19 July 2013
US validates NZ Secure Export Scheme

A week-long visit by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials has built on the strong relationship between the two customs administrations and verified the robustness of New Zealand’s Secure Export Scheme (SES).

The visit is part of the ongoing mutual assurance process of the two countries’ programmes and is a critical element of the ongoing programme validation. It is also an opportunity to discuss trade security and operational priorities.

Customs’ Group Manager Border Operations Paul Campbell says a key objective was to validate the audit mechanisms that NZ Customs has in place to ensure supply chain security standards are maintained and aligned with the US Customs -Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) programme.

“NZ Customs is extremely pleased that our high supply chain security standards and audit mechanisms keep us in a unique trading position with the US.

“This is a significant advantage for our SES partners, around 80 per cent of whom export to the US market. It means they’re treated as trusted traders and their goods are 3.5 times less likely to be held up for examination,” Mr Campbell says.

SES exporters provide NZ Customs detailed documents showing their goods are packed, stored and transported in a way that meets the required standards. Customs conducts audits to make sure this is maintained.

The officials visited SES partners, transport operators and storage facilities around the country to observe Customs officers undertake the routine audits and checks on-site.

C-TPAT Branch Chief – International Branch, Steven Krupinsky says CBP is very pleased with the SES validation process of their members.

“These observation visits allowed CBP and NZ Customs the opportunity to discuss both programmes’ best practices and the future of our Mutual Recognition Arrangement,” he says.

Mr Campbell says discussions, particularly in context of the US-NZ Joint Action Plan, included how to assist legitimate trade by working together and using targeting tools, expanding the two trade programmes and establishing a trade resumption process to ensure the MRA remains world class.

More information about the SES is available on the Customs website: http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/ses

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