Partnership signed to bolster export clearance privileges

Genetic Technologies - Christine Stevenson, Andrew Powell

A FORMAL partnership was signed in Gisborne yesterday between Customs NZ and Genetic Technologies Limited (GTL) under the Secure Export Scheme (SES).

Customs Minister Minister Meka Whaitiri presided over the signing at the company's storage warehouse in the industrial subdivision.

The company exports a significant share of maize seed and products to Europe, Asia and Australia, as well as providing feed products throughout New Zealand.

“The SES scheme provides a competitive advantage for exporters because their SES membership signals the security of their supply chain,” Comptroller of NZ Customs Christine Stevenson said.

“It means NZ Customs can provide assurance on the low risk status of the exporter's shipments to overseas Customs administrations.

“Overseas Customs organisations know the security of products coming in from company's like GTL can be relied upon.

“Members of the SES have clearance privileges in countries we share a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with, including Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, United States, South Korea and Taiwan,” she said.

“It's really important to us that excellent exporters like GTL are part of the SES scheme to them expand their products into foreign markets.”

Minister Whaitiri said the past two years had been really tough with Covid-19 and the Government was doing everything possible to secure economic recovery.

“I see what Genetic Technologies have been doing with their exports.

“Companies like this have been helping keep us afloat economically and they will help us come out of Covid.”

GTL‘s New Zealand seed production manager Andrew Powell signed the partnership documents with NZ Customs on behalf of the company.

“The SES scheme is a big opportunity for us when to comes to developing our export markets.

“Being part of the Secure Export Scheme is a really big point of difference for us.”

GTL was established in 1986 by Philip Yates, after he left Yates and Co. to build the Pioneer seed brand in New Zealand.