Single Administrative Document (SAD)
The standardised form used for customs declarations throughout the EU, covering imports, exports, and transit operations.
The Single Administrative Document (SAD) is the official form used across the European Union to declare goods to customs authorities. Introduced in 1988 to replace the multitude of national documents, it harmonised clearance procedures throughout all Member States.
The SAD comprises 8 copies, each intended for a specific authority or operator. Its boxes (54 in total) cover all required information: operator identification, goods description, customs value, origin, requested customs procedure, and duty/tax calculation.
In practice, the SAD is now submitted electronically through national customs IT systems (such as DELTA in France). The paper form nevertheless remains the legal reference and serves as a fallback procedure in case of IT system failures.
With the progressive deployment of the Union Customs Code (UCC) and the modernisation of customs IT systems, the SAD is evolving to incorporate new requirements, particularly regarding safety-security and commercial flow traceability.