Annex 9.B. Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) data quality assurance, measurement and reporting: controls and reports

Annex 9.B. Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) data quality assurance, measurement and reporting: controls and reports

1. Existence controls

9.B.1.           This type of controls checks whether the data element that has been declared as mandatory is really entered. A data element can be declared as mandatory by programming or through the configuration module. The configuration module allows the ASYCUDA user countries to adapt the data capture of any document to their specific requirements and circumstances (e.g., a data element could be declared as mandatory in country A and prohibited in country B).

2. Data Format controls

9.B.2.           This type of controls verifies that the format of the entered data element corresponds to the format that has been declared during the implementation (e.g., the data element must be a numeric with three decimals, or a date format). ASYCUDA supports various data formats (or data types): numeric (with or without decimals), characters and date.

3. Referential and validity controls

9.B.3.           This type of controls verifies whether the data element is correct according to the reference table to which it is related. This means that the data element must exist in the reference table and is valid for the respective time period (date of validity). A simple example is the list of (partner) countries, which also includes its validity.

9.B.4.           There are more than 40 reference tables on, for example (this list is not exhaustive): importers or exporters, declarants, countries, customs procedure codes, terms of delivery (INCOTERMS), places of loading/discharge, terms of payments, mode of transport, etc. 

9.B.5.           The customs integrated tariff consists in a specific and complex reference table allowing the checking of the customs commodity code and other related elements (e.g., quantity units associated with a specific tariff).

4. Consistency controls

9.B.6.     This validation ensures that:

(a)    The use of several data elements is consistent, depending on the content of one or more control tables. This means that a specific data element must be valid not only per se (as indicated in the above para.) but also in combination with one data element controlled in another table (e.g., not only must the mode of transport at the border exist in the table of the modes of transport but it must also be authorized for the declared customs office of entry/exit);

(b)   The existence of a specific data element depends on the value of the other data element (e.g., the quantity unit “number of items” is not mandatory in all cases but if requested by the tariff commodity code then it becomes mandatory).

5. ASYCUDA statistical reports

9.B.7.     In addition to the checks explained above, which are mainly performed during data entry, ASYCUDA also provides a statistical reporting module. These reports are intended to provide a summary or overview in a specific time period; however, they can also be used for validation purposes. Box IX.B.1 provides an example of a summary report by commodity.