SITPRO has today released the results of a survey about trade perspectives on security legislation. The aim of the survey, conducted in September, was to gain an overview of the kinds of burden and challenges security measures have placed upon business in the last five years.
- 88% of respondents said that, over the past 5 years, trade related security measures have placed an additional administrative burden on their business
- Training staff as a result of new legislation is seen as the biggest cost to traders
- Almost 50% would turn to the Department for Transport (DfT) for information.
Responses were received from approximately 70 companies across the international trade sector: freight forwarders, agents, airlines, airline cargo handlers, ferry services, port authorities and road hauliers.
Peter Kenton , SITPRO’s Deputy Director of International Trade Practices, said, "This response highlights the burden that security measures are placing upon UK businesses. Information needs to be disseminated more effectively and consultation with the trade needs to be improved if this burden is to be alleviated."
The full findings of this survey are outlined at http://www.sitpro.org.uk/policy/security/sectradeperspec07.html.
Notes for Editors
SITPRO, the UK’s Trade Facilitation Agency, was established in 1970 to simplify international trade and much of its work has focussed upon improving the procedures at ports and borders, looking at issues such as improving the arrangements for inspecting goods at the border and streamlining the submission of data to government. Since the attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001 highlighted the need for greater vigilance, SITPRO has also been campaigning for the application of trade facilitation principles to security controls that will enhance security without impeding trade.
SITPRO News Release - 30 October 2007
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