Section 101A (Customs Act) – Electronic communications for the purposes of customs and excise procedures

101A. Electronic communication for the purposes of customs and excise procedures

(1)     In this section and the rules thereto, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following words and phrases, and their grammatical variations where applicable, shall have the following meanings:

“Computer” definition of section 101A of Customs Act

‘computer’, means any electronic, magnetic, optical or other high speed data processing device or system which performs logical, arithmetic and memory functions by manipulation of electronic, magnetic or optical impulses and includes all input, output, processing, storage, computer software or communication facilities which are connected or related to the computer in a computer system or a computer network;

“Computer network” definition of section 101A of Customs Act

‘computer network’, means the interconnection of one or more computers through –

(i)      the use of satellite, microwave, terrestrial line or other communication media; and

(ii)     terminals or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers whether or not the interconnection is continuously maintained;

“Computer system” definition of section 101A of Customs Act

‘computer system’, means a device or collection of devices, including input and output devices and capable of being used with external files which contain computer programmes, electronic instructions, input and output data that performs logic, arithmetic, data storage and retrieval, communication control and other functions;

“Data” definition of section 101A of Customs Act

‘data’, means a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions which are being or have been prepared in a formalised manner and is intended to be processed, is being or has been processed in a computer system or network and may be in any form (including computer printouts, magnetic optical storage media, punched cards and punched tapes) or stored internally in the memory of the computer;

“Digital signature” definition of section 101A of Customs Act

‘digital signature’, means an electronic signature allocated to a registered user for authentication of electronic records in conformity with the requirements prescribed in this section, the rules and the user agreement;