Excise Movement & Control System (EMCS) newsletter - issue 4 April 2009

Welcome to the latest EMCS Newsletter

The aim of this newsletter is to provide you with an update about EMCS project developments. We will issue the newsletter bi-monthly.

Inside this issue:

  1. UK Initial Member State position
  2. System for the Exchange of Excise Data (SEED) update
  3. EMCS technical developments
  4. Trade consultations
  5. EMCS and exports update
  6. General communications

1. UK Initial Member State position

The UK will not be adopting 'Initial Member State' (IMS) status in relation to the implementation of EMCS at the ‘go live’ date of 1 April 2010. IMS status requires the delivery of both Functional Stage 0 (FS0) and Functional Stage 1 (FS1) concurrently.

The UK will implement FSO from 1 April 2010. FS0 contains the functionality required to handle the destination side of electronic movements, enabling the quick return of the ‘report of receipt’ (copy 3 equivalent) to discharge the movement.

The UK will now implement FS1 with effect from 1 November 2010. FS1 contains all the functionality of FS0 plus the dispatch side of electronic movements, predominately the submission of the electronic AAD (eAD), the ability to cancel the movement and change the destination. It also contains the functionality associated with imports and exports.

In our news release of 12 August 2008, we informed you of the EU decision to delay the original EMCS FS0 implementation date of 1 April 2009 by twelve months to 1 April 2010. We said at that time that we were planning on the basis that the delay would enable the UK to adopt IMS status at April 2010.

Since then we have continued to work closely with our technical suppliers, the European Commission and trade representatives. It has become clear that the technical complexity of adopting IMS status within the given timeframe is significantly greater than originally envisaged. In addition, there are some key elements of the delivery requirements that have yet to be confirmed by the EU.

We have concluded that together these issues present too great a risk to the safe delivery of both FS0 and FS1 by 1 April 2010. We are determined to avoid announcing very late changes to the delivery timetable. We have, therefore, taken an early, cautious decision to phase the implementation of FS0 and FS1. This will ensure the delivery of FS0 for April 2010, which is absolutely essential. It will also enable our customers to plan with certainty for the implementation of FS1 on 1 November 2010.

We appreciate that this decision will give rise to a number of concerns and questions about the implications for businesses. This will, therefore, be one of the main agenda items at the next Joint Alcohol and Tobacco Consultation Group (JATCG) meeting on 4 June 2009, and the EMCS Working Group meeting on 5 May 2009. Please contact your relevant Trade Association representative with details of your concerns so that they can be addressed at the meetings. Alternatively, please email EMCS.

2. System for the Exchange of Excise Data (SEED) update

At the end of January 2009, the first stage of the new UK SEED application was delivered in line with EU timescales. SEED now includes new trader types, data fields and an automated upload and download facility. The UK delivered the majority of the changes, however, there are a number of trader records which failed data migration and are not available on SEED-on-Europa website. This temporary fault is urgently being looked at and it appears that other Member States are experiencing similar problems. If you are experiencing problems having your excise number approved on SEED-on Europa please contact the National Verification Centre in Glasgow.

Further information about what you need to do if you are experiencing any problems as a result of this temporary fault is available on Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) Latest news.

3. EMCS technical developments

The technical development of the two electronic channels is progressing and this is the latest position:

EMCS Online Services (web interface)

The technical development of the EMCS online services application for FS0 and FS1 is progressing. For FS0 we have designed and published User Interface Specification ‘screen shots’ for the Launch EMCS Service (PDF 2.7MB) and Submit Report of Receipt (PDF 1.2MB). These screen shots give you an opportunity to see how the online services pages will look. We are planning to publish business scenarios to help you navigate the screenshots by the end of May 2009.

In parallel, the technical development of FS1 continues and following consultations with trade representatives, we will publish additional screenshots as soon as they are available. We expect to start the release of the screens for business flows such as ‘creating a movement’ in summer 2009.

Electronic data Interchange using XML

Our Software Developers Support Team (SDST) have published the EMCS Technical Pack which includes the Local Test Service (LTS- is a set of technical documents designed to allow Software Developers to build and test their systems to EU specifications) for FS0 and we expect LTS for FS1 to be released in Oct 2009.

4. Trade consultations

EMCS Working Group

We have continued to meet with the EMCS Working Group (made up of various Trade Association representatives) to discuss EMCS project and policy developments. At the last meeting, an overview of the online services prototype was presented providing attendees with an opportunity to see screenshots of the web interface.

Key policy issues were discussed including the new Directive (008/118/EEC) replacing 92/12 and the introduction of Registered Consignor (Article 4). The Policy Team have advised that they will publish any relevant information over the coming weeks about the impact of this change in the legislation
Discussions about the inclusion of a Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) being mandatory proved to be a key issue; a number of trade representatives registered their objection to this requirement as it will have a major impact on their day to day business. We explained that this is an EU requirement but will provide them with further explanations on the reasoning behind this decision.

Technical Developers Group

To progress the technical development (Electronic Data Interchange using XML) we met with Software Developers and although plans to meet the Technical Working Group again have been postponed, we expect a meeting to take place mid 2009. This will provide developers with an opportunity to speak to the technical team directly and an update on the progress on the development of the LTS for FS1.

A feedback questionnaire was issued to registered developers and feedback indicates that to date, few developers have used the Technical Pack and LTS. It has been suggested that additional reference material may be useful and we are exploring options with the SDST with a view to producing additional material if it is necessary.

5. EMCS and exports update

Ongoing discussions are taking place between EMCS and the Export Control System (ECS) project teams to explore the options available to streamline the two processes. Although there will be a link between EMCS and ECS this will not be an automated link in April 2010.

Further updates about the link between EMCS and ECS will be provided over the coming months.

6. General communications

For more information on the development of EMCS please check the EMCS home page or call our national contact centre on Tel 0845 010 9000 (+442089290152 outside UK). Alternatively, please email EMCS if you have a query about the project.

If you have any feedback, suggestions or comments relating to this newsletter please email them to EMCS.