CBAFF working with MPI to address e-BACCa delays

CBAFF working with MPI to address e-BACCa delays

The Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation (CBAFF) has met with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to discuss how to resolve significant delays with processing of Electronic Biosecurity Clearance Certificate applications (e-BACCa).

CBAFF President Glenn Coldham said an increased MPI focus on preventing an incursion of the brown marmorated stink bug, has resulted in a 40 per cent increased workload for MPI staff.

“This surge in e-BACCa lodgements affects all of New Zealand’s import supply chain,” said Mr Coldham.

“Our concern is this situation has left MPI under-resourced in terms of processing e-BACCas at one of the busiest times of the year, with an increased amount of seasonal cargo arriving in New Zealand.

“This is causing long delays and flow on costs, including storage charges, which will ultimately mean higher prices for the end customer.”

Mr Coldham said CBAFF had made a number of suggestions to MPI including:

• Making special provisions to allow MPI ‘held’ cargo to be moved to forwarders’ own MPI-approved transitional facilities from any location pending final BACC release. The general authority currently limits this ability.

• Further educating MPI manifest screening staff to ensure only genuine ‘risk’ items are stopped. This type of ‘hold’ causes most concern. Generally the freight has arrived and/or the Customs entry may have been pre-cleared and had no such risk HS codes. This adds further delays.

• Sorting the e-BACCa processing queues by ETA to ensure cargo is being processed under priority of arrival date as opposed to e-BACCa lodgement date.

• Issuing warning notices to forwarders/clients who fail to provide adequate descriptions/information on their manifests. This adds to increased workloads as items need to be held until they are confirmed to be non-risk.

• Continuing to provide regular email updates to the logistics community regarding e-BACCa processing backlogs.

“Our members play a major role in ensuring the biosecurity of New Zealand and are fully supportive of the heightened compliance in this area,” said Mr Coldham. “There is a responsibility for the international logistics community to ensure they internally review and address all areas that contribute to the increased work load for MPI.

“To streamline the process as much as possible, we are encouraging our members to review their processes to ensure descriptions for manifests meet all requirements and that, where possible, BACCs are processed using the AF9 system.”

ENDS

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