Pilot export reference scheme rolled out

Unique consignment references will soon become mandatory THE PILOT scheme for unique consignment references (UCRs) - which are to become mandatory for all export consignments - is underway, Jeff Epstein, internal auditor at Safcor Panalpina told FTW. “As pilot participants in the scheme we have been using the revised export bills of entry since December 1,” he said. “These have to show the UCR and also certain details that currently appear on the F178 - the transaction value and currency; details of advance payments received; and the expected credit period granted to foreign buyers between the expected dates of export and the receipt of funds. “This last may not be more than 180-days.” This has meant that Safcor Panalpina has had to have all these necessary details to hand before it could process any export documents. Under the UCR policy, exporters must provide a reference number for each consignment - up to 24-characters long and included as the last part of the UCR. “The purpose of this is to link the proceeds received to the individual export consignment.” But exporters using Safcor don’t need to generate their own UCRs, he added, or to invest in special software. “All that is required for each shipment is an internal reference number, which we will incorporate into the UCR allocated to the shipment.”