‘Beware of unaccredited Incoterms® 2010 training

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued a stern warning to training providers using the organisation’s logo and claiming to be accredited service providers. South Africa is the only country where the ICC has had to step in to defend its intellectual property rights after it became evident that several training providers were masquerading as accredited ICC trainers. The ICC Intellectual Property Division has confirmed that it will take strong action against any organisation that infringes on its patent rights. Organisations who train using the Incoterms® 2010 Rules need to be able to provide evidence of the authorisation granted for the use of the patented logo, and of their official ICC accreditation. South Africa currently has between 20 and 25 accredited ICC trainers while only two Master Trainers, Linda Holtes and Mark Goodger, are accredited and authorised to provide the required Train-the-Trainer or direct training classes and to certify the competency of trainees. Both Holtes and Goodger attended the Master Classes at the ICC headquarters in Paris. Only ICC-accredited trainers may display the official logo and be authorised to issue ICC certificates. According to a service provider, the ICC has become increasingly concerned that its product has become plagiarised in certain instances and is being delivered by providers claiming to have ICC accreditation. The ICC has sent letters to these training organisations warning them of the consequences should they continue to use the ICC logos and claim that they are ICCaccredited. Traders and freight forwarders are warned to be aware of unaccredited trainers when they are selecting trainers for Incoterms® 2010 Rules. A full day class is the minimum requirement and only those that have attended the official ICC training are eligible to receive the ICC certificate of competence. In some instances some unaccredited organisations have even gone so far as to mention that their training is aligned to SAQA Unit Standard 252437, which has become outdated. A request to the Teta for permission to rewrite the unit standard is pending.