Staggered changeover to Passar 1.0: Update
Bern, 13.7.2023 - . The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) and business representatives have agreed on an update to the timetable for the staggered changeover from NCTS and e-dec to Passar. The new goods traffic system, Passar, was rolled out on 1 June 2023. Since that date, direct transits have been gradually moved over to the new system. Based on the initial experience, and looking ahead to the forthcoming move of additional use cases to Passar, the FOCBS and business representatives have agreed the following update to the changeover timetable: • Changeover for initiation of transit through Switzerland: 01.06.2023 – 30.04.2024 (previously until 31.10.2023) • Cut-off date for transit with destination Switzerland: 17.03.2024 (previously 01.10.2023) • Cut-off date for domestic transit in Switzerland: 17.03.2024 (previously 01.10.2023) • Changeover for export with NCTS: 17.03.2024 – 30.04.2024 (previously 01.10.2023 – 31.10.2023) • Changeover for export with e-dec: 17.03.2024 – 30.06.2025 (previously 01.10.2023 – 30.06.2025) The changeover of the direct international transit remains unchanged from June 1st 2023 – 31st October 2023. Our shared goal remains an efficient and smooth transition from the existing freight systems, NCTS and e-dec, to the new unified goods traffic system, Passar. The one-year extension to the parallel run with e-dec Export (to 30 June 2025), as already announced in spring 2023, will provide new ways to ease the transition for all concerned. Thus, the updated timetable removes the need for temporary solutions, which would have required multiple adjustments over the space of a few months. Finally, the updated timetable will provide more time to prepare the users, namely companies and the personnel of the FOCBS, in even greater detail for the new systems. As you may know, NCTS phase 5 will introduce a requirement to provide the 6-digit goods number or HS customs tariff number as part of the transit procedure. As the implementation of NCTS phase 5 has been delayed in some countries, the requirement to provide a customs tariff number will not be enforced until all countries are in NCTS phase 5. This is expected to be around the end of 2024. A definite date has not yet been set. You can find the current detailed schedule on our website.