The Mexico Tax Administration Service recently announced that it has scheduled a maintenance outage to the Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior Mexicana (VUCEM) system, beginning on February 8th at 12:00 (Mexico-CST) that could last up to 7 days through February 15th 12:00 (Mexico-CST). During the outage, all automated documentation submissions and reporting will be unavailable, and clearance documents must be submitted manually to Agencia Nacional De Aduanas De Mexico (ANAM).
The VUCEM is Mexico’s Single Window system for Foreign Trade, helping businesses comply with their foreign trade regulations. The system streamlines and facilitates international trade processes, serving as a centralized electronic platform where importers, exporters, and other stakeholders can submit and manage the documentation required for customs clearance and regulatory compliance. But what happens when the system isn’t available?
What the Downed VUCEM Means to You
During the scheduled shutdown, customs officials will have to revert to manual processes, which can increase the time needed to clear shipments. Customs officials and trade operators are preparing for an increase in workload for the manual processes and any backlog of transactions that may amount to once the system is restored. In some cases, temporary workarounds and contingency plans are being developed.
Mexican Customs Brokers must declare a special code “OC” in the customs declarations and physically present all the documents that correspond to that declaration and what is physically being presented at the port of entry or port of export (ie. Commercial Invoice(s), Certificates of Origin, Affidavits, Complementary Letters, Permits, etc…). This process is similar to how documentation was handled prior to 2012.
Possible Delays from the Broker’s Perspective:
- Potential issues with validation and payment of customs entries
- Increased risk of human error or incorrect documents being assembled in the wrong customs packet
- Need for excessive printing of paper.
- Additional time is required if there is no collaboration with the Broker and they prefer a carrier to send a courier to pick up the customs packet.
What Should You Do
The VUCEM outage presents the possible disruption of supply chains that could affect inventory and production schedules. Delays in customs clearance can also result in additional costs for storage, demurrage, and potential penalties. Clear communication and collaboration between shippers, logistics providers, carriers, and customs officials will be critical to mitigate these disruptions. Avoiding the need to courier documents is recommended.
Customs officials and carriers will also need increased diligence to ensure that all documents are accounted for and correctly assembled with the proper number of copies required at customs. Carriers/drayage service providers should be able to print, assemble, and proceed to move the vehicles through customs, limiting the risk of delays.
The Expected Document Flow:
- The Supplier provides documentation for what has been sold to their customer (Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Certificates of Origin, Bill of Lading, etc.)
- Documents must be sent to the Broker and Carrier.
- The Carrier validates what is being transported at the Bill of Lading level.
- Broker Validates documentation needed to process goods through customs.
- The Broker creates documentation and assembles the customs packet according to the contingency plan.
- For Southbound Flow (Imports into Mexico): The Broker prints the customs packet and dispatches trailers.
- For Northbound Flow (Exports from Mexico): The Broker sends a customs packet to the Carrier, who will then print and assemble the packet to be presented at customs.
Our teams will continue to work with customers and shippers throughout the process to keep shipments flowing as timely as possible. If you have any questions about the contingency plans being implemented, potential delays that could arise, or how this outage may affect your shipments, reach out to your Key Account Manager.