FIATA E-Flash / Proactive and motivated for challenges ahead
News from FIATA
Since the beginning of the pandemic, FIATA has constantly adapted to the new difficult environment in which we all have to operate. By launching its dedicated COVID-19 information platform, FIATA supports its members with practical resources, relevant position papers and press releases advocating the facilitation of goods flows and a unified supply chain. FIATA has also re-launched its LinkedIn and Twitter pages to better disseminate information to the freight forwarding community, and will publish a reinforced new issue of its FIATA Review on 13 May 2020.
The FIATA Presidency, with the support of the Secretariat, has also rethought the way it meets and gives direction to the Federation, using new technologies such as Zoom that requires a higher frequency of focused and effective meetings. It will now implement this new managerial approach with the FIATA Extended Board, and then with the Institutes and other FIATA members to facilitate their work in this unprecedented period. One thing is certain, FIATA can count on a new proactive and motivated staff to face the new challenges ahead.
International Trade and Law
In the context of unprecedented disruptions brought by COVID-19, FIATA remains committed to empowering its members to face these challenges head on. Recently, FIATA welcomed the FMC’s Final Rule on the reasonableness of detention and demurrage charges, which is consistent with FIATA’s comments to the FMC, as well as FIATA’s position advocated in its Best Practice Guide and press releases. FIATA also continues to provide practical guidance on FIATA’s dedicated COVID-19 portal on legal considerations arising in today’s challenging context, including B/L clauses and dealing with abandoned goods. Make sure to follow FIATA on LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest updates, and don’t forget to ‘like’ and ‘share’.
Training and Development
The work of the Advisory Body Vocational Training (ABVT) has been transitioned into the FIATA Logistics Institute (FLI) and the Validation Committee continues to play its role in ensuring the freight industry is able to rely on a skilled and appropriately trained talent pool, despite the cancellation of the FIATA HQ meeting last March due to COVID-19. The Validation Committee is currently holding online Revalidation Sessions on the FIATA Minimum Standards for the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding of seven National Associations. This series of Revalidation Sessions will run until July 2020. The Committee will then look to address validation applications received and revalidations that will occur in 2021.
Digital Trends
On 6-7 May 2020, FIATA participated in the EU’s Digital Transport & Logistics Forum’s (DTLF) subgroup meetings. Through two working groups, the DTLF aims to facilitate the use of (data included in) transport documents in an electronic format and establish protocols to share that data across the supply chain (modes, customs, ports, etc.). In parallel, FIATA’s digitalization strategy will take into account DTLF’s standards and create an ecosystem of products and services available to our members.
Upcoming Events
Following the emergency measures put in place by states around the world to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, FIATA has decided to cancel all its international meetings until the end of June 2020. Regular meetings of the FIATA Presidency and the Extended Board continue to take place online every month.