E-Flash No. 49 - 2 November 2012 

Inside Industry Magazine - Transport & Logistics Edition: Exclusive FIATA World Congress Article

We encourage members to have a look inside this month's Industry Magazine which includes major focus on the transport & logistics industry and a six page special article on FIATA and the World Congress. The virtual edition of the magazine is available at: http://www.insideindustry.com/19206987/ii5e6/786534.html

New California reefer regulations that affect brokers and forwarders

New regulations from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will take effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The new law states that trucking companies who operate reefer containers in California should have all refrigeration units tested and registered with CARB before transport. 

Starting Jan. 1, any company that arranges, hires, contracts for, or dispatches reefer-equipped trucks, tractor-trailers, shipping containers, or railcars for the transport of perishable goods on California highways or railways, must verify that the carrier is using CARB-compliant containers. If a broker or forwarder is found in violation of CARB's regulation, they may be cited and subject to a penalty of $1,000 per occurrence. For more information on the new California law please visit: http://www.bifa.org/Content/popmessage.aspx?sec=2&id=3437

FIATA receives a valuable tool from UNECE for distribution among freight forwarders

FIATA would like to thank the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) for generously providing copies of the "Regulatory and Procedural Barriers to Trade in Belarus: Needs Assessment". The text presents UNECE's findings from a trade-need assessment study conducted in the Republic of Belarus in 2010-2011. The study draws on two detailed assessments of regulatory and procedural barriers for trade that were conducted using UNECE's evaluation methodology.

Copies of the text are available now and will be on stands at the FIATA booth during the Headquarters Session in 2013. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact FIATA at info@fiata.com.

FIATA Special Feature

A quick look inside the discussions at 2012 FIATA World Congress in Los Angeles Oct. 8-12

Airfreight Institute - AFI

Discussion in the AFI meeting surrounded the newly launched Air Cargo Modernization Project which serves to create the IATA/FIATA Freight Forwarders Program. The program is expected to operate outside IATA's corporate structure. IATA and FIATA attended round table working group meetings to propose a new structure reflecting the changed relationship between airlines and forwarders, which evolved from a principal/agent- to a supplier/customer relationship.

Under this program, the forwarder will no longer execute the AWB as the agent for the carrier. The forwarder will sign the AWB as shipper, or in the case of a direct shipment, as agent for the shipper. The program will be administered globally by an IATA/FIATA governance board, with equal participation from carriers and forwarders.

Customs Affairs Institute - AFI

The recent CAI Meeting which moderated by Chairman, Mr Steve Morris, discussed key topics such as the SAFE Working Group/Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), the Data Model Project Team (DMPT), the Cargo Targeting System (CTS), Globally Networked Customs (GNC), and Capacity Building.

The meeting invited Mr Gaozhang Zhu, Director of Compliance and Facilitation at the World Customs Organisation, to provide a presentation on International Customs Facilitation and Compliance. Additionally, Ms Brenda B. Smith, Executive Director for Trade Policy & Programs for United States Customs and Border Protection, shed light on Trade Policy initiatives targeted by the United States.  

Multimodal Transport Institute - MTI

At the latest MTI meeting Dr Ivan Petrov reported on the reorganisation of railway undertakings in CIS countries. In the new business model, wagons are controlled by new companies and require a special agreement with the cargo owners. Mr Kostas Sandalcidis, distilled elements of the latest working group meeting in Brussels discussing FEDESPEDI opposition to government controlled trucking tariffs in Italy and Bulgaria introducing expensive licensing requirements on freight forwarders.

The Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) seems to have lost some of its momentum. Regarding 100% screenings, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has invoked a two year postponement expecting the law to come in effect as of July 2014. The MTI meeting closed by announcing the location of the 5th Rail Market Place Seminar to be held in Vienna, Austria on the 18th and 19th of April 2013.

Region Europe - REU

A new Customs Union between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia is in the pipelines with Kyrgyzstan also expressing interest to join. Such a pipeline would permit seamless land transport from China to the EU through a single customs territory.

The Director of CLECAT reported that a further opening of the road transport market (including cabotage) is in the pipeline. Suggestions were noted regarding the Single European Railway Area placing more emphasis on energy-efficient modes. Delegates also discussed the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and assured that it will connect all core network airports and sea ports to the rail network by 2050.

Validated and Re-validated Training Programmes at the 2012 FIATA World Congress in Los Angeles, U.S.A

The Validation Committee of the Advisory Body Vocational Training (ABVT) met on the 6th and 7th of October to successfully validated and revalidated Training Programmes from numerous Association Members around the world. Those successful in their validation or revalidation include Belarus (BAIF), Denmark (DASP), Egypt (EIFFA), Kazakhstan (KFFA), Nigeria (CRFFN), Russia (FAR) South Africa (SAAFF), U.A.E. (NAFL) and Vietnam (VIFFAS). After the recent validation session, FIATA is proud to announce that there are now sixty FIATA validated programmes being offered in fifty-two countries. Of them nine countries offer the FIATA Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management.

Since ABVT's last meeting in at the HQ Session in March 2012, FIATA has awarded 217 FIATA diplomas to qualified freight forwarder professional around the world. FIATA is also proud to announce the success of the Train-the-Trainer (TOT) program in Tanzania (TAFA). ABVT Chairman Mr. Thomas Sim accompanied by training experts and FIATA Foundation representatives was effective in delivering their TOT program in July and August of 2012. ABVT looks forward to receiving TAFA's training material for validation in the near future.

ICAO Dangerous Goods Chief speaks at the 2012 FIATA World Congress in Los Angeles, U.S.A

Dr Katherine Rooney, Chief, Dangerous Goods Section of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was FIATA's esteemed guest speaker at the World Congress in Los Angeles. During the meeting of FIATA's Advisory Body Dangerous Goods (ABDG), she debrified delegates on ICAO's new initiatives involving Dangerous Goods. Dr Rooney explained ICAO's Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) in relation to Annex 18. She also elaborated on ICAO's competency based approach towards dangerous goods training and stressed the upcoming changes in the 2013-2014 edition of the Technical Instructions.

Following Dr. Rooney's presentation, ABDG's outgoing Chairman Mr Frank Huster discussed the proposals of the ADR/RID 2013 (land transport of dangerous goods) adopted by the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe).

Greater detail regarding all the meetings from 2012 FIATA World Congress held in Los Angeles, United States will be available to you in our upcoming FIATA Review.