On the EU Commission website  is avalable an updated version of the Transit Manual (published for the first time in 2004 by the TAXUD General Directorate). The guide - for the moment only in English - will be soonly available also in the other languages of the European Union. Its primary aim is to describe how the transit procedure works and what is the role played by the various participants. Last, but not least, this guide is also a tool to better ensure a harmonized application of the transit regulations at EU level.

Time Release Studies (TRS) are a trade facilitation tool utilized by Customs to quantify the average times taken for the clearance of goods at the various entry locations in a territory (e.g. ports, airports and land borders). Their adoption dates back to the beginning of ninetiees of 20^th century, on initiative of the American and Japanese customs. At international level, their adoption is recommendend since 1994 by the World Customs Organization (WCO), that on 2002 issued also guidelines to guide their members in the correct use of such a tool.

TRS allow in particular to customs administrations to measure and break down into separate phases, time required from the arrival of goods in the importing Country to their release, in order to identify bottlenecks, delays and constraints in the customs clearance process and implement adequate corrective actions.

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