Cargo Community System (CCS-UK)
The computerised cargo processing system that controls goods in an inventory linked environment. It consists of a central database and a "switch" to transfer messages between the various computer systems connected to it.
Carnet
Customs document which allows you to carry or send goods temporarily into certain countries for display or demonstration purposes without paying duty or posting a bond.
Carriage and insurance paid to (named place of destination) (CIP)
An Incoterm, where the seller clears the goods for export and pays for carriage to the named destination. The goods are delivered when the seller passes the goods to its carrier. From this point the buyer takes responsibility for all costs and risks. But the seller must also take out insurance to cover the buyer's risk during transport.
Carriage paid to (named place of destination) (CPT)
An Incoterm, where the seller clears the goods for export and pays for carriage to the named destination. The goods are delivered when the seller passes the goods to its carrier. From this point the buyer takes responsibility for all costs and risks.
Cash in advance (CIA)
Full payment for exported goods before shipment is made.
Cash with order (CWO)
The buyer pays for goods when ordering. The transaction is binding on both supplier and customer.
Certificate of inspection
Document certifying that certain types of goods (such as perishable items) were in good condition before shipment.
Certificate of insurance
Shows insurance cover has been arranged for goods being transported. It should detail the degree of cover and list the policy number and all other relevant details.
Certificate of manufacture
Statement (often legalised by a notary) in which a producer of goods certifies that manufacture has been completed and the goods can be bought.
Certificate of origin (C/O)
Statement on the origin of goods. You may need one if you're exporting to a number of countries. They're available from your chamber of commerce for goods of European (EU) origin.
Certificate of Veterinary Clearance (CVC)
A document issued by the official Veterinary Officer at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) controlling Products Of Animal Origin (POAO) and live animals entering the European Union (EU).
Certification
The process of issuing the "certificate" which is required to be produced at time of Customs clearance as evidence that controlled fresh fruit and vegetable produce has been inspected by a competent authority and found to comply with European Community (EC) standards for quality, packaging and labelling.
Clear/clearance
Goods are cleared when HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have accepted a declaration for them and formally released them for import or export.
Combined Consignment Note and Customs Declaration (CNCD)
A single document which serves as both a Customs declaration and a consignment note. The CNCD is used for traffic to and from the Channel Islands.
Combined Nomenclature (CN)
The European Union (EU) system for classifying and defining goods. It is based on the Harmonised System (HS) and is laid out in the Tariff.
Commercial agent
Person or organisation appointed by exporter to sell goods on their behalf in return for commission.
Commercial invoice
Bill listing the goods and prices shipped by an exporter.
Commodity code
The code that identifies the description of individual goods or items in the Tariff. The full code is either 10 or 14 digits long, but for many purposes only the first four or eight digits are used. Also referred to as Combined Nomenclature (CN) code.
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The set of legislation and practices jointly adopted by the nations of the European Union (EU) in order to provide a common, unified policy framework for agriculture.
Common stock
The storage or mixture of goods which have been imported under a relief eg end-use relief or inward processing relief (IPR) with other goods that share the same commodity code to eight digits and the same technical and physical characteristics.
Common transit (CT)
Used to describe community transit (CT).
Community Customs Code (CCC)
The basic Customs rules applying throughout the European Union (EU). The Code was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2913/92. This regulation has been amended several times since it was passed, but it remains the basis of the EU Customs system. Another regulation, Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93, sets out provisions for the implementation of the Code.
Community systems provider (CSP)
A company or organisation providing a system that supports a network of trade users and provides human computer interface (HCI) usually within a seaport or airport.
Community transit (CT)
A documentary system of controlling the movement of certain goods across the territory of the European Union (EU).
Compensating products
All products obtained from inward processing relief (IPR) processing operations.
Compensatory interest
Interest charged by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) when inward processing relief (IPR) suspension goods are diverted to free circulation.
Confirmed letter of credit
Letter of credit issued by an overseas bank but also confirmed by a UK bank. Under these circumstances you'll be paid by the UK bank even if your buyer or the other bank defaults, providing the terms of the letter are met fully.
Consignee
Duty suspension -the person to whom duty suspended goods are consigned and who accounts for those goods in the member state of destination. This may be: a warehouse keeper who is
approved to store the goods in duty suspension, a registered trader who accounts for duty on arrival or a non-registered trader who must have accounted for the duty to his fiscal authority before the goods are despatched.
Consignment
When goods are exported subject to consignment, the exporter only receives payment on completed sales. Any unsold items may be returned to the exporter, usually at their expense. This is a high-risk method of payment for an exporter. Also known as "on consignment" or "consignment stock".
Consignment control label number (CCLN)
A unique 12 digit number on a control label allocated to a consignment note CIM (note confirming that the carrier has received the goods and that a contract exists between the trader and carrier) by which the consignment note, its country and station of issue can be identified.
Consignment record
The record of an import or export consignment held on a computer inventory system.
Consignor
Duty suspension -the authorised person from whose premises goods are dispatched in duty suspension.
Consolidation
A procedure whereby a number of small consignments are loaded together to form a single, larger consignment. This must be carried out as part of a contract to transport the goods.
Consolidator
Company issuing transport documents for the carriage of cargo by sea, air, road and rail where consignments have been consolidated.
Containerised/containerisation
The packing of goods for transport in sealed containers.
Convention International Merchandises Chemins de Fer (CIM/TIEx)
International rail carriage receipt. This document confirms that the rail carrier has received the goods and that a contract of carriage exists between trader and carrier.
Convention Merchandises Routiers (CMR)
Conditions for the international carriage of goods by road.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Regulatory body which oversees the international movement and trade of endangered species.
Convertible currency
A currency that can be bought and sold for other currencies at will.
Correspondent bank
Bank that handles in its own country the business of a foreign bank.
Cost and freight (CFR)
An Incoterm, where the seller clears the goods for export and meets the cost of carriage to the port in the destination country. But the buyer bears all risks after delivery, which occurs when the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the port of shipment. The buyer also bears any extra costs caused by events that happen after delivery.
Cost, insurance and freight (CIF)
An Incoterm, where the seller clears goods for export and meets the cost of carriage to the port in the destination country, including insurance. But the importing buyer bears all risks, except marine insurance, after delivery. Delivery occurs when the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the port of shipment. The buyer also bears any extra costs caused by events that happen after delivery.
Countervailing charge
A charge which may be imposed by the European Commission (EC) either on certain goods from specified European Union (EU) member states during some months of the year or as part of a minimum import price system.
Credit-risk insurance
Insurance for exporters designed to cover risks of non-payment for delivered goods.
Customs action code (CAC)
A code which indicates the action taken by Customs on either an entry or a request for removal.
Customs and excise warehouse
A warehouse separately approved for the deposit of goods liable to customs duty and excise duty.
Customs approved treatment or use
The placing of goods under a customs procedure, their entry into a free zone, their re-exportation from the customs territory of the European Union (EU), their destruction or their abandonment to the Exchequer.
Customs commodity code
Eight-digit commodity code required for exports outside the European Union (EU). It needs to be made in your customs export declaration. Sometimes known as the "first eight digits of the Customs Tariff number" or "CN (Customs nomenclature) code", it's also used as the basis for the import declaration in the country of destination.
Customs duty
A tax charged on goods imported into the European Union (EU). It is based on the value (ad valorem) or the quantity (specific) of the imported goods and the description of the goods.
Remember that imported goods may be liable to other charges, such as Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD) or Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) charges. They may also be liable to Excise Duty and VAT.
Customs freight simplified procedures (CFSP)
Simplified procedures for the importation of third country goods, including the simplified declaration procedure (SDP) and the local clearance procedure (LCP).
Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF)
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) computerised system for processing import and export declarations.
Customs procedure code (CPC)
A six digit code used on entries at import and export to identify the type of procedure for which the goods are entered and from which they came.
Customs procedures with economic impact (CPEI)
Customs Procedures with Economic Impact -a blanket term describing a number of Customs procedures which are specifically designed to aid European Union (EU) companies. Procedures covered include Inward Processing Relief (IPR), Outward Processing Relief (OPR), Rejected Imports, Returned Goods Relief (RGR), Community System of Duty Reliefs (CSDR), Temporary Importation Relief (TI), ATA Carnets, Customs Warehousing, End Use Relief, Free Zones.
Customs registered number (CRN)
Customs Registered Number -a unique 5 digit number assigned by HM Revenue & Customs to an exporter or agent approved to use one or more of the following export procedures: Simplified Clearance Procedure (SCP); Local Export Control (LEC) and Period Entry.
Customs release
The approval given by Customs that authorises a transit shed operator to deliver goods from the transit shed subject to such conditions the commissioners may impose.
Customs statistical reference (CSR)
A code which identifies both the type of export consignment and the type of documentation that goes with the consignment.
Customs Union
The Customs Territories of the European Union (EU), Turkey, San Marino and Andorra. The unions between the EU and these countries enable most goods in free circulation to move freely between them without the need to claim import duty relief, subject to the production of any necessary preference or community transit (CT) documentation. VAT is still due on imports from Turkey, San Marino and Andorra, however, unless the goods are eligible for relief.
Customs value
The value of imported goods for Customs purposes.
Customs warehouse
A place approved by HM Revenue & Customs for the storage of goods without payment of import duty. Import VAT is also suspended during storage of warehoused goods. There are several different types of Customs warehouse. While most approvals are for specific locations, in some cases approval can be given to a company and its commercial accounting and stock control systems. In these cases the approval is not linked to a specific location.