Tag: clearance

  • Vietnam Customs Expedite Clearance for Durian, Other Ag Exports: A Boost for Border Trade

    Vietnam Customs Expedite Clearance for Durian, Other Ag Exports: A Boost for Border Trade

    In a bid to streamline border operations and facilitate smoother trade of agricultural goods, particularly durian exports, Vietnam’s Department of Customs has instructed its local sub-departments to hasten customs clearance processes at border checkpoints.

    This directive, which was issued recently, calls for the regional customs branches to provide maximum assistance and ensure same-day clearance of exported agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. This is to be implemented even outside standard operational hours. Furthermore, the order advised the appointment of officers to oversee export shipments and handle customs procedures, even during off-hours, such as evenings, weekends, and public holidays.

    Sub-departments have been directed to swiftly resolve any issues that may arise during customs clearance. Should the situation exceed their jurisdiction, they are to promptly refer the matter to the department for further guidance.

    Cooperation and Coordination

    The directive also emphasized the need for collaboration with warehouse and storage operators at border gates. This collaboration is essential to ensure the availability of proper facilities for the storage and sorting of goods awaiting export. This measure will help maintain the quality of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.

    Regular updates regarding the progress of agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports are required, along with offering timely information and advice to exporters using local border gates. Coordination with relevant authorities is needed to control traffic and prevent congestion that could disrupt customs clearance.

    Constant dialogue is also critical with customs authorities at corresponding Chinese border gates. This is to ensure the swift resolution of issues that may arise during customs clearance, as well as keeping Vietnamese exporters abreast of any changes to China’s customs management and inspection policies for compliance assurance.

    For shipments that have exited Vietnam but are denied entry into China, customs authorities have been asked to prioritize and expedite re-import procedures based on the request of enterprises.

    The department has also explicitly forbidden any acts of obstruction, harassment, or unnecessary delays in customs clearance, which could escalate costs and result in losses for businesses.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the main aim of the directive issued by Vietnam’s Department of Customs?
    The aim is to expedite customs clearance at border gates for agricultural exports, particularly durian shipments, and to ensure smooth trade operations.

    How will the regional customs sub-departments facilitate this process?
    They are instructed to provide maximum assistance, ensure same-day clearance of exports, resolve issues promptly, and maintain regular communication with corresponding Chinese border gates.

    What measures are being taken to prevent potential issues during customs clearance?
    The sub-departments must coordinate with warehouse and storage operators at border gates for appropriate facilities, provide regular updates, inform exporters of changes in China’s customs policies, and prioritize re-import procedures for rejected consignments.

  • Cathay Cargo Revolutionizes Air Freight With Real-time Customs Clearance Updates

    Cathay Cargo Revolutionizes Air Freight With Real-time Customs Clearance Updates

    Cathay Cargo has become a trailblazer in the industry by being the first airline to provide real-time updates on customs clearance to its customers. They have achieved this by integrating these updates into their EzyCargo platform, and to customers who have already set up ONE Record API links with the airline’s system. This innovation brings a new level of transparency and effectiveness to the air-cargo shipping journey.

    Enhancing Communication with Air Cargo Stakeholders

    This significant development is built upon the IATA ONE Record data protocol. It incorporates customs authorities as a new stakeholder in Cathay Cargo’s real-time customer communication. The integration of customs authority requirements promotes efficiency in the process of cargo shipping.

    Understanding and fulfilling the prerequisites of customs authorities is crucial in the shipping industry. Many require PLACI (pre-load advanced cargo information), and will not allow a shipment to be loaded until they have given clearance. Most also require another level of approval before releasing a shipment upon its arrival. With the new system, customers will have access to live updates as their shipments progress through these stages.

    The initial phase of this project will provide users with clearance status updates from customs authorities in Europe (ICS2 Import Control System), the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. These updates will be recorded as ONE Record “Logistic Events”. Customers will be able to track the status of their shipment, whether it is still pending, under assessment, permitted for load or not, and if it has been held for inspection or cleared for collection at the destination.

    Improving Efficiency and Transparency

    Before this development, obtaining this information required manual updates from ground handling agents. Now, customers can independently access these updates in real-time, allowing them to take necessary corrective steps or adapt to delays due to customs inspections.

    EzyCustoms and EzyCargo are components of the EzyCargo suite of air cargo tools. These were created by Cathay Cargo’s innovation partner, Global Logistics System (HK) Company Limited (GLS). GLS has also spearheaded other digitalization projects for the airline’s commercial and operational settings, including Click & Ship, Cathay Cargo’s online booking platform.

    James Evans, Cathay General Manager Cargo Commercial, emphasized that this integration demonstrates Cathay Cargo’s dedication to the ongoing digitalization of the air-cargo shipment process. “We recognize the value of involving all stakeholders in the air cargo industry in IATA ONE Record, to enhance the transparency and data connectivity of air cargo,” he said.

    Questions & Answers

    How does this new integration by Cathay Cargo benefit customers?
    This new system provides real-time updates on customs clearance status to customers, enhancing transparency and efficiency in the air-cargo shipping journey.

    What is the ONE Record data protocol?
    The ONE Record data protocol is a standard developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to increase data interoperability in the air cargo industry.

    What is the future plan for this integration?
    This extended ONE Record integration is currently only available to Cathay Cargo customers who are subscribed to the EzyCargo platform. However, the company has plans to integrate this additional visibility into the Cathay Cargo website for registered account holders in 2026.

  • Kegstar Seeks Commerce Commission Approval To Acquire Liquidated Konvoy’s Assets

    Kegstar Seeks Commerce Commission Approval To Acquire Liquidated Konvoy’s Assets

    Kegstar New Zealand is seeking approval from the Commerce Commission to acquire assets from the now-liquidated Konvoy New Zealand. The requested assets include kegs, beacons attached to these kegs or stored in inventory, and New Zealand keg records.

    The Background

    This acquisition proposal follows Konvoy’s financial struggles, which led to the company entering receivership in March and subsequent liquidation in May. Both Kegstar and Konvoy are suppliers of beer kegs to breweries on a rental basis, in addition to offering logistics services.

    Kegstar, owned by MicroStar Logistics, has a broader operational reach than Konvoy, with a presence in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the US. In comparison, Konvoy’s operations were limited to Australia and New Zealand.

    The Approval Process

    The Commerce Commission is set to publicize a version of the application on its website. The regulatory body will only grant clearance for the proposed acquisition if it deems that the transaction will not significantly impact market competition.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Kegstar New Zealand proposing?
    Kegstar New Zealand is seeking to acquire certain assets from Konvoy New Zealand. These include kegs, related beacons, and keg records.

    Why is Kegstar interested in Konvoy’s assets?
    Konvoy New Zealand recently entered receivership and was liquidated. The company’s assets are now up for acquisition, and Kegstar, also a keg supplier, is interested in expanding its inventory.

    What conditions must be met for the deal to proceed?
    The Commerce Commission must grant clearance for the acquisition to go forward. The primary condition is that the deal should not substantially lessen competition within the market.

  • Bega Cheese Eyes Acquisition Of Fonterra Oceania: A Potential Boost For Australia’s Dairy Industry

    Bega Cheese Eyes Acquisition Of Fonterra Oceania: A Potential Boost For Australia’s Dairy Industry

    Bega Cheese, an Australian dairy company, has indicated its intention to file an application with the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) seeking authorisation for its planned acquisition of Fonterra Oceania.

    Enhancing Outcomes through Acquisition

    Bega Cheese believes that the prospective acquisition would greatly improve the company’s performance and efficiency, and it would also have substantial benefits for the broader dairy industry. The company argues that combining its resources with those of Fonterra Oceania would result in improved efficiencies and outcomes for Australian dairy farmers, customers, and consumers.

    Bega Cheese is of the view that it is the most suitable acquirer of Fonterra’s Oceania businesses and is keenly interested in pursuing this opportunity. The company is hopeful of engaging in productive discussions with Fonterra Group on the sale of its Oceania businesses.

    Domestic Acquisition not Subject to Foreign Review

    As Bega Cheese is an Australian business, it expects that the potential acquisition will not require the approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

    Fonterra’s Divestiture Strategy

    In November, Fonterra revealed its plans to divest by pursuing a trade sale and an initial public offering of its global consumer business, as well as its integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka. The company believes that this divestment will allow it to concentrate its resources on the ingredients and foodservice businesses, thereby maximising value.

    Fonterra’s consumer business includes the operations and marketing of a variety of brands, such as Mainland, Anchor, Kapiti, and Anlene.

    Questions & Answers

    Why is Bega Cheese planning to acquire Fonterra Oceania?
    Bega Cheese believes that the acquisition of Fonterra Oceania would greatly improve its own business efficiencies and performance.

    Who needs to approve the acquisition?
    The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) needs to approve the acquisition.

    What is Fonterra’s rationale behind its divestiture strategy?
    Fonterra believes that by divesting, it will be able to concentrate its resources on the ingredients and foodservice businesses, thereby maximising value.

  • AirAsia X gets FAA clearance to fly to the US

    AirAsia X gets FAA clearance to fly to the US

    AirAsia X has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to fly to any destination in the the US, making its foray into an entirely new market as it looks beyond the Asia Pacific.

    “The airline is the first Asian low-cost carrier to secure approval to operate scheduled passenger flights to the US,” it said on Tuesday.

    AirAsia X is considering flights to several US states including Hawaii as part of its route expansion plans.

    Its group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said this was a major milestone for AirAsia X.

    “Our expansion up until now has concentrated on Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, and we are excited about our first foray into an entirely new market as we look beyond Asia Pacific.

    “I’m confident travellers will respond well to our award-winning service and the kind of connectivity we can offer with our Fly-Thru product. As part of our expansion plans, we are also looking to resume our very popular London route, and are working towards securing the necessary approvals.”

    Kamarudin said none of this would be possible without its Allstars, especially group chief operating officer Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, who  passed away two weeks ago.

    “We wouldn’t be where we are today if he chad not laid the foundations with his blood, sweat and tears, and his bravery in the face of cancer showed us the true meaning of strength. This is for you, Anaz.”

    Fly-Thru allows guests to seamlessly connect to anywhere within AirAsia’s wide network with just one stop at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Asia’s No. 1 low-cost carrier hub – and other convenient transit hubs in Thailand and Indonesia, without having to pass through immigration and with their baggage checked through to the final destination.