From left: Commissioner Alan Bersin & Rt Hon Mike Moore

New Zealand Customs Minister Maurice Williamson has announced an improvement to the existing Mutual Recognition Arrangement between New Zealand Customs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The improvement is expected to facilitate the processing of shipments by exporters who are members of New Zealand’s Secure Exports Scheme (SES).

Under the existing Mutual Recognition Arrangement, SES goods are generally already assessed as low risk. However, this improvement means that SES goods are now 3.5 times less likely to be examined for security purposes by U.S. CBP.

The improvement was finalised in an exchange of letters in Washington D.C. between New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Rt Hon. Mike Moore and Mr Alan Bersin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner on Friday 25 March (Eastern standard time).

“No other country has this benefit to the extent of New Zealand which provides a market advantage for exporters who elect to be members of this world leading scheme,” said Mr Williamson.

“It is an excellent demonstration of how industry can benefit from joining with customs administrations to secure international supply chains."

More information on the voluntary Secure Exports Scheme can be found at www.customs.govt.nz/exporters/Secure+Exports+Scheme.htm