Enhanced import container standard

Relevant documentation for containers imported to New Zealand will now have to be submitted 12 hours before a vessel’s estimated arrival and six-sided inspections (as opposed to four-sided) may be undertaken if quarantine declaration requirements have not been met.

However, the New Zealand Importers’ Institute says the revised Sea Container Import Health Standard will result in low-risk containers essentially being detained over red tape and is critical of the NZ$100-per-hour (US$70) plus fees rate being charged for the inspections.

Source: Port Strategy