Clearance of export goods

More detail below on:

Export entries
Electronic lodgement
Entry processing registration
Email advice on Customs system performance

Export entries

Export entries and other clearances are a legal declaration to the New Zealand Customs Service under the Customs and Excise Act 1996, providing details of shipments to be exported.

 

Assistance with the preparation of the export entry is available for first-time exporters. Otherwise Customs suggests you engage your freight forwarder or a Customs broker to lodge export clearances on your behalf. This will help if you are unfamiliar with compiling entries, the related rules, determining tariff classification, customs value, or whether permit requirements exist for goods you wish to export.

 

Alternatively, you can email CBAFF at cbaff@clear.net.nz  (non Government website) about training programmes you can attend to equip yourself to lodge your own entries.

 

Penalties exist for erroneous export entries under the Customs and Excise Act 1996, and it is important that you are aware of these. For more information on offences relating to Entries, see Section 203.

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Electronic lodgement

All entries must be lodged and cleared electronically prior to goods being loaded for export.

 

Electronic entries are generally processed within 60 minutes of receipt by Customs, unless rejected to errors or omissions. To lodge entries electronically, clients may either install EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) software, or use the New Zealand Customs Service On-line Declarations website.

 

EDI users are required to:

• develop or purchase EDI software which contains features necessary to transmit CUSDEC (Customs declaration) messages and receive CUSRES (Customs response)
• test proper functionality with Customs prior to use
• pay for the EDI link and associated messaging costs.

EDI is generally more suitable for higher-frequency users. For information on the New Zealand Customs Service’s EDI requirements, please refer to the EDI Message Implementation Guidelines.

 

For information about EDI connections and network issues contact ECN.

 

Users of the New Zealand Customs On-line Declarations website:

• do not require any specialist software
• pay for messaging costs at a higher rate than EDI.

The On-Line Declaration website is generally more suitable for lower-volume users. Further information is available from the Clearance via the Internet section of this website.

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Entry processing registration

Under the Customs and Excise Act 1996, anyone who wishes to lodge electronic export entries or export Electronic Cargo Information (EDI) reports may apply to Customs to be registered. Approved applicants are issued with a Customs declarant code and a unique user identifier (UUI) if lodging entries.

 

The UUI is used in the same way as a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The UUI is issued to an individual and identifies the person responsible for lodging an electronic entry. It is considered to be the electronic signature and should only be used by the person to whom it is issued. All reasonable precautions should be taken to keep the UUI confidential.

 

A registered user may only have one current declarant code and one current UUI. The UUI may be transferable when individuals move from business to business. 

 

If you consider your UUI number has been compromised, advise your local Customs office immediately and contact the National Call Centre to arrange cancellation and issue of a new UUI. 

 

Under the Customs and Excise Act 1996, the registered user is responsible for all entries made under their UUI.

To become a registered user, the following steps apply:

• If you wish to work as a Customs broker, or will lodge entries for a wide range of goods, you will need to sit and pass three basic courses to give you the competencies enabling you to complete and lodge entries. The courses are:
  • Origin/Preference/Valuation
  • Introduction to Customs Brokerage or Customs Broking and Law
  • Tariff Interpretation

Course details can be found on the Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders website.  

• If you only deal with a few commodities, and feel you have the competencies to lodge entries or ECIs (Electronic Cargo Information reports), you will need to visit your local Customs Client Service office for your competencies to be assessed.
• You must complete an Application for Registration as a User of a Customs Computerised Entry Processing System form.
• You must personally deliver the completed form to your local Customs office. 
• You must provide proof of identity as specified on the application form. and present certificates of completion for the above-mentioned courses, if applicable.  

You will be advised of your registration by mail and supplied with a Customs declarant code that is to be inserted on clearances, and a unique user identifier (UUI)  if lodging export entries.

Please advise Customs if you change your business name and details, or if you change your employer. Changes should be advised on the prescribed form NZCS 229 Customs Computerised Entry Processing System Registered User Update form.

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Email advice on Customs system performance

EDI users and Customs On-line Declarations Website users can register to receive emails from the New Zealand Customs Service advising of any outages or other factors relating to the New Zealand Customs Service EDI system. 

 

Go to http://www2.customs.govt.nz/webforms/join/ to register. Users who are already registered can change their details at http://www2.customs.govt.nz/webforms/members.

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