INDU ST RY N EW S BREXIT TALKS REMAIN FAR FROM DEAL As FIDI Focus went to press, negotiations between the EU and the UK over the terms of the UKs final exit from the EU on January 1, 2021, remained locked over many transport-related issues. These included demands by the UK that British truckers would continue to have broad access to the EU and be allowed to make cabotage pick-ups and drop-offs inside and between EU member states. The European Commission reportedly called the proposal fundamentally unbalanced, saying this would be close to the single-market access afforded to the UK at present. According to reports, around three-quarters of UK hauliers were also at risk of being shut out of the EU if no Brexit deal was reached, as the number of crossChannel permits would drop from more than 8,200 issued to businesses last year to just 2,088. Meanwhile, an impasse remained over ISPM15 plant health regulations governing cross-border movements of wooden packaging materials such as pallets and other transit packaging. Without a deal, movements of palletised goods could be delayed. However, the UK Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation and European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB) in Europe were working to ensure that the plant health authorities in the countries they represent would continue to enforce ISPM15 on the basis that the current risk is negligible; and also that the industry would be able to provide stocks of ISPM15compliant pallets by January 1. VOERMAN SETS SIGHTS ON FIRST CO2 NEUTRAL MOVE Voerman says it is planning to carry out the industrys first CO2 neutral move in 2021, with a programme for its international clients and partners that it says will reduce unnecessary resources, improve workflows and fund responsible forestry projects. A release from the business, which has its headquarters in The Hague and offices in Prague, Moscow, Johannesberg, Jacksonville and Kuala Lumpur, said it was aiming to offset all its CO2 emissions across assignments. The company said digitising more of the moving process would increase efficiency and would result in smoother moves for international assignees. Voermans clients will be given insights into the carbon savings they are making and will receive an official audited certification showing proof of the total at the end of the year. FIDI Affiliates updates New Affiliates l TOKYO FREIGHT SERVICES WLL Doha, QATAR, 24/07/2020 Cancellations l MAXI MOVE, Dakar, SENEGAL (FASI deadline: 02/09/2020) l ZIEGLER RELOCATION LTD, Brussels, BELGIUM (FASI deadline: 17/09/2020) l BISHOPS MOVE GROUP, London, UNITED KINGDOM (FASI deadline: 20/09/2020) lE lliott Mobility Botswana, Gabarone, BOTSWANA (FASI deadline: 10/10/2020) l Elliott Mobility Zambia, Lusaka, ZAMBIA (FASI deadline: 10/10/2020) 16 FF299 OctNov20 pp10-17 News v2.indd 16 NEWS IN BRIEF SIRVA EXPANDS EUROPEAN OPERATIONS Global moving and relocation leader SIRVA has announced plans to expand its moving operations across continental Europe, providing direct delivery of removal services across markets including Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Norway, and the Netherlands. It will strengthen its existing offering in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. ATLAS SIGNS STORAGE DEAL Atlas World Group has announced a strategic alliance with personal storage company GetStored. Commenting on the deal, GetStored says it will help it provide true service beyond storage. HK RESIDENTS OFFERED MOVE British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered up to three million Hong Kong residents a move to the UK. Around 350,000 UK passport holders and 2.6 million others will be eligible for the move, subject to standard immigration checks. GRAEBEL IN PRAGUE MOVE Denver-headquartered Graebel has moved to new office facilities in Wenceslas Square, Prague. The city has been home to its European Middle East Africa Coordination Centre for several years. GERSON GETS CERTIFICATIONS UK-based Gerson Relocation has announced that it has secured ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certificates for environmental management and health and safety standards. DEEP SEA PORT TO BE BUILT Bangladeshs cabinet committee has appointed consultants to oversee the construction of a US$28m deep sea port to handle the countrys increasing external trade. The port will have a 16-metre water draft and will be able to accommodate 8,000 TEU post-Panamax vessels. MOVERS NEW SERVICE UK-based Britannia Fleet Removals and Storage has launched a deep-cleaning disinfection service for moving customers and as a standalone service. According to the company, the fogging process kills 99 per cent of viruses quickly throughout an area and is safe for humans and pets. WWW. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 21/09/2020 17:52