Seems like ‘cargo reporting’ is becoming as infectious as a virus! The shipping industry has warned its customers that failure to comply with new EU regulations will mean fines and their cargo will not be loaded. Following similar measures introduced by the US in 2002, it seems that not only is there a possibility of “fines” and “no loading of cargo”, but that shipping lines even get to cash in on a revenue opportunity; some to the extent of US$25 per bill of lading. It absolutely amazes me that this is allowed to happen – talk about non-tariff barriers!  While SARS, for example, can give thousands of ZA Rands worth of intellectual property (for free) to the trading community – with the hope of making trading easier – why can the bastions of the sea not do likewise? Seems as though the “war on terror” has been interpreted by some as a ‘cash cow’!  Read the full article online: www.bdpinternational.com.