BIFAlink July 2022

BIFAlink is BIFA's monthly magazine covering issues of importance for the logistics and supply chain industry.

July 2022 The magazine of the British International Freight Association BIFA link Issue: 383 Spreading the word – Pages 10-11 7: News Sign up for BIFA’s CDS eLearning training 8: Young Forwarder Network www.bifa.org First round of Young Forwarder Network regional events completed INSIDE

1 2 : BIFA AWARDS Allseas Global Logistics, winner of the 2021 BIFA Ocean Services Award

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Robert Keen’s Column

BIFAlink

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Plenty of big issues for freight forwarders

BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266

At the time of writing, the BIFA team had just returned from the very successful Multimodal exhibition and conference which gave players on all sides of the supply chain the opportunity to network, discuss the many issues facing the freight and logistics sector and the supply chains it serves, and who knows, perhaps find some solutions. This year, BIFA used the event to emphasise the benefits of using the services of our Members, which face-ever increasing competition from airlines and container shipping companies that are encouraging shippers and beneficial cargo owners to deal directly with them. Whilst we acknowledge that in a free market, this is perfectly legitimate, our advice to any cargo owner considering that approach is to tread very carefully or you

Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org

(A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 391973. VAT Registration: 216476363) Director General Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor, Policy & Compliance – Surface & Legal

may be biting off more than you can chew. It has never been more important to explain why a relationship with a professional freight forwarding company is of much greater value and that is why we have now produced a booklet entitled The Benefits of Using A Freight Forwarder that helps Members to present and explain to existing and potential customers the range of services on offer and the expertise required to oversee the movement of freight through the supply chain. These are services and levels of expertise that are unlikely to be on offer from airline and shipping companies. Copies of the booklet were literally flying off the BIFA stand within our Forwarder Village. We also used the event to demonstrate our ever-increasing portfolio of training services, which included promotion of an online training course designed to help Members understand and use the UK’s new Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Over the past couple of years, much has been made of the supply chain ‘talent gap’, a pre-existing concern that was only exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions. Many organisations, BIFA included, are doing their bit to rectify this state of affairs. In BIFA’s case, through our training department, our involvement in the ongoing development of the International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship, our schools initiative and our Young Forwarder Network. So, it was interesting to see the launch at Multimodal 2022 of a new initiative called ‘Generation Logistics’ – an industry-led campaign, with the Department for Transport acting as the lead supporting government department. It is targeting the next generation of logistics workers and will be run in partnership with key industry stakeholders, including BIFA, across all freight modes, as well as those that rely on logistics services, along with government and other official partners. The government also chose Multimodal to announce its Future of Freight Plan, an initiative that we have helped to develop through our role on the Freight Council, which was established to drive a partnership between government and industry. One consequence of EU-exit and the pandemic has been the spotlight that it has placed on the importance of freight and logistics on the health of the nation’s economy. Never before has government given such recognition to the key role of BIFA Members in the management of the country’s supply chains, which led to recognition of their staff as key workers. The plan advances that government-industry partnership, which will be required to create a long-term ambition for the sector that is cost-efficient, reliable and resilient, environmentally sustainable and valued by society. Of course, the announcement was just the first step in what will be a lengthy journey if everything that is set out in the plan is to be achieved, and we are looking forward to working with Members, various government departments and other stakeholders to see how we can all help implement the commitments included within the plan. We can only hope that this week’s announcement really does mark a step-change in government’s relationship with the freight and logistics sector. BIFA had a launch of its own at the NEC, using the event to launch the 34th edition of our BIFA Freight Service Awards, which are now open for entry. The August edition of BIFAlink will contain more information about the awards, Generation Logistics and the Future of Freight Plan And lastly, another personal tribute to a great industry leader. Tom White passed away recently aged 96. Tom was a towering figure with Pandair, and later in his career was at the helm with Agency Sector Management (ASM) where I worked with him as I transitioned from being a forwarder to working at BIFA. In my 40s at the time, I thought I knew it all, but Tom was a great leader and polished some of my ‘rough edges’.

r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Executive Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Customs Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Air David Stroud d.stroud@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Communications Manager Natalie Pitts n.pitts@bifa.org Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton s.milton@bifa.org

Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors

Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Natalie Pitts, Igor Popovics Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than one month, please contact the editor to ensure that the item in question still reflects the current circumstances. Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.

Robert Keen Director General

July 2022

BIFAlink

News Desk

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Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business

increasingly popular source of renewable energy.

A survey of CILT (UK) membership has revealed that some of the largest companies in the logistics sector are struggling to recruit and retain staff in warehouse and driving roles, with 86% experiencing warehouse operative staff shortages in the past two years. In the same period, 60% experienced a shortage of drivers. IN BUSINESS The ‘overlooked’ logistics industry has expanded by 190,000 employees since 2019 and created a further 125,000 jobs in regional economies, according to a report by Frontier Economics commissioned by Amazon. The growth of online shopping during the pandemic made the sector one of the fastest growing in Britain. One positive side-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic for the logistics industry has been visibility – and that has attracted the attention of investors, according to McKinsey & Company. It reported that logistics start-ups received almost twice as much funding in 2021, compared with 2020, with larger amounts being paid out during roughly the same number of funding rounds. The UK parliament’s transport committee says the logistics sector should be given two years to deliver sufficient drivers, workers and facilities, including high-quality services and welfare, or the government should step in and implement a supply chain levy. Newly appointed as chair of Transaid’s board of trustees is former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken OBE FCILT, a long-time supporter of the international development organisation. She has taken part in two Transaid fundraising cycle challenges, visited projects in Uganda and Zambia, and been a trustee since March 2019.

Hapag-Lloyd demurrage practices fine approved

ON THE OCEAN The US Federal Maritime

rejection of its proposed research and development fund to catalyse sector decarbonisation. It said that the IMO has wasted its opportunity to kick-start a rapid transition to zero-carbon technologies, which will be vital if the shipping industry is to decarbonise completely by 2050. However, the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) opined that if implemented, it would cause already record freight rates to climb again. IN THE AIR IATA has released April 2022 data for global air cargo markets showing that the effects of Omicron in Asia and the Russia–Ukraine war continue to create a challenging operating backdrop driving the decline in global air cargo demand. The total cargo tonne-kilometres flown fell 11.2% compared with April 2021. Transatlantic capacity is returning to the air cargo market as airlines ramp up their summer schedules to meet rebounding passenger demand, according to Clive Data Services. It reports that load factors on the Europe-to-North America

trade lane fell from 82% in March to 64% in May as a result of the increased capacity. OVERLAND The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) delivered a landmark judgment in June entitling the Road Haulage Association to proceed with its collective claim on behalf of hauliers seeking damages from the major European truck manufacturers who were found to have operated a price-fixing cartel between 1997 and 2011. ABP has awarded a long-term lease to Maritime Transport to operate Hams Hall, one of the UK’s busiest rail freight terminals, which plays a central role in the nation’s logistics network. IN THE WAREHOUSE UKWA has commissioned research to examine the case for putting solar panels on warehouse roofs across the UK. It said that forecasts suggest solar PV deployment appears to be an excellent choice for the industrial and commercial sector, as solar panels become an

Commission has approved a settlement agreement reached between its Bureau of Enforcement (BoE) and Hapag-Lloyd where the ocean carrier will pay a US$2 million civil penalty to address alleged violations related to its detention and demurrage practices. The authorities in South Korea have fined 15 shipping companies, 14 of which are South Korean, a total of KRW80 billion (US$64 million) for price fixing on routes to and from Japan. It cited 76 specific instances of ocean freight collusion on Japan routes between February 2003 and May 2019. Disruption in global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic triggered exceptional growth in the world container fleet. According to SeaCube Containers, it now stands at over 51 million teu. The shipping industry has expressed its frustration at International Maritime Organization’s (IMO)

July 2022

The biggest change in nearly 30 years is happening in our industry over the next months.

CDS is replacing CHIEF for import customs declarations at the end of September 2022. In times of great change and upheaval, you look to who stands beside you and with you. ASM is guiding and partnering more than 500 freight forwarders through migration to CDS.

Who s partner?

ASM. Here today. Here tomorrow.

Let us know if you would like a conversation. admin@asm.org.uk

BIFAlink

News Desk

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Welcoming new Members

** Stop press ** Chemicals suspected in Chittagong disaster As this issue of BIFAlink was being prepared, news was emerging of the tragedy unfurling in Chittagong following the outbreak of fire and subsequent explosions in a container storage depot near the city’s port. At least 40 people were reported dead and 100s more seriously injured. It is believed that the cause of the incident was undeclared chemicals, an issue that hampered the emergency response. This follows similar incidents at the port of Jebel Ali, Dubai in July 2021 and the port of Beirut in August 2020. However, the worst such incident occurred on 12 August 2015, when a series of explosions at the port of Tianjin, northern China, killed 173 people and injured 100s of others. The need for accurate information relating to all cargo cannot be clearer; cutting corners and unwittingly allowing undeclared or mis-declared dangerous goods to be loaded is not worth the risk. If you are involved in the storage of undelivered containers, ensure that regular inventories are taken and you are fully aware of their contents. 34th BIFA Awards are now open It is time to start planning your entries to the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2022. BIFA Member companies can

In May the BIFA secretariat launched a new initiative to welcome new Members to BIFA and ensure that, in addition to access to the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (STC), they are aware of other Member benefits and able to make the most of their membership. Spencer Stevenson, Member Services Manager and Executive Director, hosted the first New Member Welcome Meeting alongside Sharon Hammond, Events and Communications Executive. Together they covered the following topics: • The benefits of BIFA membership, • BIFA structure, including leadership and regional organisation,

• The BIFA Standard Trading Conditions, • Promotion of the industry, • Training and apprenticeships, • Keeping up to date via BIFAlink and social media • The BIFA Awards, • Associate members.

It is planned that New Member meetings will take place every other month, with all companies recently accepted into BIFA trading Membership being sent an invitation to attend. The next meeting is due to take place on Thursday 21 July; register at https:// bifa.org/events

• BIFA’s responsibilities, • Technical assistance and information,

Increased issues with lithium batteries in maritime transport

BIFA has a long working relationship with the TT Club and we have been following its concerns regarding the shipment of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries on containerships with considerable interest. Inevitably, due to the tighter regulations covering the shipment of lithium-ion batteries (both in bulk and packed in articles) in the air freight environment, more of these products are now being shipped by maritime transport. The main concern is the rising number of cases where batteries are being deliberately misdeclared – “computer parts” is a popular description. These misdeclared shipments are being linked to a variety of incidents. In one case, the US Coast Guard reported the fire produced temperatures “hot enough to create a hole through the metal container’s structure”. Lithium battery fires are very difficult to extinguish – the best way to fight a fire is to cool down individual cells. Dealing with such a

way to prevent the situation getting out of control. In a busy freight forwarding office, detecting misdeclared cargoes is difficult on a job-by-job basis. The main checks should be carried out when due diligence is undertaken. Clients should be asked about the nature of the goods being shipped and reminded that consignments containing batteries must be declared as dangerous goods and notified to the BIFA Member in writing prior to shipment. The aim is to facilitate the movement of legitimate cargoes but to discourage shipments of non- compliant and misdeclared batteries. The anonymity of cargo within a seafreight container makes it difficult to detect such problems, thus making it more important to adopt a multi-layered approach to detecting misdeclared items. This will reduce the risk of a serious fire on board ship, in a port or whilst on the road or train on the land leg of a journey. (See panel right)

fire on land is complex – tackling one in transit on a large containership with a relatively small crew is much more difficult, especially where the container stowage limits access. The problems are numerous; battery fires generate significant heat and have the potential for re-ignition days or weeks after the initial fire. If batteries are undeclared, the container in which they are packed may be stowed adjacent to non- compatible hazardous cargoes, increasing the risk of the fire spreading and creating a major incident. Early detection of fires on board ship, including the use of thermal imaging, is important and the best

enter a maximum of three categories, in addition to

nominating individuals to the Young Freight Forwarder and Apprentice of the Year Awards. Go to www.bifa.org/awards for category descriptions and entry forms.

July 2022

News Desk

BIFAlink

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With the end of September fast approaching for the switchover for imports from CHIEF, it is not too late to consider enrolling staff on our CDS eLearning course. “Since its launch in September 2021, the course – which was developed in conjunction with leading Customs software firm Agency Sector Management (ASM) – has received over 1,200 enrolments,” explained executive director Carl Hobbis, who manages BIFA’s training activities. Main differences “The course explains the main differences between CHIEF and CDS, but we are upfront in that it will not solve all your CDS training needs – there are too many scenarios, regimes and permutations, as we all know. “When we were developing it we agonised over the content, and we had to include some basics as experience tells us that some beginners would be enrolled. “Overall, the feedback has been positive with 83% saying the

Exports • DE [8/6] Statistical value Imports • DE [2/3] Docs, certs and authorisations

was around 5/10 and at the end was 8/10, so a clear impact was shown. “To conclude, CDS is different and we are dealing with daily ‘I am stuck’ pleas for help. “The most frequent questions relate to the data elements (DE) listed below.”

• DE [3/39] Authorisation holders • DE [4/9] Additions and deductions For more information see: https://www.bifa.org/training

course content has been good to excellent, and only 3% saying they would not recommend it; but eLearning cannot be all things to all people.” He added: “Since the beginning of the year we have included CDS and the main differences in Customs entry processing in our live Customs courses. “For all courses starting from

August 2022, we will drop references to CHIEF and

homework will be based on CDS, unless there is any delay to the September implementation date. “The most important thing is the impact of the training; learners have stated that before they started the training their knowledge

Don’t keep it to yourself Not your copy of BIFAlink ? Register for your own copy by contacting Sarah Milton in membership s.milton@bifa.org or visit www.bifa.org/bifalink for a digital version. BIFAlink is the magazine of the British International Freight Association.

The Limits of Liability for Carriers

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July 2022

BIFAlink

Young Forwarder Network

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First round of Young Forwarder Network regional events completed

From apprentice to management In Manchester, at the request of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), we had our youngest ever guest speaker, Tom Turner, who was the first winner of the BIFA Apprentice of the Year award four years ago. The LOC wanted to hear from a young person who has progressed well via the apprenticeship pathway and Tom has done just that. Today, he is ocean product manager EMEA at Toll, where he is responsible for the ocean product development in nine countries. One perk of the role is that he even gets to visit them. Tom explained how he got into the industry, the various challenges he has encountered and how he has dealt with them. He also explained how much he has learned from different colleagues and mentors, and how he has been able to bring a different thought process to the various organisations he has worked for. Breakfast in Felixstowe Most YFN events happen towards the end of the day, but in May, the Anglia region hosted 24 participants for breakfast, networking and a tour of the port of Felixstowe. During the tour the group was able to get up close to all the action of a busy port, including the 20,000 teu Ever Gentle vessel. Carl Hobbis, executive director, said: “Both YFN events were fantastic, once again providing young people an opportunity to learn, either from inspiring guest speakers like Tom or through In last month’s BIFAlink we reported on the re-start of face-to-face Young Forwarder Network (YFN) activity, with events taking place in the Midlands and Heathrow. This month we bring news of YFN events in the Northwest and Anglia

The Anglia YFN group, with the Ever Gentle in the background

Some members of the North West local organising committee: L to R: Lydia Henderson, Tom Turner, Joel Amado and Jacob Kennerley

visiting places of industry interest. “We are determined to make these regional events work. It is good for young people to meet other young people and we need more BIFA Members to encourage attendance. “The events are free to YFN Members and attendees bring valuable knowledge and

understanding back to businesses. “We will now get on with arranging the next round of events for quarter three.” Membership of the YFN is free for individuals employed by BIFA Members. Forthcoming events will be listed at https://www.bifa.org/events

July 2022

BIFAlink

Industry Promotion

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Spreading the word

All visitors to the BIFA stand at this year’s Multimodal exhibition were offered a copy of the BIFA publication The Benefits of Using a Freight Forwarder

One of BIFA’s main responsibilities is promotion of the industry and the unstinting work that freight forwarders do, almost unnoticed, every day. Events such as the Multimodal 2022 exhibition at the NEC Birmingham allow personnel from the BIFA secretariat to meet face-to-face with BIFA Members, carriers, service providers, suppliers and cargo owners – all under one roof. For three days in mid-June, the 15th annual Multimodal exhibition took place featuring the BIFA Freight Forwarders’ village, consisting of the central BIFA stand surrounded by 36 LogPods (Logistics Provider pods) populated by BIFA Members, at the heart of proceedings. Advice and information Flying the flag for BIFA were Policy & Compliance Manager & Executive Director Robert Windsor, Member Services Manager & Executive Director Spencer Stevenson, Communications Manager Natalie Pitts, Events & Communications Executive Sharon Hammond, Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton, and Freight & Customs Trainers Liz Sumner, Claire Capaccioli and Lisa Rose, who, between them, were able to answer a range of enquiries from visitors to the stand. Ex-Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprentice Georgia Sumner of DHL assisted BIFA personnel. As anticipated, the main talking points were the forthcoming switch-off of HM Revenue and Customs’ CHIEF system with all import declarations being submitted via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) from October 2022, and the ongoing impact of global freight rates and service levels.

forwarders and is available both in print and digital format for BIFA Members to share with existing and potential customers. Scan the QR code to view the online version or contact s.hammond@bifa.org to request print copies. In addition to promoting the services of freight

Promotion All visitors to the BIFA stand were offered a copy of the BIFA publication The Benefits of Using a Freight Forwarder . This brand new 16-page

forwarders to the wider business community, BIFA also aims to raise the profile of the industry among young people. The BIFA Young Forwarder Network

booklet seeks to highlight the varied skill sets of, and services provided by, freight

(YFN) was created in 2019 to engage younger employees of BIFA

July 2022

Industry Promotion

BIFAlink

www.bifa.org

Member companies and provide opportunities for networking and career enhancement through a variety of talks and site visits. On the Wednesday of Multimodal, BIFA hosted an informal

Generation Logistics campaign launched by the CILT and Logistics UK, with government backing from the Department for Transport, on day 2 of Multimodal 2022. In addition to a comprehensive web portal, containing careers advice and guidance, features, video content, jobs and news, the campaign will focus on a number of key demographic areas, all of which could be inclined towards taking up a role in logistics.

drop-in session for current and potential members of the YFN where discussion included suggestions for future events and ways to attract school and college leavers to freight forwarding. There is much talk of labour shortages and skills gaps across the sector and BIFA encourages all Members to get involved in local initiatives such as school careers events to showcase the varied job roles available. For more information on the YFN, or ideas for engaging with local schools, contact c.hobbis@bifa.org BIFA is also supporting the new

BIFA Awards In the midst of Multimodal 2022, and following an awards night celebrating all things cargo, BIFA picked up the baton with the launch of the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2022. Now in their 34th year, the BIFA Awards consist of 11 categories and are now open for entry to BIFA members. Visit www.bifa.org/awards to view the categories and start planning your entries.

July 2022

BIFAlink

BIFA Awards

www.bifa.org

OCEAN SERVICES AWARD

Allseas Pioneer is one of a series of long- term vessel charters that

Port Express was established in 2004 to provide a comprehensive range of container transport services to the supply chain industry. Specialising in UK container haulage, Port Express works in partnership with its clients to provide innovative cost- effective supply chain solutions. Due to its ongoing investment and development in new equipment and technology, Port Express operates from strategic locations throughout the UK ensuring the level of service we deliver remains among the very best in the industry. Port Express operates to the highest standards and is committed to the health of safety of its employees, customers and visitors.

Allseas has announced

A pioneering service

Numerous difficulties beset ocean freight during 2020-21. The winner of the 2021 BIFA Ocean Services Award, Allseas Global Logistics, took proactive steps to find alternative solutions for its customers in the

face of disrupted schedules and limited capacity

Bryn Atherton

services from Ningbo and Shanghai into Liverpool, opening up opportunities for business across northern England and creating a necessary shift from the UK’s historical reliance on its southern ports.” The first of the sailings began in April 2021. Atherton continued: “As we entered summer 2021, the service was beginning to fully establish itself as a rapid and reliable imports service from China to the UK. Continued demand led us to launch a longer-term commitment with more vessel charters, additional ports and almost weekly sailings to and from China as we began to offer both import and export services in our return trip sailings.” Transpacific extension Demand continued to soar, so the company added a transpacific extension to its service, offering direct sailings from Shenzhen and Shanghai to the Pacific northwest ports of Tacoma, Everett and Vancouver, as well as the east coast ports of Savannah and Jacksonville. Following the success of China Xpress during its first year, and its recognition at the BIFA Awards, Allseas Global is expanding the service

The year 2020 saw shipping costs rise to unprecedented levels and many industries struggle to meet shipment targets owing to the reduced availability of vessels. Bryn Atherton, commercial director at forwarder Allseas Global, said: “Our customers needed support, but something radical was required to overcome the global challenges. So on a dark winter’s morning in February 2021, in our Manchester head office, our idea for the China Xpress service was sparked.” The new initiative was intended to provide relief to customers who were facing increased ocean freight rates as well as reduced reliability due to the knock-on impacts of the global pandemic. Allseas Global committed to a series of four vessel charters that would immediately create 2,800 teu of capacity – and that was just the beginning. Atherton explained: “Working alongside Peel Ports we opened up a brand new shipping lane which would link the Far East to Liverpool port. This was the very first route of its kind with direct

Darren Wright

in 2022 and has announced a series of long-term vessel time charters. These include the first ship to carry its name: Allseas Pioneer, a 2,000 teu fully cellular container vessel. Darren Wright, Allseas Global founder and managing director, highlighted the collaboration between the teams at Allseas Global and its sister company DKT Allseas in taking China Xpress from an idea to a successful operation. “Many said this would not be possible. We worked hard to prove the doubters wrong and establish what is now a truly award-winning service,” he said.

July 2022

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BIFAlink

Policy & Compliance

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ARE YOU IMPORTING COSMETIC PRODUCTS INTO THE UK?

ARE YOU IMPORTING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT INTO THE UK?

ARE YOU IMPORTING TOYS INTO THE UK?

ARE YOU IMPORTING E-SCOOTERS INTO THE UK?

IF GOODS DON’T COMPLY WITH SAFETY LAWS IT WILL COST YOU MONEY HOW TO GET IT RIGHT Ensure your products are labelled correctly

IF GOODS DON’T COMPLY WITH SAFETY LAWS IT WILL COST YOU MONEY

IF GOODS DON’T COMPLY WITH SAFETY LAWS IT WILL COST YOU MONEY HOW TO GET IT RIGHT Ensure your products are labelled correctly

HOW TO GET IT RIGHT

Ensure you have the correct compliance documentation Ensure your products are labelled correctly Ensure your products have suitable warnings and instructions

Ensure your products have suitable warnings and instructions

Ensure you have the correct compliance documentation

Click here for information www.suffolk.gov.uk/ImportingCosmetics

Click here for information www.suffolk.gov.uk/ImportingToys

Click here for information www.suffolk.gov.uk/ImportingElectricalGoods

Click here for information www.suffolk.gov.uk/ImportingEscooters

FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY RESULT IN YOUR GOODS BEING REJECTED AT THE BORDER

Trading Standards raises profile of faulty goods

overseas agents for them to advise the shippers of certain categories of goods. For the BIFA Member, it is important to remember that where it imports goods under DDP Terms and there is no importer of record established in the UK, it (the forwarder) assumes certain legal responsibilities with regard to product safety. For instance, where the Member delivers goods directly to the consumer (the end user) the former could be regarded as the distributor. In this case, the freight forwarder could become the party responsible for recalling the product. Information and posters have been published by (and can be downloaded from) Trading Standards in both English and Chinese covering the importation of:

BIFA has been working with Suffolk Trading Standards to provide guidance for Members on product safety

Government is becoming increasingly reliant on Trade to combat non-compliance – this is extending to include both the wider supply chain issues and also, in certain circumstances, product integrity. The responsibility for ensuring product safety falls to Trading Standards, meaning that it is the responsibility of local councils to enforce the relevant regulations. In order to ensure a consistent approach, Suffolk Trading Standards took overall responsibility for co-ordinating trading standards activity including arranging clearance via the NCH, where applicable, for Route 1S entries. BIFA has worked with Suffolk Trading Standards to share guidance with Members regarding product safety. One issue that Trading Standards has identified is that Chinese exporters are unaware of the safety regulations relating to certain products such as electricals. China dominates the production of consumer goods purchased in the UK, making this an important issue to publicise in an effort to reduce the flow of unintentionally non-compliant goods. In an attempt to tackle this issue, Suffolk Trading Standards has created a series of posters in English and Chinese giving basic information on the issues and has contacted BIFA requesting that Members are made aware of this initiative. BIFA Members are asked to display details on their website and send information to relevant

Electrical products www.suffolk.gov.uk/community-and-

safety/suffolk-trading-standards/import-surveilla nce-team/guidance-for-importing-electrical- equipment/

E-Scooters www.suffolk.gov.uk/community-and-

safety/suffolk-trading-standards/import-surveilla nce-team/guidance-for-importing-escooters/

Toys www.suffolk.gov.uk/community-and- safety/suffolk-trading-standards/import-surveilla nce-team/guidance-for-importing-toys/ Cosmetics www.suffolk.gov.uk/community-and-safety/suffolk- trading-standards/import-surveillance-team/guidan ce-for-importing-cosmetic-products/ Please feel free to download and send the posters to any relevant parties both at origin and destination to make them aware of the information contained.

E-scooters

Electrical products

Cosmetics

Toys

July 2022

BIFA Awards

BIFAlink

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Young Freight Forwarder of the Year finalist Ronan Kitchin has always loved learning new things, and has certainly made the most of opportunities to do so since joining Aramex Dedicated to development

YOUNG FREIGHT FORWARDER OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSOR

people who could be fantastic fall by the wayside if they are not given the correct support or shown the right pathway. You have to empower them, put the tools in their hands.” Ronan has always worked his way up from the bottom into a leadership role, whether on the rugby pitch – where he has captained and coached – or in the workplace, where he is dedicated to the development of his team. “There is no benefit in holding information to yourself,” Ronan considered. “The more my team learns, the more time is freed up for me to learn more – and there is no way to progress without a succession plan.” Virgin Atlantic Cargo is proud to sponsor BIFA’s ‘Young Freight Forwarder Award’ to recognise and encourage the next generation of industry leaders. As well as rewarding the progress of the best young people, this award helps to highlight the vital role freight forwarders play in the growth and development of our industry.

Ronan Kitchin came to Aramex three-and-a-half years ago after a chance meeting with one of the company’s human resources staff, and is now air freight imports

manager at Heathrow – an operation he has been running single-handedly for several months. “This job is hugely varied and constantly changing, so there is always more to learn. I will probably stay in logistics for the rest of my working life,” he said. So far, Ronan has studied aviation security, pharmaceuticals (GDP), Incoterms, leadership skills and more. When he spoke to BIFAlink , he was looking forward to starting BIFA’s CDS course and was working through Aramex’s Lean

Six Sigma programme. Noting the value of good training alongside an appetite to learn, he pointed out: “So many

Embracing challenges Apprentice of the Year finalist Josh Boswell had his first taste of

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Seetec Outsource Training & Skills is a

despite several months’ furlough, indicates just how far this young forwarder can go in an industry beset with unexpected challenges. He also achieved a Distinction in BIFA’s BTEC Award in Customs Export & Import Procedures. Plus, he scored 95% in IATA’s Dangerous Goods course. Next up is IATA’s Good Distribution Practices course. At the time of writing, Josh was handling Geodis’ general pharmaceutical air freight operations in Manchester by himself. “Especially with pharma, there is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, but I do not shy away from it; I love it,” he said. leading provider of innovative training, education and recruitment. Established in 2009, Seetec Outsource has delivered thousands of successful programmes to a range of small and large organisations nationwide and helped many people into employment. Seetec Outsource provides apprenticeships and traineeships on a range of subjects at various levels.

Looking back, said Josh Boswell: “I found it interesting to see what kinds of things were moved – from expensive watches to exotic fish – so a little later on I found another logistics apprenticeship, and I have never looked back.” In his current role at Geodis, Josh’s focus is on air freight, particularly pharmaceuticals. He highlighted the movement of urgent medical supplies to Poland on behalf of NGOs as both age gap to the next- youngest employee resulted in his return to college – but he never lost his appetite for freight working in logistics at just 16. Back then, the 40-year

challenging and deeply satisfying. He said: “Pharma was quite baffling at first, until I got my head around it. Learning on the job is the best way. It is mind-blowing, especially in air freight where things have to happen so fast.” The fact that Josh completed his end-point assessment early, and achieved a Distinction

July 2022

BIFAlink

Policy & Compliance

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£200 million boost to rollout of zero-emission HGVs

The transition to zero-emission trucks will also help improve air quality, create greener jobs and deliver on COP26 pledges, while reducing reliance on imports of foreign oil. Eliminating fossil fuels from road freight and improving the UK’s energy supply resilience will help to protect drivers and businesses from increasing global energy prices. One key ambition of the demonstrator programme will be to gather evidence on the future refuelling and recharging infrastructure needed to drive the smooth transition to a zero- emission freight sector by 2050. The demonstrations will help the UK’s freight sector reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by determining which zero-emission technologies are best suited to the heaviest road vehicles in the UK. As part of these trials, commercial vehicle manufacturer Leyland Trucks rolled out 20 DAF battery electric HGVs for use by public sector organisations, including the NHS and local authorities, supporting the uptake of battery electric trucks and enabling learning to be gathered from field testing vehicles in a real- world, real-time logistics environment.

A three-year comparative programme to help decarbonise the UK’s freight industry will begin later this year, potentially resulting in 100s more zero-emission HGVs

The Department for Transport made an announcement on 12 May regarding the road transport sector, including commitments to: • Invest over £200 million of government funding to launch a fleet of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), accelerating plans to decarbonise road freight; • Plans to eliminate fossil fuels from HGV haulage, helping to reduce delivery costs and protect consumers from rising fuel prices in the long term; • Additional plans supporting the government’s world-leading pledges made at COP26, ensuring all new HGVs sold in the UK will be zero-emission by 2040.

cleaner air and greener jobs, while helping to keep costs down on consumer goods. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison revealed that over £200 million of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero-emission road freight demonstrator programme. Decarbonising freight The three-year comparative programme to help decarbonise the UK’s freight industry will begin later this year, with initial competitions for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology launching shortly. This could see hundreds more zero-emission HGVs rolled out across the nation, saving the industry money as a result of overall running costs of green vehicles being cheaper than petrol and diesel equivalents.

The fleet of zero-emission HGVs will support the government’s ambitions to achieve both

July 2022

Legal

BIFAlink

www.bifa.org

Know your BIFA Standard Trading Conditions 2021 – Clause 3

‘Customer’ and ‘Owner’ have the meanings as defined in Clause 1. The main intention of this clause is to ensure incorporation of the BIFA STC. Often the Customer is a freight forwarder or other intermediary and it would be contrary to commercial efficacy if incorporation of the BIFA STCs could be achieved only by direct contact with the actual or future owner of the goods – in particular, parties resident overseas. Clear statement To sum up this month’s article and those in the preceding editions of BIFAlink, we have been looking at the heading information and first three clauses. This section of the BIFA STC makes a clear statement to the freight forwarder’s customer that there are liability limits and indemnities included which should be noted, and that there is a definitions and applications section where the meaning of some terms used is clarified and asserting where the BIFA STC apply in relation to the law. We must emphasise again that the most important aspect of using the BIFA STC is having them incorporated in the contract or contracts with your customer. Quite simply, if there is any dispute you must be able to evidence that the STC have been bought to the attention of the customer and that it cannot say that it was unaware of the STC. Furthermore, consumer In the past few months we have been examining the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (STC), looking in depth at Clauses 1 and 2. However the subject of this article, Clause 3, does not need a massive explanation as it is quite straightforward CLAUSE 3 The Customer warrants that he or she is either the Owner or the authorised agent of the Owner, and also that he or she is accepting these conditions not only for himself/herself, but also as agent for and on behalf of the Owner.

legislation requires you to take extra steps to highlight the STC when dealing with private individuals or small ‘owner-run’ companies. Incorporation of the BIFA STC is covered in detail in the good practice guide Use of the BIFA STC 2021, which is available to BIFA members

from the BIFA website as a downloadable PDF at www.bifa.org > INFORMATION > GOOD PRACTICE TOOLBOX-BIFA.

Next month we will begin examining the forwarder’s obligations and rights.

July 2022

BIFAlink

Events

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FIATA meeting concludes freight forwarders are here to stay

Kicking off day one, Director General Stéphane Graber shared his excitement at the chance to meet once again in-person to discuss challenges, grow and learn, whilst President Ivan Petrov gave a motivational opening address on the relevance of the freight forwarding community and the key role it plays in global supply chains. The Regions Session looked at critical trade issues and capacity development, trying to identify ways to work together as world regions to facilitate global trade. It brought together the four Region Chairs – from Africa & Middle East (RAME), Americas (RAM), Asia-Pacific (RAP) and Europe (REU) – who shared the hot topics and challenges in their particular geographies. Invited guest speakers Azhar Jaimurzina of UNESCAP, Christina Wiederer of the World Bank Group, Dr Mohammad Saeed of the ITC and Lukasz Wyrowski of the UNECE brought their external perspectives on the current global challenges faced by freight forwarders. Dr Saeed noted that freight forwarders contribute more than 10% of the GDP of the world, and that they need to function as one united voice in the international arena. Day two Day two saw a large array of sessions, starting with the Multimodal Transport Institute (MTI) Session at which WTO Deputy Director General Jean-Marie Paugam joined the panel to share the WTO’s trade outlook with FIATA members. The following session was the Advisory Body on Information Technology, which featured the launch of the paperless FIATA Bill of Lading. Key topics like adoption of electronic bills of lading, data exchange and data governance/ ownership were discussed. The Advisory Body on Safety and Security BIFA Director General, Robert Keen, who is also Secretary General of FIATA, recaps an action- packed three days at the recent FIATA HQ meeting in Geneva

session featured an exciting dialogue on the safety issues facing the freight forwarding industry at present, followed by a fact-packed overview of the security of containers worldwide. The first part of the discussion was focused on safety in the supply chain, and in particular the causes of dangerous goods incidents, pinpointing the serious challenges posed by the lack of understanding and knowledge, mostly in packing procedures. The second part of the discussion focused on supply chain security challenges, with particular emphasis on cargo crime. The day ended with the Air Freight Institute session, which featured a lively discussion on the ebb and flow of the airfreight sector over the last decades. Glyn Hughes, Director General of TIACA, highlighted that with air cargo volumes increasing, the industry has to cope with different capacity needs and therefore will need new regulations, different from the ones conceived to govern passenger traffic. James Hookham provided a summary of the air cargo situation from the shippers’ perspective. The final day began with a session of FIATA’s Customs Affairs Institute featuring a discussion on the changing customs laws, and the need to stay on top of them, the importance of digitalisation and keeping up with the process as freight forwarders, as well as eCommerce and trade facilitation. The following session involved the Advisory Body on International Affairs, addressing the implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreements,

with the new ABIA Chair Cynthia Perisic Ivandic focusing on the implementation of the WTO TFA and the associated benefits for the private sector. A session of the FIATA Logistics Institute sought to understand the cause and suggest ways to overcome the labour shortage challenges facing the freight forwarding industry. The day came to a close with the Young Logistics Professional (YLP) session, one of the highlights of the week, which saw the 2021 regional winners of the Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year Award (YIFFYA) showcase their talent, offering them the visibility they deserve in front of a live audience. Closing session President Ivan Petrov officially closed the action- packed three days with a review of the most digital FIATA HQ meeting yet, and first hybrid member event at that, sharing some statistics from the week, the main lessons learned, and the importance of this chance to meet again. To the question of what the key priorities for freight forwarders should be, the speakers noted the need for continued focus on safety and security, digital connectivity, eCommerce and showcasing that freight forwarders are the

troubleshooters in the supply chain. The meeting concluded that freight

forwarders, if agile and flexible, are here to stay, as any asset owner who thinks they can replicate the entire global knowledge bank of a forwarder spanning worldwide logistics options, customs regulations and cost-effectiveness is setting themselves up for failure.

July 2022

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