Proof of Union status (PoUS): New system replacing the paper T2L/T2LF documents

As of March 1, 2024, the European Commission plans to introduce a centralized Proof of Union Status (PoUS) system to prove Union status of goods with electronic means and replace paper-based T2L/T2LF documents. To further be able to issue T2L/T2LF documents, your company must have access to the EU Customs Trader Portal.

Paper-based T2L/T2LF documents will no longer be in use after the go-live of the PoUS system. Instead, the new system issues a Master Reference Number (MRN) when requesting proof. This proof is stored in the PoUS database. Upon entry of the goods into the respective country, the MRN needs to be presented to the customs authorities to consult the evidence and decide whether to grant Union status, or not.

The European Commission currently does not provide an interface (API) for operators. You must therefore submit a T2L/T2LF request manually via the user interface of the EU Customs Trader Portal. Alternatively, you may upload your data via a csv-file or xml-file.

• T2L/T2LF documents obtained before the changeover date (March 1, 2024) via the previous procedure can still be used as long as they are valid.

Where to find more general and country-specific information

If you are using AEB’s Customs Management software to create T2L/T2LF documents, you are affected by this change. Please familiarize yourself with the upcoming general changes as well as the registration process in your country:

• For more general information regarding the PoUS system, refer to the official European Commission website.
• Belgium (BE): Further details on the registration process are available on the Belgian customs website and in this Help Center article.
• Netherlands (NL): Further details on the registration process are available on the Netherlands customs website.
• Austria (AT): Further details on the registration process are available on the Austrian customs website.
• Northern Ireland (NI): NI businesses are subject to both UK and EU customs rules and will also need to use the new manual data-entry EU PoUS system. HMRC have now issued version 7.2 of the Transit Manual Supplement (additional UK-specific guidance on top of the EU's Transit Manual) which includes a new section 2.6 about the registration process for NI businesses (this doesn't apply to mainland Great Britain).