The H1 system is the new electronic model for import declarations in the European Union, designed to replace the traditional Single Administrative Document (SAD). Unlike the latter, which functioned as a fixed form with predefined boxes, the H1 operates through the exchange of structured electronic messages in XML format (a programming language for structuring and presenting data in a formatted text format). This is reported in a publication by Piernext, the digital knowledge hub promoted by the port of Barcelona to disseminate innovation.
This approach allows working with reusable data, automatically validated and organized at different levels—header, shipment, and item—which facilitates automation and customs control throughout the entire logistics chain. Furthermore, the H1 system introduces new types of declarations such as the DAC (definitive), DPA (prior), SAC (simplified), or the SPA (simplified prior), among others. It also requires declaring documents and authorizations in specific fields that are automatically validated against databases such as Taric (codes of the integrated tariff of the European Community) or EORI.
This implies a higher technical demand for operators, but it also brings significant benefits in terms of traceability, security, and efficiency. “The H1 system requires greater technical skills in the use of web services, document coding, automatic validations, and management of authorizations,” explains the spokesperson on customs legislation issues of the College of Customs Agents of Barcelona (Coacab).
Pillar of Digitalization
With its progressive implementation, the H1 system is emerging as a key pillar of customs digitalization in Europe. The College of Customs Agents of Barcelona has developed the ‘Mola’ project, a platform that will be ready to operate in a real environment in 2026.
The Coacab started the Logistics-Customs Operations Modules (MOLA) project in 2022. Subsequently, it was granted public aid by Puertos del Estado, within the framework of the plan to promote entrepreneurship for innovation in the port sector, better known as Puertos 4.0.
Ramón Marco, head of innovation projects at Coacab, officially presented the MOLA project, a simple, collaborative, and easily integrable digital platform for logistics-customs processes in the cloud. It is a tool based on 4.0 technologies that consists of different modules: sustainability module, security module, customs management module, customs warehouse, eCommerce, business intelligence, etc.
Among some of the main objectives to be achieved are:
Savings of more than 300 million euros
As an example, the Coacab pointed out during the project presentation that, in Spain, in 2022, 110 million import and export operations were carried out by the different actors in the logistics chain. If it were possible to save three euros, five minutes, and 10 sheets of paper per operation, the savings for logistics companies would be more than 330 million euros, 1.85 million hours to dedicate to other tasks, and more than 1,110 million sheets of paper.
