Press Releases from British International Freight Association (31 total)
‘Freight stars’ are recognised by the UK international forwarders’ associa …
The UK’s most prestigious logistics and supply chain industry awards were given to the best of the British freight forwarding sector at a milestone awards ceremony – the 21st – hosted by author and broadcaster Mrs Frances Edmonds.
Finalists, sponsors and industry figures attended the glittering ceremony, held in London on 21 January, to celebrate the 21st Annual Lunch and Awards Ceremony of the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
The…
UK forwarders ‘not surprised’ by US climbdown on 100% container scanning
According to John O’Connell, Director – Trade Services at the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - it was “hardly surprising” to hear the recent news that the US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) would effectively not be able to meet its 2012 deadline to implement its goal of 100 percent inbound container scanning.
Mr O’Connell said: “As BIFA has said repeatedly, the DHS has consistently underestimated the…
BIFA’s Clive Broadley is the new president of CLECAT
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) (bifa.org) welcomes the appointment of Clive Broadley as president of CLECAT, the Brussels based European Association for forwarding, transport, logistic and customs services.
CLECAT’s membership consists of the majority of national freight forwarder associations throughout the EU and its prime purpose is to guard and promote the freight forwarding sector’s interests at European level.
Mr Broadley takes over from Jean-Claude Delen who has…
Freight forwarders win reprieve over consignment information
The Home Office and UK Border Agency (UKBA) has informed the British International Freight Association (BIFA) that the consignment information that could be required by the police under the powers provided for in Section 33 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality (Ian) Act 2006, which enable them to request freight data on both third country and intra-EU shipments, will not be required on a routine basis.
The decision follows a…
UK freight forwarders alerted about US sanctions against Iran
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - is urging its membership which includes most of the UK’s freight forwarding companies to be aware that new sanctions being taken by the United States against Iran may make them subject to punitive action by the US Government should they be judged to have assisted US companies in trading with Iran.
New regulations in the USA mean that any American entity…
Forwarder’s association highlights air cargo security training deadline
The British International Freight Association (bifa.org) is reminding its members and anyone else involved the air cargo business of an important deadline for air cargo security training.
The latest air cargo security training syllabus prescribes seven levels of training from A to G which replace the previous four levels of training, 1 to 4. The latter will cease to be available after July 31st, although any training undertaken recently to…
BIFA FREIGHT SERVICE AWARDS CELEBRATE COMING OF AGE WITH NEW SPONSORS
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) - bifa.org - is seeking entries for its annual Freight Service Awards competition, which this year celebrates 21 years of recognising the best in the UK freight forwarding industry and which has attracted three new award sponsors.
The BIFA Freight Service Awards 2009 includes the new award category launched last year – the Environment Award – open to companies wishing to present a specific…
UK forwarders back Cameron’s anger at unfair tax hikes on port industry
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - is backing calls made by Conservative leader David Cameron for the government to abandon plans to hit the ports industry with sharp rises in business rates, or face seriously damaging that industry at a time when international trade is vital to UK economic recovery
Peter Quantrill, Director General of BIFA, the trade association for the UK freight forwarding industry, said: “While we…
DARLING'S BUDGET FAILS TO BACK UK FREIGHT FORWARDERS
Little more than lip service was paid in support of the UK freight forwarding community in today’s (April 22) lacklustre Budget by the Chancellor Alistair Darling as major new tax and revenue-raising burdens on UK freight forwarders remained in place.
Mr Darling’s assertion that free trade between nations will be a cornerstone of global economic recovery over the coming months and years rang hollow with The British International Freight Association (BIFA)…
Forwarders win total insurance exemption thanks to BIFA
The success of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) on the Insurance Mediation Directive is now complete with the UK government agreeing that freight forwarding and its associated activities will be removed from the scope of the directive altogether.
Peter Quantrill, BIFA Director General, comments: “The key word here is ‘altogether’. In 2007, we celebrated that the Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD) Exemption for freight forwarders had come into force, enabling…
Training is still important when times are tough, says UK freight forwarders ass …
The British International Freight Association (www.bifa.org) has never doubted the vital importance of training to all levels of any organisation involved in freight activity.
BIFA continues to believe that training is a worthwhile investment in the good times and now with the economic chill being felt across the business world, a properly trained staff will be of any business’s survival strategy.
The advantages of putting time and effort…
‘Simply the best’ are recognised by the UK international forwarders’ assoc …
The most prestigious awards in the UK logistics and supply chain industry were handed to the cream of the British freight forwarding sector at a landmark awards ceremony hosted by The Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo.
Winning companies and individuals attended the glittering ceremony, held in London on 22 January, to celebrate the 20th Annual Lunch and Awards Ceremony of the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
The BIFA Freight Service Awards…
UK FORWARDERS SAY PRE BUDGET REPORT IS A CURATE’S EGG
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - believes that taken overall, the moves announced in this week’s Pre Budget Report (PBR) seem to be giving to its members with one hand, but taking back more with the other.
As such, the PBR is nothing more than a curate’s egg, says Director General, Peter Quantrill. “Partly good and partly bad, but quite probably entirely spoiled. “The bad bits are effectively…
UK FORWARDERS DEMAND RETHINK OVER EMPTY PROPERTY RATES
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - is throwing its weight behind calls to reinstate empty property rates relief.
The trade association for UK freight forwarders says that the UK Government must re-consider the loss of local authority business rate concessions that have impacted its members in an unintended and potentially financially crippling manner.
From April 1st 2008, empty warehousing became liable for normal business rates after…
UK FORWARDERS MARK END OF CONFERENCE SYSTEM
The trade association for UK freight forwarders believes that tomorrow heralds a new era for shipping and trade liberalisation, as shipping line conferences will no longer be permitted in any trades between the EU and the rest of the world from midnight tonight.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has lobbied the EU Commission bilaterally and through its EU-level trade body, CLECAT, over a number of years, for a proper…
FREIGHT FORWARDERS JOINS UK CUSTOMS AUTHORITY TO OFFER FREE WORKSHOPS IN NORTHER …
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Yorkshire and North East Region, working in collaboration with HM Revenue & Customs, is set to hold a series of free workshops to help raise awareness of, and prepare for, changes which may impact businesses in the region which are involved in international trade.
Four one-day events will be held later this month in four northern cities to provide presentations on the UK Border Agency,…
UK FORWARDERS URGE CONTAINER SHIPPING PROJECT NOT TO OVERLOOK THEIR ROLE
As a trade association promoting the interests and public image of Britain’s freight forwarding community, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) welcomes the BBC’s innovative project to educate the general public on issues relating to containerisation by tracking an individual 40’ container as it moves around the globe.
However, Peter Quantrill, BIFA Director General, is keen that the BBC’s project demonstrates the full complexity of the modern supply chain in…
BIFA WELCOMES BAA BREAK-UP
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed the initial findings of today’s report by the Competition Commission (CC), which calls for BAA to sell two of its three London airports and another in Scotland.
Commenting on the report, BIFA Director General Peter Quantrill said: “BAA has played an important role in the development of airport infrastructure in the UK but times have changed and it is no longer viable…
UK FORWARDERS WELCOME GOVERNMENT DECISION NOT TO INCREASE FUEL DUTY … PRESS FO …
On behalf of its members, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - has given a cautious welcome to the news that the government has postponed plans to increase fuel duty by two pence per litre from October this year.
Welcoming the news as a victory for common sense, BIFA Director General, Peter Quantrill says: “This is a positive message to freight forwarders and other businesses whose services are…
BIFA FREIGHT SERVICE AWARDS CELEBRATE TWO DECADES OF SUCCESS
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) - bifa.org - is seeking entries for its annual Freight Service Awards competition.
The BIFA Freight Service Awards 2008 celebrate 20 years of holding the competition and this year will include a new award category – the Environment Award – that is open to companies wishing to present a specific ‘green’ initiative or case study, which shows consideration for the environment or demonstrates a…
UK FORWARDERS URGE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE ESSENTIAL USER REBATE AND ABOLISH PLA …
As UK haulage companies stage a second day of protest, on behalf of its members, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – www.bifa.org - is urging the government to introduce an essential user rebate and abolish plans to increase fuel duty by two pence per litre from October this year.
BIFA Director General, Peter Quantrill says: “Such moves would give a very positive signal to freight forwarders and other businesses…
BIFA FREIGHT SERVICE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
APL Logistics, Ital Logistics, JF Hillebrand UK, Premier Showfreight, Schenker, Uniserve Group and Wincanton triumphed in the industry categories of the Freight Service Awards 2007 competition organised by the British International Freight Association (BIFA). Eve Gogarty and Derek W. Johnson MBE won the individual people categories.
The winners were revealed at BIFA’s Annual Lunch and 19th Awards Ceremony on Thursday 17th January at the Brewery, London EC1 by special guest, broadcaster…
SAD-H deadline approaches: BIFA cautions ‘don’t let it be BIG BANG after all …
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is alerting the UK international freight community that it must not sleepwalk into a Big Bang on January 20 2008 when dual-running of the old and new data formats for Customs declarations ceases.
Failure to migrate to the new SAD-H data format in good time could prove very costly for freight companies and their clients as Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is unlikely…
Contenders named for young freight forwarder awards
The names of the four finalists who will compete for the title of Young Freight Forwarder of the Year in this year’s Freight Service Awards organised by the British International Freight Association (BIFA) have been revealed.
The four finalists are: Pradeep Bhowmick from the Glasgow office of Geodis Wilson; Eve Gogarty from Worldwide Energy Logistics Ltd in Feltham; Daniel McAllister from the Rainham office of Ideal International; and, Sukh Shinji…
BIFA CRITICISES SHIPPING LINE SURCHARGES
On behalf of its members, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – www.bifa.org - has reacted angrily to the news that the Far Eastern Freight Conference (FEFC) will impose a congestion charge of USD145 per TEU on westbound cargo from Asia to the UK next month.
BIFA Director General, Peter Quantrill says: “This industry anachronism is making the most of its current exemptions from aspects of competition law, hitting UK importers…
BIFA welcomes confirmation that freight forwarders have won insurance exemption
Following a four-year campaign by the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – bifa.org - Treasury officials have confirmed that the Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD) Exemption for freight forwarders has now come into force.
This means that freight forwarders should be able to obtain an open cover policy without the need to register with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in order to provide insurance to their customers.
Following the introduction of the Insurance…
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT ASSOCIATION NAMES NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has named Peter Quantrill as its new Director General to succeed Colin Beaumont.
Mr Quantrill, who has many years of experience in forwarding and transportation, began his career with Aer Lingus in operations and cargo sales, before joining Mercury Airfreight International where he became Managing Director.
In 1989, following Mercury’s acquisition by Rockwood, he joined Atlasair, the United Parcel Service (UPS) freight subsidiary, as Managing…
TRADERS BRACED FOR NEW EU CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
Shippers, and their freight forwarding partners in the EU, have been warned that they should conduct an impact self-assessment to ensure procedures and documents are in place before deciding whether to apply to become an ‘Authorised Economic Operator’ (AEO), when this becomes possible from 1st July.
Speaking at the recent Security Without Barriers to Trade conference, Colin Davis, senior policy advisor of the UK’s HM Revenue and Customs, with specific responsibility…
SECURITY WITHOUT BARRIERS TO TRADE: BIFA AND HMRC TO HOLD JOINT CONFERENCE
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have announced details of their forthcoming Security Without Barriers to Trade conference.
To be held at the Institute of Directors in central London on Thursday 21st June 2007, the conference will launch the UK’s official response to the European Commission initiative arising from the amendment to the Community Customs Code last autumn. It will provide delegates with the…
BIFA COMMENCES SEARCH FOR NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has appointed George Henderson Recruitment Group to assist in the recruitment of a new Director General.
Comments current Director General, Colin Beaumont: “We have conducted a rigorous evaluation process to select a recruitment company that has the necessary expertise to find the next Director General of BIFA.
“George Henderson Recruitment Group is one of Europe’s oldest-established recruitment and search companies, specialising in transport, logistics…
BIFA REPORTS SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR TRAINING SERVICES WITH 23% INCREASE IN DELEGATE …
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is celebrating a highly successful 2006 for its Training Services division, following a marked increase in delegate numbers, compared to 2005. The total number of delegates attending BIFA courses up and down the country in 2006 was 1,867, a 23% rise on the previous year.
Mandatory training areas, including aviation security and dangerous goods, account for two-thirds of all delegates, whilst customs and freight…
