CMP Canterbury join Customs' Secure Exports Scheme

Today CMP Canterbury, one of New Zealand’s biggest meat exporters, partnered with the New Zealand Customs Service in Customs’ Secure Exports Scheme (SES), ensuring CMP experience speedier clearance times and greater trade facilitation.

Comptroller of Customs, Martyn Dunne, said the SES calls for New Zealand exporting businesses to voluntarily enhance security measures to ensure that what they pack and seal for export overseas is exactly what’s stated on their export documentation.

“SES partners’ containers are sealed using a New Zealand Customs Service-approved seal, reducing the likelihood of being held up at the border here and overseas in countries where New Zealand has Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs).

“Currently we have MRAs with the United States and Japan — recognising one another’s commitment to secure international supply chains.

“CMP Canterbury exported over 5,000 containers last year, with a fifth destined for the United States.

“Under the SES, members receive a range of cargo facilitation benefits, including reduced business costs, decreased theft, reduced inspections, and increased control over time-sensitive deliveries.”

CMP Canterbury General Manager, Graham Parker, said that loading of containers onto the wharf in New Zealand is likely to be shortened by up to 24 hours.

“Our containers won’t have to go through the usual x-ray screening in New Zealand and we expect that exports into the United States and Japan will experience fewer, if any, hold-ups.

“From a marketing perspective, we’ll now be able to offer our customers added security and be sure that our containers will reach their export destination on time.”

Mr Dunne said the partnership with CMP in the SES is welcomed by Customs.

“It’s great to see the conclusion of an SES agreement with such a significant New Zealand meat exporter. We hope this will encourage other New Zealand exporters to engage in the SES.”

The SES, which began in 2004, currently has in excess of 120 partners.