The trading community faces a serious security threat - not from terrorists, but from increasing measures being put in place in the name of security that affect the international supply chain. The stated aim of these measures is to improve border security, a goal no-one would oppose. However, over the last few years, we have seen an avalanche of such initiatives presented by governments nationally, regionally and internationally, and new requirements are being introduced all the time. This creates uncertainty for traders that have to comply with them, together with a compliance cost in the form of changes to their own control and data management systems to meet them - costs which ultimately get passed onto the consumer.
Although none of the terrorist atrocities of recent years were caused through trade, governments rightly feel that they cannot leave the trade 'stable door' open, if it ever was. Most of the new
measures address sensible concerns - indeed some of them could be in the interest of business and, if implemented appropriately, actually facilitate trade. However, the measures have been introduced piecemeal with little prior consultation with those that have to implement them. The time has come to take stock of what has been implemented and is proposed, to address issues concerning duplication of effort and conflicting approaches, and to establish a stable foundation upon which a more secure supply chain can be built.
Read the report at the SITPRO website.
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