Will there be a fallout from the recent bombs found on International Cargo flights?
First impressions were that this was going to heavily impact on shipping product around the world. Would we see extreme actions taken and how would this affect business for importers and exports worldwide?
Fortunately the industry came prepared.
Over the last ten years we have seen the shipping industry being transformed into the logical and informative platform.
With a number of programs already in place such as ‘Known Shipper Status’ and shipment pre-filing for ocean freight into the US and companies meeting security requirements such as TAPA, AEO and C-TPAT.
With all these programs in place and the latest program for Advance Cargo Declaration coming into play on Jan 1st, I believe that the industry is already ahead.
All cargo imported, exported or trans-shipped through the EU will be required to be pre-advised to customs prior to departure.
Any company already involved in the Known Shipper Program will find this transition quite smooth.
This will improve visibility on who is shipping what and where.
There will as expected be a complete review of all air cargo security programs and the aim of the exercise should be for each region to collaborate their information and provide a standardized program which is recognised globally.
What is not needed is a complete clamp down on shipping. This could be detrimental to the industry.
Most companies in the EU felt the pinch during the ash cloud fiasco when shipping lines were closed for days on end and resulted in the loss of millions of Euro for each day delayed.
For now, we can only continue to operate to the standards in place and be more vigilant to the possible threats that are out there.
Let’s see what changes are proposed and be confident that they will enhance the current level of security.
Details of the New Advance Cargo Declaration:
The European Union Advance Cargo Declaration Regime, effective January 1st, 2011, will affect all freight imported into and exported out of Europe, as well as transhipment cargo.
The aim of the new manifest regulations is to ensure an equal level of protection through customs controls for all goods shipped into, out of or through the EU.
- The amendment to the Customs Code covers four major changes:
- It requires traders to provide customs authorities with information on goods prior to import into, export from or transhipment via the EU
- It provides reliable traders (Authorised Economic Operators) with trade facilitation measures
- It introduces uniform community risk-selection criteria for controls, supported by computerised systems for goods entering, leaving or transiting EU customs territory
- It introduces an EU database enabling the consultation of all national registration numbers (EORI)
- The time limits for lodging the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) vary according to the mode of transport and length of journey:
- Containerised maritime cargo (except short sea containerised shipping): At least 24 hours prior to loading in each foreign port
- Bulk/ break bulk maritime cargo (except short sea bulk/ break bulk shipping): At least four hours prior to arrival at the first port in the EU
- Short sea shipping: Movements between Greenland, Faroe Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Norway, Iceland, Baltic Sea ports, North Sea ports, Black Sea ports, Mediterranean ports, and the EU except French overseas departments, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands: At least two hours before arrival at the first port in the EU
- Short sea shipping: Movements with a duration of less than 24 hours between a territory outside the customs territory of the EU, and the French overseas departments, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands: At least two hours before arrival at the first port in the EU
- Short haul flights (less than four hours duration): At least by the time of the aircraft’s actual take-off
- Long haul flights (more than four hours duration): At least four hours prior to arrival at the first airport in the EU
- Rail and inland waterways: At least two hours prior to arrival at the customs office of entry in the EU
- Road traffic: At least one hour prior to arrival at the customs office of entry in the EU
- Where the regulations require carriers to declare containerised maritime cargo information to European Customs 24 hours prior to EU-bound goods being loaded onto a vessel in a non-EU port, most carriers will require all shipping instructions within 48 hours of the operational cut at the port of loading.
- Between July 2009 and December 2010, this advance declaration is an option for traders, not an obligation. During this transitional period, goods not declared in advance will be submitted to risk analysis after arrival in or before departure from the EU.
Tags: Airline Security, UPS Bomb Scare
