BUCHAREST, June 10th – The SECI Center Container Security Task Force, in cooperation with its strategic partner in the Customs field - the Netherlands Tax-Customs Administration, organized for a group of 26 well selected Customs experts from the 13 member states, a two-day study visit (9-10 June) combined with intensive training in the Rotterdam Mega Port, one of the biggest in Europe and the entire world, covering a perimeter of more than 45 kilometers with 11 million containers per year.
Broadening their horizons and their experience in modern safety and security applications, the trainees met the latest methods and practices in risk analysis, pre-arrival pre-departure electronic port management, detection systems of high risk containerized shipments, the robotized fully automatic handling and discharging methods, of mega container (500.000 tons) vessels etc.
Customs expertise in controlling goods backed up by the use of modern IT systems and an efficient risk assessment is vital to detect illegal goods crossing SEE borders.
As from July 2009 it will be mandatory for traders to provide customs authorities with advance information on goods brought into or out of the EU customs territory (EU Regulation 648/2005), failure to do so will mean goods cannot be load on ships bound for EU. The Dutch Customs Administration approach on how to implement this new customs tasks together with the latest one of AEO’ s regime (Authorized Economic Operators) was presented and explained to the training participants.
The valuable direct and indirect benefits from this CSTF training initiative is expected soon to be reflected in the modernization and upgrading of the Customs Services in the SECI Center region.
