F ID I SE RV I C E S FIDI DEFENDS INDUSTRY INTERESTS ON SHIPPING CONCERNS With the possibility of new shipping container cleanliness regulations adding to movers costs and shipping lines apparently charging unfairly, FIDI has actively pressed decision-makers on both issues. Marie-Pascale Frix, Business intelligence Manager at FIDI Global Alliance, reports on significant recent developments MARIE-PASCALE FRIX, BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE MANAGER AT FIDI GLOBAL ALLIANCE CONTAINER CLEANLINESS AND POTENTIAL NEW GLOBAL PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES The last two years have seen upheavals in the shipping industry that have seriously impacted the international moving sector. As part of its efforts to defend its members interests and to keep them informed about current global developments, FIDI has been actively involved in different industry-wide actions. At the end of 2021, FIDI was alerted that a new set of globally applicable measures had been proposed to the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisations Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) by the World Shipping Council. If accepted, these measures would directly impact the moving and relocation industry. 58 FF307 September-November 22 pp58-59 ContainerCleanliness.indd 58 [See www.fidifocus.org/news/fidiissues-statement-on-detrimentalphytosanitary-proposals/ for background information]. The proposals, which aim to minimise pest contamination of containers and cargoes, shift the responsibility for the condition of an empty container to the shipper, which, in the case of an international move, means the moving company. This would lead to movers facing extra costs, logistical challenges, and liability for any pest contamination in a sea container. We are pleased to report a major encouraging development in this important issue. Thanks to the joint efforts led by the Global Shippers Forum, the initial proposals were not included as an official part of the Sea Containers Task Force report at this stage. The proposals do remain as official annexes, however, together with counter-proposals from the Global Shippers Forum. This confirms the need for container cleanliness to be taken seriously by all shippers; the risk for additional national or global mandatory measures on container cleanliness remains high on the agenda and should not be underestimated. Earlier this year, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) adopted the Sea Containers Task Force report and made three decisions: l To form a focus group to develop new global measures for container cleanliness l To form a separate Industry Advisory Group (IAG) to work on non-regulatory measures (with WWW. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 06/09/2022 07:45