SAAFF welcomes ‘positive’ response to customs complaints

Agents invited to submit concrete examples Alan Peat A NUMBER of complaints have been received by FTW from frustrated exporters who are facing what they term inordinate delays and additional costs, often leading to a loss of reputation in highly competitive global markets. One thing seems to follow another - port congestion then congestion surcharges (happily lifted in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth). But now you can add to that customs, say commentators in the industry. Slow processing and increasing need for examinations are not only occasioning demurrage expenses, FTW was told, but also causing cargo to be delayed so that containers miss vessels, often with disastrous effects on deliveries which fail to meet contractual terms. These concerns have been raised with customs where the commissioner has responded by requesting concrete, detailed examples from “entities that have been prejudiced” so that the matter can be taken up with its respective offices. The SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has welcomed this very positive response, said executive director Edward Little. “We have invited all members and their customers to provide the necessary details so that the matter can be taken up,” he said.