Red-tape cuts to ease strict rules

By Pam Graham

Exporters worried about their responsibilities under new anti-terrorism rules imposed by trading partners are being assured that New Zealand Customs is at least developing a plan.

A Border Security Bill will be introduced to Parliament soon to provide a legal base for a new Secure Export Scheme, which seeks to "facilitate cargo clearance" - bureaucratic speak for trying to minimise bureaucracy.

Customs Minister Rick Barker said yesterday it was now accepted that exports would be monitored from the point of origin.

Individual exporters and Customs are expected to sign an agreement that includes providing an official assurance over the packing of containers, the application of a tamper-indicator seal, seal checks at transfer points and the setting of standards for transport and storage.

Details remain sketchy. Officials providing security assurances may not be Customs officers and it is not known yet whether x-raying of containers will be required in New Zealand.

"We're looking at a range of technologies for containers," said Allen Bruford, the department's national manager of goods.

Customs was trying to get a "whole of New Zealand" response to the needs of all its trading partners, he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Safety Authority would co-operate with Customs and other agencies to minimise red tape.

The message to business was they had to work with officials, and "there is no point in having one sector of your industry compliant and another sector not compliant because it puts the total at risk", said Mr Bruford.

Funding for the scheme is not yet clear.

The United States was the first country to set standards with a new rule requiring earlier, more detailed documentation, but other countries are expected to follow.

A similar requirement for airfreight is in the pipeline but is more problematic because air cargo is sensitive to delays.