The European Payments Council (EPC) makes available the publication 'Shortcut the SEPA Data Format' (four-page flyer) which summarises the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) data formats as specified in the Implementation Guidelines which accompany the SEPA Credit Transfer Rulebook and the SEPA Direct Debit Rulebooks. The SEPA data formats are based on the global ISO 20022 message standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization. For more information on the ISO 20022 message standards and additional helpful links, refer to this page on the EPC Website: ISO 20022 Message Standards (SEPA Data Formats).

The publications released in the EPC 'Shortcut Series' highlight key Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) concepts and EPC deliverables in non-technical terms. To view the entire series and more information supporting bank customers transitioning to SEPA, refer to this page on the EPC Website: SEPA Customers.

The EPC invites readers to be mindful of the 'Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euro and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009' (the SEPA Regulation) adopted by the European Union legislator in February 2012. The SEPA Regulation defines 1 February 2014 as the deadline in the euro area for compliance with the core provisions of this Regulation. In non euro countries, the deadline will be 31 October 2016. Effectively, this means that as of these dates, existing national euro credit transfer and direct debit schemes will be replaced by SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) and SEPA Direct Debit (SDD). For more information on the SEPA Regulation refer to this page on the EPC Website: SEPA Legal and Regulatory Framework.