Security puts the bite on exports

By PAM GRAHAM

The reality of tougher security requirements as part of the war on terrorism enveloped New Zealand agricultural exporters yesterday.

The days when chilled meat left the country the day after slaughter with paperwork pending are over. US authorities want to know what is inside containers 24 hours before departure and some shipping companies want three days to process the paperwork, Brian Lynch, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association, said.

Cargo documentation rules are part of a series of anti-terrorism measures after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York last year that will affect exporters, shipping companies and ports.

Lynch said his industry became aware of the details of what was required with respect to documentation about 10 days ago, although he expected the US to allow a 60-day period of grace for adjustment to the new procedures, which became effective from Monday.

He said New Zealand shipped about 7000 to 8000 tonnes of chilled meat to the US each year, and 35,000 tonnes to Europe via the US. Other exports, including dairy, flowers and fruit, would also be affected. The Export Institute is holding seminars this week to brief exporters.

"New Zealand Customs is working with shipping companies and the US Customs Service to ensure the smoothest possible introduction of the new reporting requirements," said Allen Bruford of New Zealand Customs. The department is expected to enforce existing New Zealand rules more stringently.

There are three parts to the new security environment: improved and earlier reporting of what is in containers, improved security around the movement of goods, and general ship and port security. The requirements are being developed both internationally by the International Maritime Organisation and unilaterally by the US and they have different time lines for implementation.

Lynch said the documentation rules had their greatest impact on chilled commodities, which have a finite shelf life. The industry was talking to customers who stipulate fast movement of the goods to market to ensure maximum shelf time.

"These drastic new rules will oblige companies, shipping lines and ports to modify their procedures."

One of the ironies was that new super container ships have just provided shorter transit times. That would be lost while product awaits clearance for documentation.

"We want to see whether there is any way of the US authorities looking more charitably on a highly perishable product."

Bruce Maroc, acting director of the Maritime Safety Authority, said New Zealand was participating in an International Maritime Organisation conference in London that would result in changes to maritime security in New Zealand.

"Whilst the details are not agreed at this stage, we suspect they will be significant and cover a range of issues, including ship-to-port security plans, automatic identification for ships, identification for seafarers, ship security plans, response capacities for national Governments and automatic alarm notifications."