Robert Keen’s Column
BIFAlink
www.bifa.org
When uncertainty is the only certainty
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266
As I wrote my column for this issue of BIFAlink , I had just finished watching the Prime Minister deliver a pre-recorded message to the UK public in which he advised that the “tidal wave” of infections from the new variant of the COVID-19 virus meant that he could not rule out further restrictions being introduced ahead of Christmas. By the time you are reading this column, we will all know for sure whether the measures in place, the so-called Plan B, combined with a hugely ambitious acceleration of the booster campaign, turned out to be the correct approach, or whether new measures did become necessary to protect public health, with Christmas festivities being curtailed or reduced as a result. When I consider the issues facing Members at the moment, either in their private or
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Director General Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor
business lives, I am reminded of that old saying, “Uncertainty is the only certainty there is”. Clearly BIFA Members continue to face great uncertainties on the business front as we head into 2022. No one knows for certain what the effect will be on cross-border movements of the more stringent rules covering customs processes and declarations from January 2022. It is anyone’s guess how the massive disruption affecting all modes of transport over the last 18 months will pan out in the new year, though plenty of industry experts are giving their opinions. Closer to home in Feltham, the team that puts together the BIFA Freight Service Awards is hoping that we will still be able to hold the annual luncheon, in person, at The Brewery in London on 20 January. However, as a contingency we are preparing to switch to an online format as we did in 2021, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that with a huge number of entries and the event being sold out in early December, that we can finally all get together again. Whilst there is also some uncertainty about the phased roll-out programme that will see CHIEF replaced by CDS in the customs entry processing environment, there can be no doubt about the success of our CDS eLearning training programme, which launched in September 2021 to educate users on the main differences between CHIEF and CDS. Since its introduction, the course has had over 200 enrolments and users have been sharing their valuable positive feedback with us, as you can read in the article on page 8. Other articles in this issue contain some valuable input on matters of uncertainty and risk. On pages10-11, we provide advice on how Members can protect their businesses from the ever-increasing risks of cybercrime. Page 14 brings some information from TT Club on measures Members can take to avoid insurance claims relating to wet damage to cargo, and page 16 offers an overview of the risks, uncertainties and costs that we all face as a result of the ever-growing emphasis on the need to decarbonise global supply chains. One thing that is certain is that in November last year, FIATA held its bi-annual General Meeting (the equivalent of an AGM), and the governance posts for the next two years were voted on. The board is formed of seven non-executive directors (known as the Presidency), and I was honoured to be elected as Secretary General for the next two years. The last time BIFA held a Presidency position was in 1995/1997 when Brian Kelleher, former BIFA National Chairman, was President. BIFA Directors Steve Parker and Mark Bromley were also elected to governance posts with Steve continuing as Customs Affairs Institute Chair and Mark assuming my old role as Multimodal Transport Institute Chair, which should be seen as a testament to BIFA’s active participation in FIATA. The other part of the quote I used in paragraph three above is that “knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security”. And with that thought in mind, I send you my best wishes for 2022 and hope that both your private and business lives are as secure and certain as they possibly can be in the new year that is now upon us.
r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Executive Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor 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, Nezda Leigh Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than 1 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
January 2022
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