UNECE
The United Nations Layout
Key for Trade Documents
Tom Butterly
UNECE
UNECE
The UN Layout Key (UNLK)
This Session will cover:
Overview of the UNLK
Design principles and applications
Standards, codes and Recommendations
behind the UNLK
Implementation tools
UNECE
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Information - controls the entire
trade transaction process
Exchange of information - covers the entire trade
transaction process
Sales contract
Movement of goods
Official controls
Payment
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Trade Documents are the core means of
exchanging this information
The goods cannot move faster than the
information that controls them
Increasing requirements for faster delivery for
supply chains etc
Impact of Security on Information requirements (24
hour rule, ACI, etc)
UNECE
Many Parties Involved
Source : Complex Networked Supply Chain [Harwick, 1999
UNECE
And many Trade Documents
Enquiry
Order
Despatch advice
Collection order
Payment order
Documentary credit
Forwarding instructions
Forwarder's invoice
Goods receipt
Sea waybill
Rail consignment note
Bill of lading
Freight invoice
Cargo manifest
Export licence
Exchange control doc.
Phytosanitary certificate Veterinary certificate
Certificate of origin
Consular invoice
Dangerous goods declaration
Import licence
Customs delivery note
TIR carnet
ATA carnet
If this process is not simplified and
coordinated - Frustration!
Product
Company A
Company B
UNECE
Supplier
Manufacturer
Wholesalers
Retailers
Customer
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And Cost
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40+ documents to manage the export
process
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Costs - up to 10 per cent of the value of the
goods (annual global costs related to trade
documents: 550 Billion USD
UNECE

United Nations Layout Key
Historical background
Up until the 1960’s, no standardisation in
terms of design, content or layout to trade
documents
There was a clear need for a global
solution
•
1950s: Trade Facilitation in Sweden and
other Nordic countries
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1960s: UNECE set up a Working party to
simplify and standardise international trade
•
1963: International model form adopted as a
Layout Key
United Nations Layout Key
Historical background
UNECE
•
1960’s and 70s: UNECE Layout Key
introduced by many international
organisations and countries worldwide
through the work of UNECE, UNCTAD
and other organisations
•
1978: UNLK Recommendation had
gained worldwide acceptance and was
called the United Nations Layout Key
for Trade Documents
Borders
UNLK Set of
standards
Boxes
Data
Elements
and Boxes
Mode of
transport
Destination
UNECE
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UNLK INTEGRATED SET OF STDS
Rec 3 County of Origin: UN Rec 3 use ISO 3166 2 digit country
codes
Rec 5 Terms of delivery: Rec 5 Aberration of ICC Incoterms
Rec 7 Numerical representation of date and time
Rec 8 Unique Identification Code
Rec 9 Alphabetic Code of the Representation of Currencies
Rec 16 Codes for ports and other locations; Port of Loading: Rec 16
LOCODE Codes for ports and other locations; 55” entries; Show
Switzerland
Rec 19 Codes for Mode of transport
Rec 20 Codes for Units of Measurement
Rec 22 Packaging codes
CODES SIMPLIFY AND STANDARDISE THE
INFORMATION – A CRITICAL FEATURE FOR
eDOCUMENTS
UNECE
6. System of aligned Trade Documents
Shared Information
The common information definition allows the
exchange of data between documents
(70% of all information in trade documents is
shared)
UNECE
Master Document and Series of
Aligned Documents
See UNLK Guidelines for details …
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Many national and international
sectoral documents developed
through the UNLK Hierarchical
System of Design
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Hierarchical System of Design
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United Nations Layout Key
Aligned Trade Documents
Today, nearly all international trade
documents are aligned to the UNLK
Examples:
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Standard Bill of Lading (International Chamber of
Shipping)
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Universal Air Waybill (IATA)
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International Rail Consignment Note (CIM
Convention)
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International Road Consignment Note (CMR
Convention)
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Single Administrative Document (SAD)
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GSP Certificate
•
Cargo Declaration (IMO FAL)
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etc
UNECE
United Nations Layout Key…
SAD
UNECE
Tools Available
UNLK Guidelines
UNLK Recommendation
International Document Set
UNeDocs
•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 Message
•
UN Layout Key is an intelligent integrated
set of UNECE, ISO and other international
standards that are the foundation for the
flow of information in trade transactions
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Implemented in many developed economies
but still much room for use in developing
economies
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Selection of tools are available from UNECE
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Huge potential savings for both business
and government
UNECE
Key Message
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Can be used directly irrespective of level of
technological development
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Aligned trade documents are a prerequisite
for development of electronic documents
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Aligned Trade Documents are a Key
element in achieving trade efficiency ......
UNECE
International Competitiveness
and Trade Facilitation
World Economic Forum
Country 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
UNECE
Thank you!