle Window

TradeLink

Ministry access

system through

TradeLink3. Applicant notify that

permit is granted – Permit

No. generated, under

query or reject

2. Check Application

and related documents

online (Approve,

Reject, Cancel, Under

Query, In Error )

Permit Application on TradeLink

Application

for

Clearance

Single Window

TradeLink

Ministry access

system through

TradeLink

Delivery Allowed on TradeLink and Customs Clearance in CMS

CMSSubmission

of BoE

1. Submission of

documents for

agencies’ clearance

3. Applicant notifies

that clearance

approved or rejected

or require amendments

2. Check

Application and

related documents

for clearance

4. Customs is notified

delivery allowed for

Permit no. XXX with

full detail in CMS

Screen5. Submission of BoE and

relevant documents

(Validation checks on Permit

No., HS Code and Importer

Name)

Consignment reach Mauritius

1. Applicant applies

for permit which is

routed to agency based

on HS Codes

7. Notification sent to

declarants through FES

6. BoE Validated. Customs check

documents and clear BoE. Customs

will be notified if consignment released

under Agencies’ Custody for further

inspection.

7. Notification sent to

Agencies on TradeLink

1

Validation

of BoECMS FIU

Agencies processing only clearance

Customs

1. Payment effected

and Customs

initiates process

2. BoE is routed to

agency based on

HS Codes

4. Customs receives

FIU remarks in the

OGA Remarks Button

and the documents

5. Customs processes the

BOE (e.g. gives Delivery

Allowed)

Consignment reach Mauritius

2

3. FIU view or upload

documents, input remarks

(e.g. Release or Not

Release or Sample

required)

Application

for PermitSingle Window

TradeLink

Ministry access

system through

TradeLink

Agencies requiring Permits but clearance is done by Customs

(based on documentary checks)

CMSSubmission

of BoE

3. Applicant notifies

that Permit is

approved or rejected

4. Customs is notified

delivery allowed for

Permit no. XXX with

full detail in CMS

Screen5. Submission of BoE and

relevant documents

(Validation checks on Permit

No., HS Code and Importer

Name)

Consignment reach Mauritius

1. Applicant applies

for permit which is

routed to agency based

on HS Codes

7. Notification sent to

declarants through FES

6. BoE Validated. Customs check

documents and clear BoE

3

2. Check Application

and related documents

online (Approve,

Reject, Under Query)

Project Status as at June 2019

No. Agencies Status Deadline

1 MICCP Import Completed and Operational October 2016

2 Film Classification Board Completed and Operational March 2017

3 MICCP Export Completed and Operational March 2017

4 Radiation Protection Authority Completed and Operational Dec 2017

5 Ministry of Fisheries Completed and Operational July 2018

6 NPPO Completed and Operational Dec 2018

7 AMB (Recommender) Completed and Operational Dec 2018

8 NAPRO Completed and Operational Dec 2018

9 Food Import Unit Completed and Operational Jan 2019

10 Division of Veterinary Services Development in progress Aug 2019

11 Pharmacy Board Development in progress Oct 2019

12 Dangerous Chemical Control Board Testing in progress Sep 2019

SUMMARY

Benefits with the new Business Process

With the new business process and amendments to the law: -

– Acceptance of scanned copy of original documents

– Time to submit application is done within minutes

– Processing of application done within a set time frame ranging 3-5 days

– Administrative Cost reduced drastically (transport, labour, otheropportunity cost)

– Single Submission of application and relevant documents for clearanceby more than one agency

– Payment is done electronically (Customs or Accountant General)

– Permit for used items removed during BPR

– Payment of administrative fees removed for certain agencies

– Better coordination during physical inspection and sample testing.

– Lengthy inspection by agencies are done outside port area to reducestorage cost

Challenges

• Resistance to Change

• Data Mapping Harmonisation (Customs and Agencies forms)

• Resistance to Business Process Re-engineering

• Amendments of legislations so as to be in line with the changes tobe brought

• Lack of Support of the Ministries and other Agencies in theconsolidation of permits

• MOUs between ministries involved in the approval of certainpermits

• Policy decisions beyond Customs and Ministry Level which maydelay project development and deadlines

• Absence of in-house system and lack of adequate IT infrastructureon OGAs’ side

Improvements to the National Single Window

• Notification to stakeholders• Risk Management Engine to identify the high risk consignment• Elimination of import permits (before importation)• Integrated System Customs and Controlling Agencies• Security of data through block chain• In built Data Analytics to analyze trends in importation and

Exportation• Real Time Reporting for quick decision making

Conclusion

• Single Window is a concept and differs from Countries how toimplement an integrated system with single submission ofdocument

• High level support and commitment is critical• Business Process Re-Engineering• Streamline business process and duplication of procedures• Data Mapping and Harmonization across agencies• Qualified Staff with extensive experience & a good decision maker• Trained Staff using the system• Proper ICT Logistics in place• Proper Training and Awareness• Change Management• Government Management Entity to ensure Post implementation

support

THANK YOU ?