New procedures for phytosanitary checks
04/09/2018
With the aim of meeting needs to speed up checks on
goods, the ADSP Port Authority for the Western Ligurian Sea, Spediporto and Confindustria
Terminal Operators, in conjunction with the Phytosanitary Department of the Region
of Liguria, have approved a protocol for a precise schedule of inspections for
agri-food products unloaded in Genoa’s Terminals, in order to ensure that all
checks have been conducted by the end of the day.
This new procedure, which improves the level of
information exchanged by operators and the authorities, will provided a guaranteed
schedule for checks conducted on thousands of containers per year. This will
also be made possible by a double operating shift which, in addition to
terminal operators and shippers, will also involve staff at the Phytosanitary
institute.
As a result, it will be possible to improve the
quality of the checks, reduce the time taken and the costs on goods.
The Chairman of Spediporto, Alessandro Pitto,
stresses that “At this particularly difficult time, presenting a procedure
which provides crucial support to one of Genoa’s most strategic goods assets is
a major success for goods and for our port as a whole.”
An important role will be played by the
Phytosanitary Administration which, given the issues that have arisen in the
wake of major new flows of agri-food products, has identified an operating
model in conjunction with Terminal Operators and Shippers geared towards
improving the time taken to check and inspect goods.
This sizeable undertaking has been made even
more urgent by the collapse of the Morandi bridge. With effect from 10 September,
it will see phytosanitary personnel engaging in a complex administrative
situation.
Genoa will be getting back on track thanks to a
simplification of procedures, which will also result in a considerable
reduction in movements from one port basin to another. In the past this
involved the movement of officials. At present this is impossible or, at best,
highly complex.
The Chairman of Assagenti Alberto Banchero commented:
“The new protocol puts the principles of rationalising checks and movements and
defending the market and employment into practice. Genoa is not stopping.”
#GOAhead