JASTPRO and its Role (English)
JASTPRO and its Role
Japan Association for Simplification of
International Trade Procedures
- History of JASTPRO
- JASTPRO's Organization
- Major Undertakings
- Achievements
- Problems to be solved in the future
- The beginning of "EDI era" in Japan
1. History of JASTPRO
The movement for the facilitation of international trade procedures emerged from Nordic Countries since 1950s.
The bewildering maze of rules and regulations that accompanied the rapid expansion of world trade caused increasing concern among the major trading nations, particularly those in Europe, which had to comply with the escalating costs of the rules and regulations that governed international trade.
As a result, the advocation for the simplification of international trading procedures and standardization of trade document's forms was taken up. Such simplification was undoubtedly regarded as greatly beneficial as it was taken up by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), and in 1960, the Working Party on the Facilitation of International Trade Procedures was set up under the ECE.
Nine years later, in 1969, an ECE resolution extended the work on trade facilitation to the United Nations regional commissions and specialized organizations, notably through UNCTAD'S Special Program on Trade Facilitation (UNCTAD/FALPRO).
The UN definition of the "facilitation of international trade procedures" is given as follows :
the systematic rationalization of procedures and documentation for international trade (trade procedures), i.e. the activities, practices and formalities involved in collecting, presenting, communicating and processing data required for the movement of goods in international trade.
Japan also, the necessity for the facilitation of international trade procedures was first recognized in the effort to cope with the heavy volume of documents that piled up at the container ship terminals in the late 1960's. With the increase in cargo, it soon became evident that there was a dire need to standardize trade documents.
In December of 1974, JASTPRO was organized under the auspices of the Ministries of Finance, International Trade and Industry and Transport, with the participation of major industries and enterprises connected with international trade- in order to function as a sole body for the facilitation of international trade procedures in Japan.
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2.JASTPRO's Organization
Japan Association for Simplification of International Trade Procedures (JASTPRO) consists of a steering committee, a business committee and special committees. There is also code center which maintains and issues "Japan Standard Shippers
The steering committee is composed of members selected from trade circles and organizations concerned and carries out discussions on the methods for the promotion of the facilitation of international trade procedures, the Association's business plans and matters relating to budget and finance.
The business committee summarizes the research and studies of various problems for the facilitation of international trade procedures and makes the decision on the working programs and their priorities.
Under the direction of the business committee, several special committees which undertake projects concerning the JASTPRO's goals for simplification and rationalization of trade and procedures are organized.
Special committees are set up, when necessary, for each problem that may come up and prepares proposals for simplification of procedures and works towards their realization and dissemination.
JASTPRO Organization Chart (as of July, 2002)
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3.Major Undertakings
The undertakings of JASTPRO can be categorized into the following areas:
Facilitation of International Trade Documents and Procedures
Research and Studies
Public Relations and Dissemination of Information
Co-operation with the Government
These four objectives are seen by JASTPRO as the necessary basic functions by which JASTPRO can meet their goal of promoting an efficient and effective trade flow. The goals of the Facilitation of International Trade Documents and Procedures are firstly to make efforts towards the standardization of trade documents and the dissemination of standard forms.
Secondary, to decide the policy for the facilitation of international trade procedures and work towards the realization and dissemination of simplified procedures.
Thirdly, to promote the standardization of data elements, their definitions, codes and formats used in trade procedures and their dissemination.
Fourthly, to keep in close contact with agencies and organizations, both at home and abroad, which are concerned with the matters set forth above and cooperation with them in close endeavor to promote the movement for procedural simplification.
The aim of Research and Studies is to conduct research and study of laws and ordinances, practices and systems, both at home and abroad, necessary for the facilitation of international trade procedures. Also, to gather and compile basic data necessary for the promotion of the facilitation of international trade procedures.
The role of Public Relations and Dissemination of Information is to one, publish a bulletin disseminating useful information obtained from sources at home and abroad to its members and those concerned to them. Two, with a view to promote the dissemination of the concrete measures for the facilitation of international trade procedures, to prepare and publish books explaining the new standard forms and other achievements. Also, to hold lecture meetings and seminars. Three, to have consultants give advice and guidance to small and medium traders regarding the facilitation of international trade procedures.
JASTPRO will continue to operate with the government in the planning and execution of policies for the facilitation of international trade procedures and also submit necessary suggestions to the government.
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4.Achievements
Almost 25 years have passed since JASTPRO was established in December 1974. Much achievement has been obtained as a result of investigations and studies made by special committees.
Some of the latest achievements of JASTPRO are as follows:
a standard form for combined transport bill of lading, packaged application software for export documentation, translation of "Trade Data Elements Directory (ISO 7372)", "ISO 9735 - Application level syntax rules" and "UN/EDIFACT Message Design Rules" and "UN/EDIFACT Standard Directories".
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5.Problems to be solved in the future
The UN definition of the "facilitation of international trade procedures" was given earlier in this article. In a word, it means the simplification of the procedures themselves and the rationalization of paperwork when going through the procedures.
For the former, procedures involving government offices carry a heavy weight and are based on law, making them difficult to revise or change. For this reason, studies at the UN first tackled the latter issue, i.e. the rationalization of paper-work.
Two means of rationalizing paperwork are conceivable - namely, rationalization of documents (unification, standardization etc.) and mechanization of work (automatic data processing (ADP), electronic data interchange (EDI) etc.).
At first, regarding documents, simplification was undertaken because the ADP or EDI techniques were not yet as advanced as today and also because the complexity of trade procedures lies primarily In the complexity of documents preparation.
Since the 1970's, however, the mechanization of work, including a shift to ADP or EDI, has made rapid progress now that the amount of paperwork has increased to such an extent that the rationalization of documents alone cannot cope with. In the past, the transmission and exchange of data used to be made through documents and thus the shift to electronic and other automatic means has naturally given rise to new problems.
As already noted, JASTPRO's Work has primarily stressed the rationalization of documents so far. However, now, in addition, it has carried out studies on the standardization of data elements and codes, and data exchange rules in order to lay the groundwork for a smooth shift to the ADP or EDI system. From now on, JASTPRO will try not only to solve the new problems accompanying the progress of ADP or EDI, while emphasis will also be shifted to the problems of systems and procedures in keeping with the essential purpose of the comprehensive simplification movement which has been under way over many years with due consideration to the changing international circumstances.
One can easily imagine that in the future, as techniques of data exchange and processing make further strides, the importance of mutual harmonization will increase further for the sake of overall efficiency. Therefore, the problem of procedural simplification is believed certain to focus on that aspect
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6.The beginning of "EDI era" in Japan
According to the formal publications of UN/ECE, "EDI" (Electronic Data Interchange) is defined as the electronic transfer from computer to computer of commercial or administrative transactions using a widely agreed standard to structure the transaction or message data.
Turning our eyes to Japan, in both sections of commercial and administration, the technique of the electronic transfer from computer to computer has been introduced actively and widely. In that sense, Japan is advanced in EDI especially for domestic business transactions.
But, in connection with the term "an agreed standard to structure the transaction or message data", Japan is behind. We think that our main task is to combine "the electronic transfer from computer to computer" with "an agreed standard". And, in that case, internationally agreed standard for EDI, namely EDIFACT, is the key for the solution, we believe.
In May of 1988, 10 experts led by UN/EDIFACT Rapporteurs visited our country officially for the first time. They showed their expertise in spite of their short stay in Tokyo. So after their visit, EDI and EDIFACT became very popular words among manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, shippers, consignees, carriers, banks, insurers and government agencies.
Concerns about International EDI or EDIFACT have been getting larger. Therefore, a sub-committee specializing in EDIFACT has been set up within JASTPRO and the committee is going to study the matter.
In March 1990, Japanese Government decided to send a Rapporteur to the UN/ECE jointly with Singapore. At that time JASTPRO was asked to undertake the secretariat for the Rapporteur, Japan/Singapore EDIFACT Board and Japan EDIFACT Committee by Ministries of Finance, International Trade and Industry, and Transport.
Mr. Kenji Itoh (Executive Director. JASTPRO) was appointed as the Rapporteur for Japan/Singapore at the UN/ECE/WP.4 Meeting held in September 1990 in Geneva. In April 1991, Korea was formally accepted as a member of JS/EB by the Board members and then P.R.C. and Chinese Taipei participated in the Board simultaneously in September 1991. At that time, the UN/ECE/WP.4 agreed to use "Asia" for the Board. Malaysia was formally agreed to join the Board as a member in May 1992. The AS/EB (Asia EDIFACT Board) consists of Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, P.R.C., Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Align with the UN/ECE/WP.4's movement to the UN/CEFACT (the Centre for the Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport), the AS/EB has decided its re-engineering from the AS/EB to the AFACT (the Asia Council for the Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport) at the 16th AS/EB meeting held in July 1998 in Tehran, Iran.
Japan Association for Simplification
of International Trade Procedures
29-11, Hatchobori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0032
TEL (03) 3555-6031
FAX (03) 3555-6032
E-mail jastpro@jastpro.or.jp
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