NEC Corporation has announced an order from Japan Customs, under the Ministry of Finance, for an electronic customs procedure system utilizing face recognition to be installed at the customs inspection areas of six major airports in Japan: New Chitose Airport, Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu International Airport, Kansai International Airport and Fukuoka Airport.
This electronic customs procedure system utilizes NEC’s face recognition technology, which boasts the world’s No.1 recognition accuracy, and has already been put into operation at Narita International Airport Terminal 3 as of April 15 of this year. Japan Customs is now expanding this system throughout six major airports, which account for approximately 90% of the annual passengers entering Japan, aiming to commence operations from March 2020.
This system is designed to accelerate the customs procedures at leading airports, where NEC’s face recognition technology can confirm travelers’ identities when using the system’s electronic declaration terminal and passing through exit gates. Moreover, NEC aims to further accelerate customs procedures by enabling baggage to be reported electronically through the use of smartphone applications.
Going forward, it is expected that the number of international visitors entering Japan will continue to rapidly grow. As part of this, NEC will utilize its cutting-edge biometric technologies to reduce the congestion of customs inspection areas and shorten waiting times.
NEC has positioned its safety business as an engine for global growth under its three-year Mid-term Management Plan through fiscal 2020. NEC has already provided biometric identification systems, including facial recognition, to approximately 50 airports around the world.
NEC will continue to strengthen its efforts to develop solutions and services in support of the “NEC Safer Cities” business domain and contributing to the realization of safe, secure, and prosperous communities.
