Mobile inspection key to NZ supply chain

  • Rick Barker
Customs

Good morning, Tena koutou katoa, welcome

Thanks for coming here today to have a look at these new high tech. NZ Customs purchases.

Last year government gave Customs a significant funding boost to improve its operational capabilities. As a result of that funding, considerable progress is being made on implementing New Zealand’s supply chain security strategy, which aims to provide assurance over the security of our exports, minimising the likelihood that our goods will be delayed crossing the borders of our trading partners during times of heightened security.

This supply chain strategy forms the basis of an arrangement announced by the Prime Minister in October between the United States and New Zealand Customs Administrations.

And now, as expected, the World Customs Organisation has endorsed this supply chain approach and have just announced they've adopted the Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade that is based upon principles designed and implemented by U.S. Customs and
Border Protection .

The WCO represents 164 Customs administrations from around the world and
accounts for 99 percent of all global trade. New Zealand is right up to speed with global standards required on secure trade.

Trade is the lifeblood of New Zealand's economy and the reality of the current international climate is that for the foreseeable future, security will be an integral part of trade facilitation.

What New Zealand Customs is implementing with the Secure Supply Chain and the new Secure Export Partnerships adds to a perception of New Zealand contributing to global security in cooperation with our trading partners.

A Secure Export Partnership means that both the signed on company and Customs can have confidence its goods are secure from the point of pack to the point of loading for export.

Across the country, more than 30 exporters are now formally contributing to New Zealand’s security through Customs’ Secure Exports Partnership scheme.

These business partners have entered a voluntary agreement to ensure that goods exported under the scheme are packed securely and with no other goods. The goods then have to be conveyed securely and without interference to the place of shipment and shipped.

As part of this supply chain security strategy the Government is investing over $20 million in new, container–capable inspection technology that will enable both cargo and containers to be screened in most instances without the need for de-vanning. We have some of the equipment on display here today.

This gear is a significant technological advancement for Customs with a direct benefit to traders in protecting their reputation and reducing the risk of delay.

This technology means that the mobile trucks or vans can scan whole containers or scan boxes without unpacking. The benefit of this is two-fold. Firstly, the technology will ensure that Customs can mitigate the export risk at all 13 New Zealand ports.

And secondly, it is the step to getting New Zealand goods that stamp of approval as being secure - a critical consideration to an increasing number of importing countries.
The equipment just purchased and on show today is the:
·fixed site cargo inspection unit at Customs' Auckland Air Cargo Inspection Facility (here) and it will be used for inspecting all outgoing air cargo. It provides for a faster and more efficient method of inspection, without having to actually open the containers.

·The multi-purpose screening unit, or backscatter van, is capable of screening rows of cargo containers, stacked two high, by simply driving past them. Alternatively cargo in containers on vehicles can be screened by being driven past the van.
So New Zealand Customs has really geared up in this new security climate and I congratulate the Customs team for working so hard to get this new scanner equipment up and running quickly and acknowledge the exporters and importers who have also committed to working in partnership with Government.

So without further ado, I will now pass on to the Comptroller Martyn Dunne.