Customs committee gets going again THE INDUSTRY-WIDE push to create a cohesive EDI (electronic data interchange) action plan has gained momentum following the reconstitution of the Customs EDI steering committee.
The primary objective of the group, which held its second meeting in Johannesburg this month, is to synchronise the development of EDI initiatives between freight industry stakeholders.
Its wide-ranging representation encompasses all industry interest groups. So far Customs, Portnet, the SA Association of Freight Forwarders, container depots, the Department of Trade and Industry, ZA CCS and the Chamber of Business have been involved. Moves are afoot to invite representatives of the Association of Ships Agents and Brokers of SA (ASABOSA) and the SA Reserve Bank.
The committee was initially set up in July 1993 and was active until January last year when the amalgamation of Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise caused a temporary lapse.
We have kept in touch as individuals with the likes of Portnet and the freight forwarders, but felt that the time was right, with the transition behind us, to resuscitate the committee, Customs' Mike Poverello told FTW.
One of the changes in the original format has been to extend the scope of the group to encompass electronic commerce and not merely EDI.
We have been saying for a long time that Customs, which has the gateway, should direct the whole EDI set-up, SAAFF executive director Ed Little told FTW.
Little points out that fast-tracking electronic messaging will not only cut down on paper and fraud, but will speed things up considerably.
The group plans to meet every second month, with the next meeting scheduled for September 3.
So far we have received presentations from various sectors outlining their current business development plans. The next step will be to establish working groups to look at specifics. And these working groups will be established according to need, said Poverello.
A chairman and committee will hopefully be elected at the next meeting, and members are keen to co-opt a member of SA Revenue Services' top management into the role to give clout to a group whose concerns head every industry sector's agenda.
