Regional Trade Pact Import/Export Declaration

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The Regional Trade Pact Import/Export Declaration is a standardised import/export document used in common by members of a regional trade group containing compliance, administrative and statistical information. This document is typically issued by the exporter or seller (shipper).

The typical trade pact import/export declaration contains the following elements:
  • Name and address of the exporter/seller/consignor/shipper,
  • Name and address of the importer/buyer/consignee,
  • Description and value of the goods,
  • A statement of origin of the goods,
  • Country of destination of the goods,
  • Carrier and means of transport,
  • Other compliance, administrative and statistical information.
This document is used as an export declaration when exporting from any trade pact member country to a non-member country and as both an import and export declaration when transporting goods across country borders within the trade group.

Because of its standardised format, this document is often linked to a computer system for an electronic transfer of information to export and import authorities within the trade group.

EU (European Union) and SAD (Single Administrative Document)

This document is a prime example of a regional trade pact import/export declaration. It was established by the European Community Council in 1988 with the goal of standardising customs documentation and simplifying international transactions.

This particular document is used as an import/export declaration and also for the declaration of goods in transit within EU and EFTA (European Free Trade Area) countries. It may be submitted by computer directly to the customs authority in all the 15 EU member nations.

Countries outside of the EU continent have shown interest in using the SAD and some have already adopted the format for their import documentations. 

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