New Zealand Customs chief praises industry’s export rules compliance

New Zealand Customs chief praises industry’s export rules compliance    John Secker, acting chief executive for the New Zealand Customs Service, praised the country’s shipping industry for the smooth transition in enacting the agency’s new export rules.
   Effective March 1, New Zealand exporters are required to electronically file an export entry in advance of goods being shipped. Ports and airlines have been told not to load goods until that entry has been cleared.
   “Staff at all the port companies, Air New Zealand, Menzies, and the major freight forwarding companies have been very cooperative,” Secker said in a statement. “We appreciate their willingness to work with us to resolve issues quickly.”
   New Zealand Customs has found few problems with shipper compliance in the ocean transport sector. “It’s been more challenging in the air freight environment, because of the tighter time frames, but we believe we have the issues in hand,” said Bill Perry, New Zealand Customs’ Auckland goods manager.
   The agency said it will continue working with the export sector to work out any lingering systems problems.