ubl — archive

[Roberto Cisternino]

Hello UBL TC, according to my past experience I agree it is difficult to find the right minimum subset for evry document/information. However I know the same problems have been experienced and solved with UN/EDIFact where the base standard was not immediately sufficient for all use cases. This way some user groups was born around UN/CEFACT to address such kind of problems. Their main task was the creation of guidelines for UN/EDIFact messages real use on specific areas (transportation, shipping, ...) Major companies from shipping and transportation make use of these guidelines and they are members of these bodies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- About IMO the mandatory minimum data is: IMO HAZARD CODE Hazard code identification: - IMDG Class Number - IMDG Sub-Class Number - RID Class Number - CFR49 Codes ...but there are more info about at http://www.smdg.org/itigg/index.jsp under Documents->Downloads->... Transport Freight Movements - version 2.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are many user group for different areas, the once I know for transportation and shipping are grouped under SMDG: ************************************************************************* The International Transport Implementation Guidelines Group http://www.smdg.org/itigg/index.jsp ITIGG is an international group of experts engaged in the development and implementation of UN/EDIFACT standard messages for electronic trading in the transport industry. ITIGG is a sub-group of TBG3, the UN/EDIFACT Message Development Group for Transport. ITIGG develops recommendations which provide software developers with a series of simple, straightforward tools to assist in designing applications which can be used for trading electronically throughout the world, and to clarify the intentions of the designers of key UN/EDIFACT messages. In the longer term the group aims to harmonise messages used in the transport sector, so that the same message specifications can be used anywhere in the world. ************************************************************************* http://www.smdg.org/BEST/ BEST (Business Group for Electronic Commerce Standards in Transport) was established in 1994 by a group of companies and organisations in the transport sector primarily to support the work of the European EDIFACT Transport Group EEG2. BEST is involved in the Electronic Commerce standards, including: - EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). - Internet communication especially ebXML. - Automatic identifications techniques for transported goods: barcoding, such as the Multi Industry Transport Label (MITL), Radiofrequency tags? etc. - Mobile datacommunication. ************************************************************************* User Group for Shipping Lines and Container Terminal (SMDG - Shiplanning Message Development Group) http://www.smdg.org/ SMDG is a non-profit foundation, run by and on behalf of companies and organizations working in the maritime industry, like container terminals, ocean carriers and related companies and organizations. SMDG develops and promotes UN/EDIFACT EDI-messages for the Maritime Industry and is an official Pan European User Group, recognised by the UN/EDIFACT Board. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I hope into these sites you can find some more info to have a good minimum data subset, however both the shipping and transportation sectors are not so precise and advanced as we could imagine, they are really different from banking or others fields. For some countries like US there is a "Container Security" project which is embracing also Ports security, into this direction there could be some more mandatory data for a set of documents where exchanged to/from the US. By now as we are talking about shipping maybe is not an actual requirement. Hope my info are useful in some way, moroever I think some of or all of these user group should have a contact with us in the future even if they have already a contact with UN/CEFACT. Best regards UBL ITLSC co-chair Roberto Cisternino Sylvia Webb wrote: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken, Based on my experience, I have serious reservations that there can be a universal minimum subset defined by the UBL TC. Such a subset can run afoul of local, regional, and international laws which specify minimum data requirements for specific transactions. Additionally, purchasing or contract law can dictate what a minimum subset should be between trading partners. As an example, if I establish a business relationship with a EU company or government agency, I have different minimum data requirements that may be specified in their subsets or guidelines plus additional requirements specified by U.S. and California laws. If I am shipping hazardous goods, I have yet another minimum subset of data required. Finally, depending on what is specified in any purchase order or contract that I receive, I can have multiple minimum subset requirements based on the legally binding requirements of those documents. These minimum data requirements do not include additional data that I may wish to include to satisfy any best practices which my company wishes to follow. IMO, there isn't any way that a standards body can have access to all of the subject matter experts needed to consider all of the business rules and laws which would be needed to determine an internationally acceptable minimum subset. Regards, Sylvia