bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anomaly Detection Using CNN with I3D Feature Extraction
Authors:   Dept of CSE, DR. M.G.R EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE,Maduravoyal, Chennai-95, Tamil Nadu,India, A .Nandini
Published: March 2024

Anomaly detection is a critical task in various fields such as surveillance, healthcare, and industrial monitoring, aiming to identify patterns that deviate significantly from normal behavior.Video anomaly detection is inherently difficult due to visual complexity and variability. This work proposes a unique anomaly detection technique leveraging Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Inflated 3D Convolutional Networks (I3D) for feature extraction. This involves training the CNN on a large dataset to learn normal behavior, enabling it to identify anomalies by recognizing deviations from learned patterns. Furthermore, our approach exhibits promising results in detecting various types of anomalies, including sudden changes, abnormal trajectories, and rare events. Upon detection of such activity, mail(notification) can be raised concerned people who can take immediate action.This research contributes a significant advancement in the field of anomaly detection, and holds potential for applications in surveillance, security, and industrial monitoring systems. Keywords—Anomaly detection,I3D(Inflated3D) feature extraction,Convolutional neural network, Spatio-Temporal Features,Normal and abnormal event detection.
A Survey on Fashion AR using Hand Gesture
Authors:   Department of Information Technology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, Madagadipet, Puducherry 605107, India, B Dr. Vijayakumar
Published: March 2024

Fashion AR using hand gestures is a dynamic fusion of technology and style that is reshaping the fashion industry. This innovative concept employs augmented reality and gesture recognition to enable users to virtually try on clothing and accessories, fostering a highly interactive and personalized shopping experience. By making intuitive hand movements, users can mix and match outfits, visualize how different styles complement their unique body shapes.Through the use of computer vision and gesture recognition, individuals can effortlessly navigate and manipulate digital wardrobes. By employing intuitive hand gestures, users can select, mix, and match virtual outfits, enabling them to experiment with diverse styles and discover their unique fashion preferences. This interactivity not only fosters a greater sense of engagement with fashion but also reduces the uncertainties associated with online shopping by providing a more accurate representation of how different clothing items fit and look on one's body.Furthermore, this technology is reshaping the landscape of fashion retail. It reduces the need for physical store visits, making shopping more convenient and accessible while minimizing the environmental footprint of the industry. AR fashion with hand gestures is an exciting and promising development that promises to democratize fashion, encourage sustainability, and redefine the way we express ourselves through clothing and accessories. Keywords - Virtual Try, Unity, Augmented Reality, image processing, hand gestures
A Microstructure Study of Indian Corporate Bond Market: A Review
Authors:   Kousali Institute of Management Studies,  Karnatak University Dharwad, Nadaf Allauddin Abdulisaq
Published: March 2024

This Review study explores various dimensions of the Indian capital market, encompassing both equity and bond markets. It delves into the influence of equity market factors, macroeconomic variables, and corporate bond market growth on the overall financial landscape. The relationship between equity market returns, equity market volatility (VIX), and the rupee-dollar exchange rate on bond yields. They highlight that increasing volatility in the equity market leads to a higher demand for fixed income securities, subsequently reducing bond returns. The underscores the significance of a robust corporate bond market for financial system stability, credit availability, and mitigating corporate sector crises. It reviews the growth of the Indian corporate bond market and its implications for monetary, fiscal, and economic variables. The results indicate that a comprehensive corporate bond market does not exhibit a significant positive or negative association with these variables. However, GDP emerges as a crucial factor for India's bond market development, particularly in terms of foreign participants. Lastly, the influence of macroeconomic variables on the Indian corporate bond market over a 23-year period. They reveal a significant correlation between corporate bond market issuance and foreign exchange reserves. Through multiple regression analysis, they found that all selected variables, except GDP and trade openness, significantly explain the volumes of corporate bonds. Collectively, their findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between equity market dynamics, corporate bond market growth, and macroeconomic factors in the Indian capital market. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and investors, aiding in informed decision-making regarding investment strategies, market stability, and economic growth.
Face Recognition Based Attendance System
Authors:   Department of Computer Engineering,Loknete Gopinathji Munde Institute of Engineering Education & Research, Nashik, India, Yadav Sujit
Published: March 2024

The integration of face recognition technology into attendance management systems has emerged as a transformative solution for monitoring and optimizing attendance processes in educational institutions and organizations. This report presents an in-depth analysis of a project dedicated to the development and implementation of a Face Recognition Attendance System (FRAS) and examines its efficiency and security in various real-world scenarios. The report begins by discussing the significance of attendance tracking systems in educational and corporate environments, highlighting the shortcomings of traditional methods and the potential benefits of face recognition technology. It explores the underlying principles of face recognition, focusing on the algorithms and techniques used to capture and process facial data. The project methodology and implementation details are outlined, covering the hardware and software components used to create the FRAS. Special emphasis is placed on the challenges encountered during the system’s development and the strategies employed to overcome them. A comprehensive evaluation of the system’s performance and efficiency is presented, including accuracy, speed, and scalability, with comparisons to traditional attendance systems. Moreover, the report addresses security concerns associated with the FRAS, such as data protection, privacy, and vulnerability to spoofing. The report concludes with a discussion of the practical implications and future prospects of implementing face recognition technology in attendance systems. It highlights the system’s potential to streamline administrative tasks, reduce errors, and enhance security, while also emphasizing the need for ongoing research and development to address emerging challenges. Overall, this report provides a valuable insight into the evolving landscape of attendance management and the role that face recognition technology can play in revolutionizing these processes, balancing efficiency with security considerations. KeyWords: FRAS : Face recognition attendance systems SDLC: Software Development Life Cycle
Hubungan Dukungan Suami, Status Gravida, dan Kepatuhan Ibu Melakukan Antenatal Care (ANC) terhadap Tingkat Kecemasan Ibu Hamil Trimester III
Authors: Wicaksana I Putu Arya , Shammakh Adib Ahmad , Pratiwi Made Rika Anastasia , Maswan Moch , Azhar Mutiara Budi
Published: March 2024

Terjadinya kematian ibu dapat dipengaruhi oleh berbagai macam faktor. Psikologis ibu menjadi satu dari beberapa faktor yang berkontribusi dalam terjadinya komplikasi pada kehamilan yang merupakan salah satu penyebab tingginya Angka Kematian Ibu (AKI). Salah satu perubahan psikologi yang sering terjadi pada ibu hamil yaitu timbulnya dan meningkatnya kecemasan. Beberapa faktor risiko penyebab kecemasan yaitu umur, status gravida, tingkat pendidikan, pekerjaan, status ekonomi, akses fasilitas kesehatan, media informasi, kunjungan Antenatal Care (ANC), dukungan suami, dukungan keluarga, dukungan sosial lingkungan dan lain-lain. Mengetahui hubungan dukungan suami, status gravida, dan kepatuhan ibu melakukan Antenatal Care (ANC) terhadap tingkat kecemasan ibu hamil trimester III di Puskesmas Tanjung Karang, Kota Mataram. Penelitian kuantitatif analitik observasional dengan desain penelitian cross sectional study. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Puskesmas Tanjung Karang, Kota Mataram. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan purposive sampling dengan besar sampel 102 responden. Data dianalisis dengan uji korelasi Rank Spearman dengan batas nilai signifikansi (p-value) < 0,05. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan sebagian besar responden ada dukungan suami (72,5%), primigravida (59,8%), patuh melakukan ANC (60,8%), dan tingkat kecemasan sedang (47,1%). Analisis bivariat menunjukkan terdapat hubungan dukungan suami terhadap tingkat kecemasan (p=0,000), status gravida terhadap tingkat kecemasan (p=0,001), dan kepatuhan ANC terhadap tingkat kecemasan (p=0,000) pada ibu hamil di Puskesmas Tanjung Karang, Kota Mataram. Terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara dukungan suami, status gravida, dan kepatuhan ibu melakukan Antenatal Care (ANC) terhadap tingkat kecemasan ibu hamil trimester III di Puskesmas Tanjung Karang, Kota Mataram.
LANGUAGE REFLECTION: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND CONSCIOUSNESS ACTIVITY
Authors: Sydyk P. S. , Sadirova K. K.
Published: March 2024

The article deals with the problem of linguistic reflection and its implementation through the relationship between consciousness and linguistic activity. The problem of linguistic reflection is one of the urgent problems in modern Kazakh linguistics. Consideration of reflection in relation to language forms the basis of the concept of language reflection, and language has been shown to be an important tool in its definition. The materialization or verbalization of information that entered the human mind through language corresponds to the concept of linguistic reflection.

The scientific work proposes a model of the process of language reflection. A review of the scientific understanding of the levels of linguistic consciousness was made, and the marking of information by a language unit and the transmission of the speaker's thoughts as an indicator of the connection between language and consciousness was presented by an analysis of an excerpt from A. Kunanbayev's poem. Linguistic units used in speech facts were considered from the point of view of the mental aspect. In the research work, definitions of the terms consciousness, linguistic consciousness, reflection, and reflexive are given and their meaning is revealed. The article uses methods of analysis, synthesis, description, and modeling based on the work of researchers of the concepts of language and consciousness, language, and reflection.

The article aims to analyze the relationship between consciousness and language activity in the process of language reflection and present a model of language reflection. Achieving this goal includes the collection of theoretical data related to the use of the term "reflection" in various fields of science, a review of works that study the problem of language reflection, the definition of a model of the process of language reflection and the corresponding analysis of language units.
Strengthening Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination in the Implementation of the Strategic Trade Management Act With a View to Enhancing Trade Facilitation: A Philippine Customs Perspective
Authors: Puno Diokno Jenny
Published: March 2024

This paper provides insights into the state of play of inter-agency cooperation and coordination among government agencies in the Philippines involved in the implementation of the Strategic Trade Management Act, such as the Philippine Bureau of Customs, the Strategic Trade Management Office, and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), which exercise control and supervision over registered enterprises in the freeport and economic zones in the Philippines.

It will identify the challenges faced by customs officers in the facilitation of exports of potentially strategic goods requiring referral to the licensing agency for technical reachback, the complexity of commodity identification, which impacts frontline officers’ ability to identify strategic goods, and the non-integration of export declaration systems utilised by exporters in the freeport and economic zones with customs’ export declaration system. The paper also outlines recommendations and solutions to the challenges that confront Customs in the Philippines in effectively implementing strategic trade controls and facilitating legitimate trade in a timely manner.
A Review of the European Commission’s Plans for an Electronic Customs Environment
Authors: Wilmott Peter
Published: March 2024

Success in international trade is an essential component in the current European Union (EU) ‘Lisbon agenda’ which aims to make the EU ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world’. The performance of customs administrations is very much a determining factor in the success or failure of the EU strategy, but there are reasons to believe that the current vision of creating a paperless customs environment in Europe is insufficiently ambitious, flawed at a practical level, and inadequately resourced and managed. The extension and rationalisation of reform plans need to be advanced by taking full account of the nature of modern supply chains or, more importantly, their potential for further development. Further, there is a need to advance the processes for increasing the political priority and momentum afforded to the customs reform project. Without significant remodelling the current blueprint for EU customs in the 21st century will fail to deliver key Lisbon agenda goals and will risk surrendering Europe’s competitive edge in international trade to nations that have more aggressive customs strategies.
EU Customs Law and International Law
Authors: Lux Michael
Published: March 2024

The interdependence between international law and European Community law, particularly in the area of customs, is very complex. The ways in which international customs law is incorporated into the Community’s legal system are many and varied, and there is a need to establish some standard mechanisms for the future in order to reduce the diversity of solutions that are found for problems that are similar. The introduction of the modernised Customs Code provides an opportunity to explore the application of a general model according to which international customs law may be made part of the Community’s legal system.
The Changing Role of Customs: Evolution or Revolution?
Authors: Widdowson David
Published: March 2024

Customs has traditionally been responsible for implementing a wide range of border management policies, often on behalf of other government agencies. The role of Customs has, however, changed signifi cantly in recent times, and what may represent core business for one administration may fall outside the sphere of responsibility of another. This is reflective of the changing environment in which customs authorities operate, and the corresponding changes in government priorities. The World Trade Organization, World Customs Organization and other international bodies are responding through the development of global standards that recognise the changing nature of border management.
Emerging Issues on the Role of Customs in the 21st Century: An African Focus
Authors: Buyonge Creck
Published: March 2024

The future role of customs administration in Africa, specifically in the context of inevitable modernisation and reform, will need to respond to increasing demands for revenue optimisation, greater involvement in trade facilitation, and enforcement of regulatory policies and practices through adjustment to both national and international imperatives. To compete in the global arena, African nations will need to adapt to changes in government and the strategic operating environment of international business, while concurrently responding to developments in technology and communications and the concept of integrated supply chain management and security.
Voluntary Supply Chain Security Program Impacts: An Empirical Study With BASC Member Companies
Authors: Gutierrez Ximena , Hintsa Juha , Wieser Philippe , Hameri Ari-Pekka
Published: March 2024

Managing security in global supply chains has been gaining increasing attention in business and governmental agendas since the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001. Since then several new voluntary government-business partnership programs have emerged to enhance security in end-to-end supply chains. However, a few programs have existed for a longer time, one of them is the BASC (Business Alliance for Secure Commerce) program, active as a business alliance in Latin America since 1996, originally fighting narcotics smuggling, and later converted into a holistic supply chain security management program. Understanding the implications – costs, tradeoffs, benefits, etc. – of security management programs is a complicated task, with very limited existing literature. This paper, being the first survey of its kind, presents the results of the survey carried out with 102 BASC member companies, including: (1) the most commonly implemented security measures; (2) the most (and least) efficient security measures; (3) the relationship between the cost and effectiveness of the measures; and (4) the benefits obtained while implementing these security measures. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for governmental and company decision-makers on designing future ‘win-win’ supply chain security programs.
Supply Chain Security: The Customs Community’s Response
Authors: Mikuriya Kunio
Published: March 2024

The international customs community has developed measures to secure and facilitate global trade which have been transformed into international standards for global implementation. These standards are designed to improve customs operations through enhanced risk management that is built upon Customs-to-Customs cooperation and Customs-to-Business partnerships. The standards are supported by existing WCO instruments, including the Revised Kyoto Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, and fulfil the requirements of enhanced security and facilitation for legitimate trade in the 21st Century global trading system. The majority of WCO Members are currently implementing these standards through the development of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programs, ensuring that they have the capacity to do so by requesting appropriate capacity building assistance.
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programs: IBM’s Perspective
Authors: Fletcher Theo
Published: March 2024

Globalisation is placing new demands on today’s corporate leaders. As organisations continue to expand and operate in a global economy, companies face an increasingly dynamic environment prone to risk. IBM believes that the continued threat of global terrorism requires companies to secure assets as they move through the supply chain, and that the cooperative approach among those involved in the supply chain as contemplated by Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programs is the right approach for strengthening overall supply chain security. Corporations can demonstrate their leadership by investing in security that protects their supply chain while providing a competitive advantage.
Singapore’s Supply Chain Security Program
Authors:   Supply Chain Security Branch, Singapore Customs
Published: March 2024

Singapore Customs is one of the fi rst countries in the world to implement a national supply chain security program, Secure Trade Partnership (STP). The goal is to raise the level of supply chain security by creating awareness of the importance of adopting a total supply chain approach to cargo security, with companies encouraged to play their part in securing their own processes within supply chains. It is envisaged that this would enhance the security of global supply chains and prevent disruptions to the smooth flow of goods, and in turn, raise Singapore’s profile as a secure trading hub. Certification of companies under the STP program is voluntary, however, eight companies have achieved certifi cation and others are working with Singapore Customs to enhance their existing security practices. Closer cooperation with and between countries to achieve robust supply chain security programs will facilitate the movement of goods of certified companies across international borders, and ensure the smooth and efficient flow of trade even during times of greater security risk.
Customs and Trade Facilitation: From Concepts to Implementation
Authors: Grainger Andrew
Published: March 2024

Trade facilitation is the simplification, harmonisation, standardisation and modernisation of trade procedures. It seeks to reduce trade transaction costs at the interface between business and government and is an agenda item within many customs related activities. These include WTO trade round negotiations, supply chain security initiatives, development and capacity building programs, as well as many customs modernisation programs. However, the implementation of trade facilitation principles is fraught with obstacles. Obstacles identified in this paper include conflicting interests, institutional limitations and lack of knowledge. Policy makers and project managers stand to gain from more substantiated research aimed at deepening their understanding of crossborder operations, its inherent dynamics, stakeholder interests and institutional limitations. Currently such knowledge is seldom found in one place.
Customs and Trade Facilitation in the East African Community (EAC)
Authors: Kafeero Edward
Published: March 2024

This article expounds and evaluates the contribution of Customs to trade facilitation within the East African Community (EAC). It is developed against the background of trade facilitation as understood by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Hence, it examines how and to what extent the trade facilitation-related aspects of the WTO are (or are not) reflected in the EAC customs law and administration. The World Customs Organization’s Trade facilitation instruments, particularly the Revised Kyoto Convention, are also considered. After scrutinising the EAC customs law and administration, suggestions are made for better coordination, harmonisation and simplification of international trade/customs procedures within the EAC.
Customs Reform in the Middle East: Experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Kerswell Clay
Published: March 2024

Customs administrations in the Middle East are responding to the challenges of rapidly growing economies with increased reliance on international trade combined with strategic security issues more complex than those experienced by many economies. Under the direction and guidance of the President of Customs, His Excellency, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, the customs administration of the Kingdom of Bahrain is employing a range of strategies, including the adoption of a number of technology based solutions, to help it meet the challenges of the 21st century customs administration.
The Importance of Change Management in Reforming Customs
Authors: Jansson Jan-Erland
Published: March 2024

Customs organisations operate in a complex environment of constant change. They are required to respond to the promotion of economic development and to comply with regional, national and international obligations. To accommodate changes in these areas, it is important to determine ‘a certain management type’ to implement change processes. As well, it is critical to identify the most significant characteristics of change management theory, which in this article are demonstrated by describing the methods used by Latvian Customs as a practical example. In defining change management, the three constituents identified by Nickols (2004) – the task of managing change, an area of practical practice, and a body of knowledge – are regarded as being the most relevant to this particular investigation. The Nickols’ strategies also highlight certain characteristics of human behaviour that affect change management. The Latvian Customs State Revenue Service presents a striking example of a complex organisation where many factors are to be considered in order to effectively manage change.
Achieving Sustainability in Customs Capacity Building
Authors: Holloway Stephen
Published: March 2024

The importance of customs reform and modernisation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of international trade is recognised in the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round negotiations on trade facilitation. Capacity building in support of such reform and modernisation is an important aspect of trade facilitation and its requirement for technical assistance for developing and least-developed countries. Achieving success and sustainability of capacity building outcomes is an issue that has confronted many international and donor organisations and it is possible to discern some key elements directly relevant to the success and sustainability of capacity building programs. These key elements have been identified and incorporated in the World Customs Organization’s Columbus Programme for customs capacity building and if applied strategically and correctly, will provide lasting benefit to government and business.
WCO E-Learning Program
Authors: Conchin Norbert
Published: March 2024

In 2003 the World Customs Organization (WCO) introduced an e-learning program as an essential element of its training strategy to improve the quality and quantity of training in customs administration worldwide. Two years ago, the WCO engaged Premia Airtime Ltd as the official distributor of its training products to disseminate this training tool to the private sector with the clear objective of providing trade operators the same appreciation of international customs rules and tools as customs administrations receive through the WCO. The WCO e-learning program is a comprehensive, ground-breaking training tool which offers an integrated learning environment designed to facilitate easy and effective training to cover the broad scope of the international trade environment. With the positive application of the WCO e-learning program, the competency levels of customs and trade administration, a key issue for the 21st century, should be systematically improved.
The Transition From eCustoms to eBorder Management
Authors: Holloway Stephen
Published: March 2024

In this article, the concept of eBorder Management is developed from the need for change in customs administrations, especially insofar as that change relates to the adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) to respond to the demands of increased volumes of international trade and the documents that support it. The automation of customs procedures has been a key component of customs reform and modernisation initiatives, and its importance to trade facilitation has been emphasised by the World Customs Organization (WCO), World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Core functionality of Customs ICT systems and the resultant benefits are identified, as is the significance of developing systems that can be integrated with those in the private sector and other government agencies. The development of eBorder Management at both national and international levels is only possible with uniform adoption or adaptation of policies and legal frameworks that will enable and recognise the interoperable use of the relevant system in both national and international respects.
The Importance of Change Management in Reforming Customs
Authors: Jansson Jan-Erland
Published: March 2024

Customs organisations operate in a complex environment of constant change. They are required to respond to the promotion of economic development and to comply with regional, national and international obligations. To accommodate changes in these areas, it is important to determine ‘a certain management type’ to implement change processes. As well, it is critical to identify the most significant characteristics of change management theory. In defining change management, the three constituents identified by Nickols (2004) – the task of managing change, a body of knowledge, and an area of practical application – are regarded as being the most relevant to this particular investigation. Having addressed the first two of Nickols’ constituents in part one of this article, the last is now addressed and draws as well on Kanter’s (1999) approach. The Latvian Customs State Revenue Service (SRS) presents a striking example of a complex organisation where many factors are to be considered in order to effectively manage change.
ICT and the New Global Investment Paradigm: Challenges to Cross-Border Trade and Investment
Authors: Jackson Andrew
Published: March 2024

This article explores the broader context of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the cross-border environment from the perspective of one of the world’s largest providers of IT hardware, software and services. It highlights a number of new and emerging thoughts and approaches around the continuing challenges of globalisation as it relates to business growth, investment, technological advancement and economic development. These developments are then discussed in the context of their applicability to the cross-border environment with a specific focus on the role that ICT can play in achieving a balance between trade facilitation and compliance in the customs environment. Existing mechanisms for achieving this balance are also explored along with some recommendations for ensuring that future developments align with the broader globalisation agenda and the key role that technology will play in determining the prosperity of individual nations and trading blocs.
Port Community Systems
Authors: Long Alan
Published: March 2024

Ports are natural bottlenecks in the transport chain, yet they are logical places to carry out customs controls. Port Community Systems have played a major role in facilitating the more efficient movement of goods while allowing Customs and other government departments to maintain effective controls. This article traces the history of one such system from the early days of planning through to the current day, in order to provide an insight into the benefits that can be achieved by both Government and the trade, transport and logistics communities. In so doing, the role that such systems can play in terms of implementing a comprehensive Single Window is highlighted.
China: Intermediate Agency Customs Audits
Authors: Paling Damon
Published: March 2024

Over the past few years, the responsibilities and tasks of the China Customs authority have increased significantly and this has placed great strain on the authority itself and its control mechanisms. Since 2006, in order to maintain enforcement of customs laws and meet revenue collection targets, Customs has been trialling the use of intermediate agencies to conduct customs audits of import/export organisations. A brief summary of the general principles that have been developed and two issues that are pending are identified in this article.
Maritime Transport Security Regulation: Policies, Probabilities and Practicalities
Authors: Widdowson David , Holloway Stephen
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the global regulatory environment that has emerged as a direct result of the events of September 2001, with particular reference to maritime shipping and container transport security. In examining the range of regulatory initiatives that have been introduced by national, regional and international policy makers, it analyses the appropriateness of the various policy responses from the perspective of risk management and commercial practicality. In doing so, the authors identify key features of an effective regulatory compliance regime, and the likely impact of specific policies on both regulatory control and trade facilitation.

The paper concludes that many government responses to the international security threat merely lead to an increase in the regulatory burden on honest traders, and achieve little in the way of enhancing their ability to identify potentially high risk consignments. It also identifies the need for a balanced and cost effective approach to regulation in which the elements of both enforcement and incentives to comply with regulatory requirements are present, in preference to a prescriptive approach that is likely to be not only less cost-effective but also more disruptive to commercial operations.
Achieving Resource Efficiency by Customs Administrations in a Constrained Economic Climate: A Critical Examination
Authors: Haughton Michael , Isotupa Sapna
Published: March 2024

Handling Customs’ ever-expanding portfolio of goals requires significant expenditure, for example, for trade security programs such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Simultaneously, economic depression jeopardises resource allocation to Customs. Thus, a crucial question is ‘How can Customs utilise its limited resources most efficiently to achieve its mandated goals?’ This paper addresses this question by examining initiatives requiring Customs to collaborate with external organisations in order to reap resource efficiencies. Among the paper’s central contributions are guidelines to maximise and assess the resource efficiency value of these collaborations. The paper draws on theories such as inter-organisational citizenship theory and research methods such as computer simulation.
Supply Chain Security Programs and Border Administration
Authors: Irish Maureen
Published: March 2024

Supply chain security programs raise several legal issues. This paper outlines some of those questions as applied to the border between Canada and the United States (US). As modern customs administrations adapt to take increasing account of security needs, international cooperation will be crucial, along with consultation with the business sector.
TRS as a Measurement of Trade Facilitation: Customs’ Experience in the Asia-Pacific Region
Authors: Zhang Shujie
Published: March 2024

A Time Release Study (TRS), a systematic and standard way to measure the time taken to release cargo, can substantially help Customs, other governmental agencies and the private sector to measure effectiveness, identify bottlenecks and find possible solutions for improvement in clearance and logistics. The World Customs Organization (WCO) has promoted the TRS and concentrated efforts to develop guidelines and software to address the emerging trade facilitation agenda. In the Asia Pacific Region, a number of TRS programs have been, and will be, conducted both at national and regional level with capacity building support. Critical findings and significant lessons can be drawn from regional experience to show how to roll out and use the TRS effectively.
Benchmarking Economic Corridors Logistics Performance: A GMS Border Crossing Observation
Authors: Banomyong Ruth
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation program and its effort to facilitate the movement of goods, people and vehicles across borders to enhance economic integration between member countries. The GMS cooperation has focused on an economic corridor approach to development and a need to assess the logistics performance of these corridors was identified. Even though a regional agreement has been ratified to facilitate border crossings, an assessment observed that the weakest links in the various economic corridors remain the border crossings.
2010 PICARD Conference Abu Dhabi (UAE), 23-25 November
Authors:   International Network of Customs Universities
Published: March 2024

The WCO PICARD (Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development) program was launched in 2006 to provide a framework for cooperation between Customs and the academic world. In parallel, through PICARD, academic institutions have created the INCU and a rich vein of research in the field of Customs, generated through its flagship publication, the World Customs Journal.

Working together, the WCO and INCU have progressed a range of initiatives in the areas of educational programs, strategic management development, professional standards, and academic research and development.

In relation to standards, the WCO in partnership with the INCU has developed a set of Professional Standards necessary for operational and strategic Customs managers to meet the requirements of the new strategic environment. In addition, the WCO has established a process of assessing university curricula against the Standards.

This year’s PICARD conference will build on the success of the previous conferences (Brussels 2006 and 2007, Shanghai 2008, and Costa Rica 2009) and will provide participants with an opportunity to interact with their government, commercial and academic counterparts from around the world.
Reforming Customs by Measuring Performance: A Cameroon Case Study
Authors: Cantens Thomas , Raballand Gaël , Bilangna Samson
Published: March 2024

Many Customs administrations have suffered from corruption and struggled to identify options for ameliorating this malady. In seeking to reduce corruption, while simultaneously strengthening performance (such as raising revenue collection and enhancing trade facilitation), policymakers should conduct experiments that can assist in identifying constructive policies. Such an experiment has been tested for Cameroon Customs, with some preliminarily positive results. In 2007, Cameroon launched a reform of its Customs administration, which included the installation of ASYCUDA (an automated Customs clearance system). In February 2010, as a continuation of the reform, Cameroon Customs introduced a system of performance contracts signed between the Director General and a number of front-line officers in the port of Douala. The core of the performance contracts is an agreement that the practices of the customs officers will be recorded and reported to the Director General. After four months of their implementation, initial results are encouraging (including lower corruption, higher revenue collection, and shorter clearance times) and may point to the birth of a new professional culture. This paper focuses on the experience and results so far of the performance contracts aspect of the reform, and suggests that replication may be beneficial for other Customs administrations.
Large Traders’ Customs Units
Authors: Macedo Leonardo
Published: March 2024

Large Traders’ Customs Units (LTCU) are important for customs and revenue collection as a strategy to mitigate revenue risks. In addition, Customs administrations may utilise such units to implement pilot projects in order to develop faster clearance procedures and more effective post-clearance audits.
Jordan Electronic Transit Monitoring and Facilitation System
Authors: Alfitiani Arif
Published: March 2024

Like most countries with numerous international borders, Jordan has adopted a number of different approaches to managing transit traffic over recent years. Developing a secure and more facilitative approach to transit traffic and cargo has been a high priority for the Jordan Customs Department. The electronic transit monitoring and facilitation system has led to a significant reduction in the cost of moving goods through Jordan as there is no longer a requirement to travel in convoy. As transit traffic has increased, the number of smuggling attempts has decreased while at the same time transit journey time has reduced by more than 60 per cent. This article provides an insight into the operation of the system as well as providing some analysis of the system statistics.
Large Traders’ Customs Units
Authors: Macedo Leonardo Correia Lima
Published: March 2024

Revenue collection, a core function of many customs administrations, has recently come under strain owing to the global financial crisis. The World Customs Organization (WCO) Revenue Package initiative, launched in 2009, seeks inter alia to promote the exchange of experience and best practices with tax administrations in order to improve the capacity of Customs to collect revenue. This paper describes the experiences and insights of tax administrations in their implementation of Large Taxpayers Units (LTU) and discusses the creation and development of Large Traders’ Customs Units (LTCU).
Doubts Regarding the Origin of Goods Based on OLAF Mission Reports vs Protection of Confidence
Authors: Schrömbges Ulrich , Wenzlaff Oliver
Published: March 2024

This article concerns the administrative cooperation of the customs authorities of the exporting country and of the importing country when determining the preferential origin of goods in the law of the European Union (EU). It addresses specifically the legal significance of investigations by EU authorities such as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) vis-à-vis the protection of confidence of the importer in the authenticity and correctness of certificates of a preferential origin and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) concerning such protection of confidence. European Union (EU) customs law provides for protection of confidence of the importer in the authenticity and correctness of certificates of preferential origin which have been issued by third countries. The Article concludes that this protection of confidence may be undermined by OLAF missions investigating the authenticity and correctness of certificates of origin in third countries.
PICARD 2010: Report From the 5th Conference
Authors:   World Customs Organization
Published: March 2024

At the invitation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Customs Authority, the fifth annual Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development (PICARD) conference was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 23 to 25 November 2010. The conference was jointly organised by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Network of Customs Universities (INCU) and co-hosted by the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) of the University of Canberra and Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group (ADUKG).

The conference was attended by some 200 delegates (including a significant number from the Middle East region) representing WCO Members, academia, other international organisations and the private sector, who gathered to share and discuss research topics and outcomes as well as developments in Customs professional education.
Coordinated Border Management: From Theory to Practice
Authors: Polner Mariya
Published: March 2024

In a globalised world where interconnectedness and integration are key dynamics

influencing economic growth and social development, policymakers increasingly

realise the need for accelerated transborder regulatory reform to remove unnecessary barriers and burdens on trade. The World Customs Organization (WCO) in its Customs in the 21st century document has captured these critical concepts for reform within the theme of Coordinated Border Management (CBM). For Customs, CBM is about describing how improved regulatory efficiency and effectiveness can be realised through greater coordination between border agencies during policy development and operational activities, both domestically and internationally.

This paper considers the meaning of the CBM concept for the customs community in particular and border agencies in general. It provides an overview of the evolution of the concept, which serves as a theoretical underpinning for further policy development.

As the CBM concept is broad and offers numerous interpretations, operational

arrangements, such as joint mobile teams, hot pursuit, joint risk management, and

targeting centres are not addressed, nor does the paper analyse information exchange systems, in particular the Single Window that forms an intrinsic part of CBM. Instead, the paper focuses on institutional and some practical border arrangements developed in several countries as part of a CBM implementation strategy, and concludes by suggesting areas for further research.
Extended Logistical Factors for Success in International Trade
Authors: Vallee Franz , Dircksen Michael
Published: March 2024

Current empirical studies on countries’ logistics performance do not fully reflect the main logistical principles of flow, system and total-costs theory. The authors provide a model which fills this gap. The approach is essentially based on the standard Supply Chain Operations Reference model (SCOR) viewed from the perspective of an integrated supply chain. This new, holistic model makes it possible to evaluate the process-related steps of administrative tasks and all modes of transportation and warehousing in terms of time and costs. The model starts with the estimated customer order and takes account of country-specific conditions, such as infrastructure and the legal framework. This process-based approach allows the flows of material and information to be analysed and planned in order to optimise all elements having regard to a company’s specific strategy. Accordingly, the model defines various evaluation and calculation methods, thereby revealing a number of interdependencies. It also allows the calculation to be based on data sources from international organisations or the historical operational data of companies (if available). The model also allows countries to be evaluated in terms of their business processes.
Professionalism in Customs and Workforce Development: WCO Initiatives to Equip Customs With Whole-Of-Career Development Strategies and Practices
Authors:   World Customs Organization
Published: March 2024

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has been developing initiatives and tools to enable the customs community to empower its organisational platforms and promote an efficient shift to organisations which are compliant, agile and adaptable.

The 2nd WCO Capacity Building Committee meeting held in Brussels from 3-5 May 2011 outlined the crucial importance of ‘people development’ for capacity building and customs modernisation. The meeting decided to trigger further reflection on methods of building professionalism in Customs.
De Minimis Thresholds in APEC
Authors: Holloway Stephen , Rae Jeffrey
Published: March 2024

A de minimis regime provides streamlined border clearance and exemption from customs duties and other taxes. These features generate economic benefits by refocusing public revenue collection on more efficient revenue sources, reducing the costs borne by importers, and accelerating the delivery of imports.

Most APEC economies have de minimis regimes but thresholds range from under USD1 to more than USD1,000, and eligibility varies. These design features affect the balance of economic benefits and costs that a regime produces.

This study assesses, in some detail, the de minimis regimes of Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand — the APEC-6 economies for ease of reference. We chose them as being broadly representative of the APEC region in terms of geography and economic development.
Production, Holding and Movement of Excise Goods Under Duty Suspension Within the European Union
Authors: Jatzke Harald
Published: March 2024

This article provides an overview of the duty suspension procedure under which excise goods can be produced, held and moved within the European Union (EU). The harmonisation of special excise duties in the European Union (EU) is well advanced. Member States are obliged to charge excise duties on energy products, alcohol and alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products. Since 1 January 1993, following the realisation of the internal market and the related abolition of border checks between Member States of the then European Community (now the EU), new legal rules allow trade in excise goods which have not yet been taxed. The examples included provide some guidance on the interpretation of current EU regulations.