UNECE

The United Nations Layout Key The United Nations Layout Key for Trade Documentsfor Trade Documents

Tom ButterlyTom Butterly

UNECEUNECE

UNECE The UN Layout Key (UNLK)

This Session will cover:This Session will cover:

Overview of the UNLK Overview of the UNLK

Design principles and applicationsDesign principles and applications

Standards, codes and Recommendations Standards, codes and Recommendations behind the UNLKbehind the UNLK

Implementation toolsImplementation tools

UNECE Information - controls the entire Information - controls the entire trade transaction processtrade transaction process

Exchange of information - covers the entire trade Exchange of information - covers the entire trade transaction processtransaction process

Sales contractSales contract Movement of goodsMovement of goods Official controlsOfficial controls PaymentPayment

Trade Documents are the core means of Trade Documents are the core means of exchanging this informationexchanging this information

The goods cannot move faster than the The goods cannot move faster than the information that controls theminformation that controls them

Increasing requirements for faster delivery for Increasing requirements for faster delivery for supply chains etcsupply chains etc

Impact of Security on Information requirements (24 Impact of Security on Information requirements (24 hour rule, ACI, etc)hour rule, ACI, etc)

UNECE Many Parties Involved

Source : Complex Networked Supply Chain [Harwick,

1999

UNECE And many Trade DocumentsAnd many Trade Documents

EnquiryEnquiry OrderOrder

Despatch adviceDespatch advice Collection orderCollection order

Payment orderPayment order Documentary creditDocumentary credit

Forwarding instructionsForwarding instructions Forwarder's invoiceForwarder's invoice

Goods receiptGoods receipt Sea waybillSea waybill

Rail consignment noteRail consignment note Bill of ladingBill of lading

Freight invoiceFreight invoice Cargo manifestCargo manifest

Export licenceExport licence Exchange control doc.Exchange control doc.

Phytosanitary certificatePhytosanitary certificate Veterinary certificateVeterinary certificate

Certificate of originCertificate of origin Consular invoiceConsular invoice

Dangerous goods declarationDangerous goods declaration

Import licenceImport licence Customs delivery noteCustoms delivery note

TIR carnetTIR carnet ATA carnetATA carnet

UNECE If this process is not simplified and If this process is not simplified and coordinated - Frustration!coordinated - Frustration!

ManufacturerSupplier RetailersWholesalers Customer

Product

Co

mp

any

A

Co

mp

any

B

UNECE And CostAnd Cost 40+ documents to manage the export 40+ documents to manage the export

processprocess

Costs - up to 10 per cent of the value of the Costs - up to 10 per cent of the value of the goods (annual global costs related to trade goods (annual global costs related to trade documents: 550 Billion USDdocuments: 550 Billion USD

UNECE United Nations Layout KeyHistorical background

Up until the 1960’s, no standardisation in Up until the 1960’s, no standardisation in terms of design, content or layout to trade terms of design, content or layout to trade documentsdocuments

There was a clear need for a global There was a clear need for a global solutionsolution

• 1950s: Trade Facilitation in Sweden and 1950s: Trade Facilitation in Sweden and other Nordic countriesother Nordic countries

• 1960s: UNECE set up a Working party to 1960s: UNECE set up a Working party to simplify and standardise international tradesimplify and standardise international trade

• 1963: 1963: International model formInternational model form adopted as a adopted as a Layout KeyLayout Key

UNECE United Nations Layout KeyHistorical background

• 1960’s and 70s: UNECE Layout Key 1960’s and 70s: UNECE Layout Key introduced by many international introduced by many international organisations and countries worldwide organisations and countries worldwide through the work of UNECE, UNCTAD through the work of UNECE, UNCTAD and other organisationsand other organisations

• 1978: UNLK Recommendation had 1978: UNLK Recommendation had gained worldwide acceptance and was gained worldwide acceptance and was called the called the United Nations Layout Key United Nations Layout Key for Trade Documentsfor Trade Documents

Borders

Data Elements and Boxes

Boxes

UNLK Set of standards

Destination

Mode of transport

UNECE UNLK INTEGRATED SET OF STDSUNLK INTEGRATED SET OF STDS

• Rec 3 County of Origin: UN Rec 3 use ISO 3166 2 digit country Rec 3 County of Origin: UN Rec 3 use ISO 3166 2 digit country codescodes

• Rec 5 Terms of delivery: Rec 5 Aberration of ICC IncotermsRec 5 Terms of delivery: Rec 5 Aberration of ICC Incoterms• Rec 7 Numerical representation of date and timeRec 7 Numerical representation of date and time• Rec 8 Unique Identification CodeRec 8 Unique Identification Code• Rec 9 Alphabetic Code of the Representation of CurrenciesRec 9 Alphabetic Code of the Representation of Currencies• Rec 16 Codes for ports and other locations; Port of Loading: Rec 16 Rec 16 Codes for ports and other locations; Port of Loading: Rec 16

LOCODE Codes for ports and other locations; 55” entries; Show LOCODE Codes for ports and other locations; 55” entries; Show SwitzerlandSwitzerland

• Rec 19 Codes for Mode of transportRec 19 Codes for Mode of transport• Rec 20 Codes for Units of MeasurementRec 20 Codes for Units of Measurement• Rec 22 Packaging codesRec 22 Packaging codes

  CODES SIMPLIFY AND STANDARDISE THE CODES SIMPLIFY AND STANDARDISE THE INFORMATION – A CRITICAL FEATURE FOR INFORMATION – A CRITICAL FEATURE FOR eDOCUMENTSeDOCUMENTS

UNECE 6. System of aligned Trade Documents6. System of aligned Trade DocumentsShared Information Shared Information

The common information definition allows the The common information definition allows the exchange of data between documents exchange of data between documents

(70% of all information in trade documents is (70% of all information in trade documents is shared)shared)

UNECE Master Document and Series of Master Document and Series of Aligned DocumentsAligned Documents

See UNLK Guidelines for details …

UNECE

Many national and international sectoral documents developed through the UNLK Hierarchical System of Design

UNECE Hierarchical System of Design

UNECE United Nations Layout KeyAligned Trade Documents

Today, nearly all international trade Today, nearly all international trade documents are aligned to the UNLKdocuments are aligned to the UNLK

Examples:Examples:• Standard Bill of Lading (International Chamber of Standard Bill of Lading (International Chamber of

Shipping)Shipping)• Universal Air Waybill (IATA) Universal Air Waybill (IATA) • International Rail Consignment Note (CIM International Rail Consignment Note (CIM

Convention) Convention) • International Road Consignment Note (CMR International Road Consignment Note (CMR

Convention)Convention)• Single Administrative Document (SAD)Single Administrative Document (SAD)• GSP CertificateGSP Certificate• Cargo Declaration (IMO FAL)Cargo Declaration (IMO FAL)• etcetc

UNECE United Nations Layout Key… United Nations Layout Key… SADSAD

UNECE Tools AvailableTools Available

UNLK GuidelinesUNLK Guidelines

UNLK RecommendationUNLK Recommendation

International Document SetInternational Document Set

UNeDocsUNeDocs

•Built on a series of standards

•Box design principle - related information always appears in the same place

•Common definition of data elements

•One run system of aligned documents

•Series of Recommendations and standards developed around the data elements

•System of Sectoral, and National Layout Keys and standard forms

UNECE Key MessageKey Message

• UN Layout Key is an UN Layout Key is an intelligentintelligent integratedintegrated set of UNECE, ISO and other set of UNECE, ISO and other international international standardsstandards that are the foundation for the that are the foundation for the flow of information in trade transactionsflow of information in trade transactions

• Implemented in many developed economies Implemented in many developed economies but still but still much room for use in developing much room for use in developing economieseconomies

• Selection of toolsSelection of tools are available from UNECE are available from UNECE

• Huge potential savingsHuge potential savings for both business for both business and governmentand government

UNECE Key MessageKey Message

• Can be used directly Can be used directly irrespective of level of irrespective of level of technological developmenttechnological development

• Aligned trade documents are a prerequisite Aligned trade documents are a prerequisite for development of electronic documentsfor development of electronic documents

• Aligned Trade Documents are a Key Aligned Trade Documents are a Key element in achieving trade efficiency element in achieving trade efficiency ............

UNECE

World Economic ForumCountry competitiveness rankings 2004

1. Finland

2. United States

3. Sweden

4. Taiwan

5. Denmark

6. Norway

7. Singapore

8. Switzerland

9. Japan

10. Iceland

11. United Kingdom

12. Netherlands

International Competitiveness and Trade Facilitation

UNECE

Thank you!Thank you!