How does ALVS work?
ALVS is dependant upon an Advance Notification being made into Defra’s PEACH system. The Advance Notification is electronically risk assessed and Traders are informed electronically within PEACH whether a physical/identity and/or documentary inspection is required. When Traders (or their agent) submit an import declaration to HMRC’s CHIEF system, key data items contained on the Import declaration are passed to ALVS for matching against data items on the Advance Notification. Once matching has taken place, ALVS will transmit the control decisions of RPA and/or Defra through to CHIEF. Providing there are no HMRC checks or other actions outstanding, CHIEF will automatically clear the import declaration once a Release decision has been given for all RPA and Defra checks on the import declaration. A finalisation message will be sent to ALVS when CHIEF clearance has been effected which is then transmitted to PEACH.