Calling Elite Paloumé a forwarding company would be an understatement. While we did start as a forwarder 25 years ago, we rapidly set ourselves apart with advanced value-added services, mainly for big names in the chemical industry.
Voka’s magazine ‘Ondernemers’ spoke with Elite’s founding father Hubert Van Houwaert :
The long-awaited Union Customs Code (UCC) comes into force in the European Union on 1st May 2016. It is part of the modernization of customs and will serve as the new framework for customs throughout the European Union.
The new union customs code will streamline and simplify customs rules and processes. It will have significant implications for businesses involved in global trade in goods.
Some transitional arrangements will operate until 2020 in order for all EU members to prepare. For more information :
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_code/union_customs_code/index_en.htm
Brazilian port authorities and MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) have implemented new packing material regulations for all shipments ex/to Brazil.
Effective 1st February 2016 shippers will be required to provide the carrier with details about the packaging of the cargo in the container.
Wooden Package? YES or NO
Kind of Wooden Package? *Processed Wood, or *Treated and Certified Wood,or *Not treated and Not certified.
In case nothing is mentioned in the shipping instruction shipping lines will consider that there is no wooden package inside of the container.
The shipper will be responsible for any penalty related to the non compliance of this new regulation. Please contact your local Elite office for more information on this new regulation.
A tax per kilometer will be implemented for all lorries weighing over 3.5 tons throughout Belgium from 1 April 2016.
The system will be based on satellite technology using on board units (OBUs). The OBU will register the distance travelled and on which roads.
Mileage data will be transmitted to a data center and an invoice will be generated.
The rate will vary depending on the weight, Euro emission class and type of road used. Estimated additional cost will be 8% for national transports and 3% for international transports.
Tolls collected will be reinvested in improvements to the road infrastructure, and to improve Belgium’s mobility in general. In turn this will contribute to a better flow of freight transport.
For more information http://www.viapass.be/en/
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will enforce the new SOLAS weight regulation from 1st July 2016 onwards. This new container-weighing requirement is aimed at misstatement of container weights which can create deadly hazards aboard ship, in ports and on highways.
The shipper will be responsible for verifying and providing the verified gross mass (VGM) of fully laden containers in advance of the stow planning to the shipping line. The VGM must be part of a booking request or shipping instruction.
Guidelines regarding the verified gross mass of a container carrying cargo :
www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/cargo-weight
Please contact your local Elite office for more information on this new global regulation
