Customs declaration as we knew it is about to undergo a transformation. Indeed, as of November 2024, the traditional Single Administrative Document (SAD) will give way to a more modern and efficient version: the data-based customs declaration, dubbed Delta I/E.

This major transition is part of the “import-export overhaul,” aiming to integrate the Union Customs Code (UCC) into the French customs’ IT tools. Concretely, this will result in a complete dematerialization of customs processes, with the ultimate goal of interoperability among European customs systems.

The benefits for operators are numerous. Gone are the tedious SAD forms, replaced by a simplified declaration in data sets, comprising around 80 mandatory elements that operators can adjust to their needs. Moreover, the timeframes for rectification and invalidation of declarations will be extended to 3 years, providing more flexibility to businesses.

Another significant advancement: information regarding declaration control will now be electronic, thus speeding up exchanges and reducing administrative delays.

In the longer term, the Declarant’s Entry Recording (IED) system, already in place for some customs warehouses, could be expanded, offering significant benefits to Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs), such as exemption from presenting goods.

The gradual deployment of Delta I/E will begin in November 2024 for the import aspect, progressively covering different customs regimes. This evolution marks a crucial step towards smoother and more efficient management of commercial exchanges.

After several postponements, the DGDDI (French Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes) recently announced a new provisional rollout schedule for the online service:

November 2024: Launch of Version 1 for one-time procedures.

Until May 2025: 6-month transition period for customs operators, during which DELTA-G Import and DELTA I services will coexist.

May 2025: End of the transition period.