Proposed EC amendment to ENS filing needs clarification

© Khunaspix Dreamstime.

The European Union wants to amend its advance cargo data requirements as part of the introduction of the new Union Customs Code, which is scheduled to come into force in May 2016. It means forwarders and carriers will have to designate which shippers and consignees they are booking and moving cargo for. In a way that only the EC knows how to do, the move has managed to unite virtually every part of the maritime container supply chain in opposition – liner shipping and shipowner bodies, shipper representatives and forwarder organisations all argue that the legislation will force forwarders and NVOCCs to disclose commercially sensitive information to carriers.