A solution to the problems around customs' scans in the port of Rotterdam is within reach. Customs and the three interest groups, GroentenFruit Huis, EVO and FENEX, have reached an agreement for a solution. That solution can be found in a new procedure for external scanning, which further ensures the safety and integrity of the process. Use of the new emergency procedure is currently being tested in a pilot. Peter Verbaas is enthusiastic: “We spend much time with EVO and FENEX during the talks with customs. The attitude of customs is constructive.”
The pilot started on 15 July, and involved three participating importers. They were given the opportunity to do their own external scanning. “After two weeks it turned out that everything went well. However, upon evaluation we did discover that three companies are not enough to get a good result, and we therefore extended the test to include more companies,” according to Verbaas. “The objective of the pilot is to test the new procedure, and to eventually open it to everyone who can and will meet the requirements.”
Emergency procedure
“At the start of 2016, customs cancelled the emergency procedure for external scanning because of the major risks associated with it. Besides certain importers using the emergency procedure as standard procedure, containers were also being withheld from the scan. In June, several exporters notified us via our website about containers being delayed, causing losses. Talks were already being held by then between GroentenFruit Huis and customs in order to reach a solution.”
“It is important to us that the measure for external scanning is reintroduced because of its quickness and the costs,” Verbaas says. The external scanning procedure with its new regulations as it is now being tested in a pilot remains an emergency procedure. “Ideally, the containers would go on the internal track, it is the safest way. Customs is also taking steps to optimise that procedure, because it has not been working well enough so far.” Verbaas is hoping that the additional scan customs is implementing at the start of 2017 will contribute to a better flow of the internal track. “I assume that when scan capacity increases, the need for external scanning will decrease further.”
New regulations
“We offer more security for customs with the new procedure,” Verbaas continues. For example, all parties involved must first be known to customs. The applicant has to have a permit AEO (Authorised Economic Operator), and must provide certain guarantees. Moreover, transporters may not outsource transport, and they are obliged to notify their drivers of the regulations. This was not an automatism under the old regulations. “We need to make companies aware of the risks involved with external scanning,” Verbaas continues. “The protocol does not have any blocking requirements that could cause companies to drop out, but we will have to wait and see whether they all adhere to the agreements. That makes it quite a tense situation.”
Other talks are about delays that could occur at the internal scan if too many containers would be offered via the external track. That pressure point has also been addressed. “External scanning has now been bound by time, and is only possible in the mornings, before the busy period with the scans starts,” Verbaas explains. “So if you apply in the afternoon, you will have to wait till the next morning before you can offer the container.” That still causes several hours of delay, but offers more certainty for importers. “It will become tense when volumes start increasing, but it is looking well. Delays will be shorter than in the old situation, in any case.”
Positive result
The first results of the pilot are positive. “We have not yet heard about unworkable situations from the pilot participants, and the attitude of customs is fairly constructive, which we are very pleased with.” The pilot will run until the end of September, and will be followed by an evaluation. The date for the evaluation has already been set, so that packing can quickly continue. A solution to the problems therefore seems to be a matter of time. “We will be pleased when everything is settled at the end of September. That would mean we were able to test import during the low season, and we could start using the measure during the high season.” For more information:
Peter Verbaas
GroentenFruit Huis
T + 31 79 368 1120
M + 31 6 109 85 193
E Verbaas@groentenfruithuis.nl
W www.groentenfruithuis.nl