Aligning Secure Marking and Traceability with Other Government Objectives: The WCO SAFE Framework

Secure marking and excise taxes operate hand in glove. But excise duties usually account for a small percentage of countries’ overall tax take.

In the face of multiple competing spending pressures, excise administration is often the last to be modernised. Making a compelling business case for secure marking and traceability must, therefore, extend beyond simply showing how the solutions can secure excise revenues, to showing how they contribute to meeting an administration’s other obligations.

The administration of customs and excise revenues has one notable advantage over other tax types – namely, the more widespread use of standardised, global programmes.

This includes the WCO SAFE Framework. Understanding how this framework functions provides useful context against which to engage with administrations, and develop even more targeted, enhanced service offerings.

SAFE Framework

In 2005, the WCO (World Customs Organisation) adopted the SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade as a deterrent to terrorism, to secure revenue collections and to promote trade facilitation worldwide.