This Monday, May 17, Central America began testing the Regional Dispatch Time Study, a unique tool to measure the actual performance of customs activities related to trade facilitation at the border, with the Technical support from the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) and the support of the European Union.
The activity is being carried out within the framework of the Central American Regional Economic Integration Project, SIECA reported. It clarified that The study is led by the Central American Customs Committee under the coordination of the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (COMIECO).
It is worth mentioning that the Dispatch Time Study, internationally recognized by the WCO, is an instrument to measure the current time required for the clearance and release of goods and allows for the identification of actions necessary to make customs processes more efficient at border posts.
This increasingly common practice of Customs administrations, in close cooperation with other stakeholders, consists of four phases:
- Study Preparation
- Data collection and recording
- Data analysis and monitoring, evaluation, preparation
- Presentation of an action plan.
Thus, such Data will allow for the definition of a medium-term action plan to improve customs management and trade facilitation In Central America, a key issue for economic growth and prosperity of the countries.
According to official information, this time a second phase pilot will be applied through a test, which Customs officials will give to land freight transporters so they can fill it out. The time taken for each procedure will also be recorded. Based on the results of this pilot, adjustments will be made, in order to then formally apply the Dispatch Time Study in July.
It is recalled that the border posts The points that will be analyzed simultaneously in Panama and Costa Rica are Paso Canoas and Sixaola; while Guatemala and El Salvador will measure the post of Pedro de Alvarado (La Hachadura) and San Cristóbal; El Salvador and Honduras will also measure the post of Amatillo; another point will be Gausale, which will be measured by Honduras and Nicaragua and finally at the border post of Peña Blanca-Peñas Blancas it will be analyzed by the team from Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
The initiative is carried out under the technical support of the OMA and SIECA. Photo: SIECA 
Officials and land transporters. Photo: SIECA
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
