UK freight association adds seminars to address major issues set to impact international trade

The trade association that represents companies responsible for handling much of the UK’s visible trade says that next week’s conference sold out very quickly demonstrating the level of interest in the topics on the agenda.

These include questions about the impending changes in customs legislation emerging from the introduction of the Union Customs Code in May 2016; the current situation concerning the EU’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme; as well as the issues surrounding new IMO regulations requiring verification of a container’s gross mass, which will become mandatory from July 1, 2016.

BIFA members, other organisations and national authorities are now making preparations for these significant changes to international trade and global container operations, and the trade association is rolling out additional seminars on the subjects at a regional level throughout December and January.

Robert Keen, BIFA Director General said: “The response to our event next week was overwhelming and demonstrated how much uncertainty there is on how to properly implement the new procedures and regulations, and how changes to European Customs procedures and container weight verification, may affect business.

“With next week’s conference sold out, we decided to deliver a series of regional seminars on the changes planned that will allow members unable to attend next week to also be brought up-to-date on the new procedures that become law in May and July next year.

The additional seminars will take place In Middlesbrough on December 8th; Leeds on December 9th; and Chelmsford on January 28th .