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March 2018
aeoDutch Customs Implements New AEO Benefit


AEO Logo

On the first of March, Dutch Customs fully implemented the new AEO benefit of control notification in case of a declaration prior to presentation of the goods. The new AEO benefit has been legally possible since the entering into force of the Union Customs Code (UCC) on 1 May 2016. However, it is now for the first time that this important facilitation can be used in practice.

To Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers and their Customers, predictability in Supply Chains is of major importance. Controls by Customs created always an element of uncertainty, possibly leading to delays, re-planning etc, because it is only when goods are presented to Customs (when they arrive or are about to depart), that a company knows whether or not Customs will check the goods. The new AEO benefit solves this issue to a large extent for companies which have proven to be compliant and trustworthy Economic Operators (AEOs). The benefit is mentioned in article 24 (3) of the UCC Delegated Act under "More favourable treatment regarding risk assessment and control". The article states:

Where an AEO lodges a Temporary Storage Declaration or a Customs Declaration prior to presentation of the goods, the Customs Office competent to receive that Temporary Storage Declaration or that Customs Declaration shall, where the consignment has been selected for Customs Control, notify the AEO of that fact. That notification shall take place before the presentation of the goods to Customs.

Knowing in advance whether a control will take place, does not solve the risk of a possible delay caused by controls, but provides the opportunity to plan ahead for a control and thus increases efficiency for both Customs and Trade. Another important benefit is that article 24 makes it more interesting to submit a declaration prior to presentation, which leads to a better opportunity for Customs to perform risk assessment and for trade to a better opportunity to provide the correct data, because of less time pressure and peaks in the logistical/declaration process. Member States are obliged to provide this benefit to AEOs, as the article clearly states that the customs office shall notify the AEO of a control and not just for import but also for export and transit.

Until now, to CLECAT's knowledge, only Italian and Dutch customs have been piloting the new benefit, together with various Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers, and have adjusted their processes and IT systems accordingly. The Netherlands is now the first to fully implement the facilitation for all AEOs, without a need to request it. For many years, CLECAT and its members have been lobbying for this benefit, especially in view of the fact that many Logistic Service Providers have not experienced many tangible benefits from their AEO status yet. Therefore, CLECAT is thankful to the Commission and the Member States which seek to facilitate trade whilst increasing their own efficiency.

According to the Commission, simplicity, service and speed are the key drivers of the UCC. In the next few years all Customs Administrations in the EU have to adjust their IT systems and processes to be compliant with the UCC, which also means proving this facilitation to trade. Therefore, CLECAT strongly encourages Member states and the Commission to ensure that the new AEO benefit will be brought into practice as soon and as good as possible.

This article appeared in the 2nd March 2017 CLECAT Newsletter.
This weekly newsletter is sent to all IIFA Members every Monday/ Tuesday.

Within Ireland, IIFA has raised this new AEO benefit item with Representatives from Revenue. IIFA Members will be kept up to date as this progresses.

customstrainingIIFA Customs Clearance Training Continues
 

IIFA Customs Clearance Course Lecturer Derek Dunne delivers training on
SAD completion  to a group of Participants in DIT Aungier Street

Since the beginning of the year, IIFA has completed two full Customs Clearance Training groups. Each Group was of 6 week duration, covering academic Customs Awareness and Practical SAD completion, in a computer lab setting. Participants on these groups ranged from Freight Forwarders, Exporters, Business Representative Bodies to Trainee Customs Brokers and all successfully completed the learning and assessments required to pass the minimum grade. Training is delivered through IIFA's successful blended learning approach, with attendance required at only two evening classroom sessions and additional study aids available through on-demand webinars, practical assessments and extensive training manuals.

Feedback from Participants from these Groups has been positive with many commenting that such training was undertaken in anticipation of a potential hard-BREXIT situation. As we enter March 2018 and the UK leave date approaches its 1-year countdown, IIFA is pleased to be able to offer proactive assistance to Companies seeking to plan ahead.

As previously advised to IIFA Members via direct circular, the next class group will take place between Wednesday 21st March - Wednesday 2nd May 2018. This training programme will continue throughout the year. Interest for future groups can be registered with IIFA via info@iifa.ie and 01 845 5411.

 
 
and 2B Shipping BV form Alliance


IIFA Full Trading Members International Warehousing & Transport (IWT) LTD and 2B Shipping BV the temperature controlled refrigerated container carrier announced today a strategic alliance between both companies in Dublin on Thursday 8th March 2018. 2B Shipping are a division of the Farm Trans Group.

With both companies synonymous in the Food and Drink transport space this alliance will bring even greater opportunities to the Irish export and Import community.

Colin Dunne Joint Managing Director IWT commented, "As part of our strategy and in keeping with worldwide trends IWT are investing in strategic alliances across our Group of companies". I think the market would be surprised to know how little supply of 45ft Pallet Wide refrigerated containers there are overall available in the market. With a fleet of almost 200 refrigerated containers and an appetite to jointly further invest brings greater options to Exporters and Importers alike".

Also commenting, Paul Scully Joint Managing Director IWT said, "we see the potential for growth in this specialised market as an exciting opportunity for both IWT and 2B Shipping and a further commitment to our extensive asset based range of services".
    
For further details visit www.iwt-irl.com and www.2bshipping.com

brusselsBrussels Airport invests €100 million in Logistics Buildings


With more than a hundred different players in the logistics chain already active at Brucargo, the cargo area of Brussels Airport, Brussels Airport Company announced on 9th March 2018 that they will be investing €100 million in ultramodern logistics buildings.In this way, Brucargo offers Belgium a crucial platform for the import and export of many companies and is, after the Port of Antwerp, the 2nd most important Belgian Logistics hub for International Trade.

"These investments are of huge importance for the logistics landscape in Belgium and are entirely in line with our Strategic Vision for 2040. With these investments, Brussels Airport will remain in the future a crucial hub for air transport and the logistic chains in Europe, at the service of many hundreds of companies in our country," explains Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company. "It is also a strategic objective to offer more and in particularly even better support to the many companies who work through air cargo transport and enabling them to more easily import and export their goods from and to the whole world. This not only ensures employment at the airport itself, but also in various other sectors in all parts of the country."
In recent years (between 2009 and 2013), three large air cargo buildings have been developed. Today, companies such as bpost, DHL GLOBAL Forwarding, Abbott and a number of specialised logistics companies make use of them. In the coming 3 years, Brussels Airport will invest in total €100 million in the development of ultramodern logistics buildings, which will be used by leading companies in the industry.

In addition, considerable investment will be made in the construction of state-of-the-art new build. Brussels Airport Company will be investing in a building of no less than 50,000m2 on the West side of Brucargo, for 4 different companies. Kuehne + Nagel, Dnata and WFS will be among the companies making use of these buildings for shipping, packaging and temporarily stocking cargo. The new infrastructure is also specifically suited for the handling of high-quality and temperature-sensitive products (such as pharmaceuticals), products for which Brucargo is already recognised as one of the best airports in the world.

Brussels Airport will also redevelop existing handling buildings that have direct access to the tarmac. The building in which handling agent Swissport is active shall, in the coming 3 years, be systematically transformed into a modern and energy-efficient storage and office space. In total, it will have a surface area of 30,000m2.

  fwc
2018 FIATA World Congress New Delhi, India

The 2018 FIATA World Congress will take place between 26th - 29th September 2018 in New Delhi, India. The President of FIATA and the Local Organising Committee in India have the below update to share with IIFA Members regarding preparations for this annual event.

From the President of FIATA, Mr. Babar Badat; "This year's FIATA World Congress will continue to add value for both Association Members and Individual Members. The gathering of the various Institutes, Advisory Bodies and Working Groups will once again give participants cutting-edge information and ideas on our industry, whilst a diversity of networking sessions will enable our members to meet with business partners all over the world in a cost-and-time efficient manner.

I believe that participants will be impressed with the business opportunities and attractions as well as the hospitality of our local host, the Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations in India (FFFAI).

We extend to you the invitation to register early and participate in the 2018 FIATA World Congress, I look forward to seeing you soon."


For further information on the 2018 FIATA World Congress, please see:


bestKuehne + Nagel Ireland officially recognised once again in
Best Large Workplaces in Ireland list for 2018



As a company dedicated to building trust in every relationship throughout its organisation, Kuehne + Nagel is delighted to announce that they have been officially recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland in 2018. Kuehne + Nagel were recognised at the annual Great Place to Work Best Workplaces in Ireland awards in the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road, Dublin on Wednesday 21st February. This is their 7th consecutive year to be named as a top Irish workplace, based on the findings of a robust employee survey and a thorough assessment of their policies and practices by the Great Place to Work Institute. Kuehne + Nagel was recognised as the 9th Best Large Workplace in Ireland 2018.
 
The competition and quality at this event is exceptionally high every year, so we are delighted to once again be ranked on this list with the best employers in Ireland. The Great Place to Work awards process is rigorous and detailed, and therefore the results of it are a very accurate reflection of the culture of our organization. At Kuehne + Nagel, we are dedicated to creating a workplace where employees feel recognised and appreciated for their hard work. We are hugely proud of our employees and this achievement is an accurate reflection of their commitment to the organisation and their sense of belonging. We take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues at Kuehne + Nagel Ireland for all of their efforts, commitment and flexibility.


Better IATA Logo

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global Air Freight markets showing that demand, measured in Freight Tonne kilometers (FTKs), rose 8.0% in January 2018 compared to the year-earlier period. This was up from the 5.8% annual growth recorded in December 2017. 
 
Freight capacity, measured in available Freight Tonne kilometers (AFTKs), rose by 4.2% year-on-year in January 2018.
 
The continued positive momentum in Freight growth into 2018 reflects the fact that demand drivers for Air Cargo remain supportive. Global demand for manufacturing exports is buoyant and meeting this strong demand is leading to longer supply chain delivery times. Demand for Air Cargo may strengthen as a result, with companies seeking faster delivery times to make up for longer production times.
 
"With 8% growth in January, it's been a solid start to 2018 for air cargo. That follows an exceptional year in which demand grew by 9%. We expect demand for air cargo to taper to a more normal 4.5% growth rate for 2018. But there are potential headwinds. If President Trump follows through on his promise to impose sanctions on aluminum and steel imports, there is a very real risk of a trade war. Nobody wins when protectionist measures escalate," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO.
 
European airlines posted a 10.5% increase in freight volumes in January 2018. Capacity increased 5.3%. The strong European performance corresponds with a very healthy demand for new export orders among the region's manufacturers. Seasonally-adjusted volumes jumped 3% in month-on-month terms in January - the largest increase since March 2017.
 
Further analysis or regional performance is available to view by the below link to IATA's website:

trumpEU Plan to Counter US Trade Restrictions

On 1 March, President of the United States of America Donald Trump announced the imposition of additional import duties on EU exports of steel and aluminium to the United States. The import duties are set at 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium. Similar restrictions will also be imposed on exports from other suppliers. This action follows investigations undertaken between April 2017 and January 2018 by the US Department of Commerce under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962. These reports concluded that steel and aluminium imports threatened US national security and recommended the imposition of trade restrictions. However, according to the EU, in essence, these measures are primarily intended to protect the US domestic industry from import competition. Any national security justification appears very weak: the US Secretary of Defence has stated publicly that US military requirements represent no more than 3% of US production and that the Department of Defence is able to acquire the steel and aluminium it needs for US national defence requirements.

As a reaction to the US announcement, on 7 March, the College of Commissioners discussed the EU's response to the possible US import restrictions for steel and aluminium. The College stated that the EU stands ready to react proportionately and fully in line with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules in case the US measures are formalised and affect EU's economic interests. The College gave its political endorsement to the proposal presented by President Jean-Claude Juncker, Vice-President Jyrki Katainen and Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström. Speaking after the College meeting, Commissioner Malmström said:

"We still hope, as a USA security partner, that the EU would be excluded. We also hope to convince the US administration that this is not the right move. As no decision has been taken yet, no formal action has been taken by the European Union. But we have made clear that if a move like this is taken, it will hurt the European Union. It will put thousands of European jobs in jeopardy and it has to be met by firm and proportionate response. Unlike these proposed US duties, our three tracks of work are in line with our obligations in the WTO. They will be carried out by the book. The root cause of the problem in the steel and aluminium sector is global overcapacity. It is rooted in the fact that a lot of steel and aluminium production takes place under massive state subsidies, and under non-market conditions. This can only be addressed by cooperation, getting to the source of the problem and working together. What is clear is that turning inward is not the answer. Protectionism cannot be the answer, it never is."

The Commission announced on 6 March that they will prolong the existing anti-dumping measures on Chinese imports of seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel for another five years. The duties, ranging from 48.3% to 71.9% were imposed initially in 2011, providing a level-playing field and a breathing space for EU producers, based among others in France, Spain and Sweden.

The Commission said that this is yet another action taken by the EU to defend EU companies and jobs against unfair practices in the international steel trade. The steel sector suffers from a global surplus that has driven down steel prices to unsustainable levels in recent years and had a damaging impact on EU producers and related industries. The EU is using the full potential of its trade defence toolbox to ensure fair conditions for its producers and their ability to maintain jobs in the sector. 53 measures are now in place on steel and iron products, including 27 on products coming from China.

This article appeared in the 9th March 2017 CLECAT Newsletter.
This weekly newsletter is sent to all IIFA Members every Monday/ Tuesday.

apprenticeshipLogistics Associate Apprenticeship - Update for March 2018

Following the formal announcement of the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship Programme by Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton on 8th December 2017, the Logistics Associate Consortium has actively progressed this programme toward its goal of commencement in September 2018. With this news piece, the Consortium hopes to bring Members up to date on recent developments.
 
Short Summary - What is a Logistics Associate Apprenticeship?
 
The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship provides Education and Training through a joint practical work and time with an Education Centre. This Apprenticeship will be of 2 years duration with 80% on-the-job training. Industry relevant academic training is provided to the Apprentice through Dublin Institute of Technology on Wednesday of each week (Third-Level academic term time applicable). Employers, approved by SOLAS appointed Authorisation Officers, advertise an opportunity and individuals apply to that Employer for an Apprenticeship. The Employer pays a Salary to the Apprentice for the duration of Apprenticeship period.
 
Critical Path to Developing a National Apprenticeship
 
Below is the path Apprenticeship Programmes will take from idea through to operation. Stages 1 and 2 were completed with the 8th December 2017 announcement. At this moment, the Consortium are simultaneously working across Stages 3 - 8. The Consortium met with Representatives from the Higher Education Authority on Friday 23rd February 2018 who assisted through providing guidance on the steps ahead.


Stage 3 - Project Plan
 
A detailed project plan was submitted to the Apprenticeship Council of Ireland and SOLAS on Friday 2nd March 2018. This document outlined the structure of the Apprenticeship and detailed areas such as Consortium Membership, an Apprenticeship Development Plan, the Proposed Structure of the Apprenticeship and Development Funding.
 
Stage 4 - Programme Development
 
The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship will be of two year duration, split with 80% on-the-job training and 20% classroom delivery through the academic Partner, Dublin Institute of Technology. An outline of the academic modules was finalised by the Consortium during its February 2018 meeting. Year 1 will cover topics such as Communications & Professional Skills, an Introduction to Customs and International Trade and Customer Service academically and Year 2 will include topics based on Air, Road and Sea Transport along with Distribution & Warehousing and Quantitative Analysis. Following the March meeting of the Consortium, detailed module descriptors were distributed for the Consortium to study and ultimately finalise. Once this is complete, work can begin on building the academic content.

Tasks ahead of Logistics Associate Consortium
 
Marketing of Apprenticeship

Information regarding the opportunities presented by this Apprenticeship will be drafted and distributed to Secondary School Guidance Counsellors, Prospective Employers and through other means to attract individuals to choose a career in the Freight, Logistics and Transport industry. This work will begin in earnest, once the elements relating to the Programme structure are finalised.
 
A short-term goal of the Consortium is the creation of a central website to host all information relating to this Apprenticeship.
 
Approval of Employers

Those Employers wishing to employe persons in Apprenticeship roles will need to apply to and be approved by a SOLAS appointed Authorisation Officer.  They must demonstrate capacity + ability to provide quality and relevant on-the-job training (Site Visit required). The Logistics Associate is not yet at this stage. General information on this process can be obtained from the following links:
 
Apprenticeship - Information for Employers
 
Apprenticeship Code of Practice for Employers and Apprentices

Exciting News from a IIFA Member


Does your company have a news story which you would like us to share with the IIFA Membership? If so please then send a press release through to

info@iifa.ie 

and we will include same in a future IIFA Newsletter.  

limitsofliabilityLimits of Liability (Cargo Claims)

By Sea - Hague Visby Rules
SDR 2 per kilo or 
SDR 666.67 per package

By Road - CMR
SDR 8.33 per kilo

By Air - Warsaw/Montreal
SDR 19 per kilo

IIFA Standard Trading Conditions 
SDR 2 per kilo 
 

The SDR rate on 12/03/2018 
according to the
International Monetary Fund
was  1 SDR = 1.178130 Euro
lastword
Agus focail scoir:

""Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there ."
Will Rogers

Irish International Freight Association
Unit C3, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin
Tel: 00353 (0)1 845 5411
E-Mail: info@iifa.ie
Web: www.iifa.ie