Pre-validate

What is Pre-Validate Trader?

The "pre-validate trader" function in EMCS serves to verify the legitimacy and authorisation status of traders before excise movements are initiated. This pre-validation process checks the trader’s excise number against the System for the Exchange of Excise Data (SEED) database to confirm:

The excise number is valid.
The trader is authorised to trade in the specific categories of excise goods involved in the movement.

This does not negate the need to run SEED checks to validate the full Postal Address in Warehousing System Delivery Address.

Why is Pre-Validation Important?

Pre-validating traders achieves several crucial objectives:

Prevents Errors and Fraud: By confirming trader credentials and authorisation before a movement is recorded, the system reduces the risk of errors, unauthorised movements, and fraudulent activities.
Ensures Compliance: It ensures that only those with the correct approvals and registrations can dispatch or receive excise goods under duty suspension, maintaining the integrity of the excise system.
Streamlines Processing: Early validation of trader details helps avoid delays and rejections later in the process, as incorrect or unauthorised entries can be corrected before submission.
Supports Real-Time Monitoring: The process enables HMRC to monitor and control the movement of excise goods in real time, facilitating quick intervention if irregularities are detected.

How Does It Work in Practice?

When a user uses the screen to submit a pre-validation request, EMCS checks the provided trader and product codes against the SEED database. If the details are valid, you can proceed by creating an eAD; if not, an error is flagged, and you must correct the information before continuing.