THE SARS proposal for standardising procedures has been studied by the three private sector freight bodies - the ASL (Association of Shipping lines), ASABOSA (Association of Ships' Agents and Brokers of SA) and SAAFF (SA Association of Freight Forwarders) - and the initial response is relatively muted.
ASL and ASABOSA are conducting a joint study, and, according to secretary Mike Lloyd, the reaction to the concept is favourable - and the areas of disagreement few.
There are one or two areas of dissension, he told FTW, but there is no reason to believe that these can't be sorted out with the minimum of fuss.
Input is currently being co-ordinated, and Lloyd expects a prompt reply to be made to SARS.
SAAFF, meantime, is still correlating its response.
Said executive director Edward Little: I have forwarded the policy letter to our regional chairmen, and am currently awaiting their response.
But one point that has been made early on is that the policy changes may relate more to the shipping line and ships agents, than directly falling into the freight forwarder's bailiwick.
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