Trade Single Window Questionnaire Analysis Highlights

• Response rate: There were 26 responses out of an estimated freight forwarder/customs broker population of 200 (includes non-CBAFF members). Some responders only answered some questions.  The questions asked are set out below.

• Cost recovery: Should government not fund the costs of development, implementation, and maintenance of Trade Single Window (TSW), 73% of responders preferred a fee per transaction or message as the method of funding, versus not proceeding with TSW, or other cost recovery options.

• Time savings: We asked responders to identify how much time per consignment their company would save if they had to make only one submission to get an import clearance from Customs and MAF, or an export clearance from Customs and NZFSA. Results are set out in the table below, indicating the greatest benefit is for imports requiring entry. The result for exports requiring entry may reflect that high-volume exporters tend to lodge their own clearances with NZFSA and Customs. We also asked how much time per application would be saved if responders were able to make a single application for Customs and MAF client codes/account numbers. Most indicated 5-15 minutes, but some responded over 15 minutes.

 

• Cost savings: We asked respondents to estimate the average monetary value of one hour of time saved by utilising the potential business processes offered by TSW.  There were 18 responses, with 12 in the range of $25 to $85, averaging $48. One responder each said $100, $150, $200, $300, $500 or $1,000. We then applied this hourly rate to the total hours saved for each of the responder’s total transactions in a year.This indicates there is potential for significant cost savings in TSW, especially for those companies that process a large number of consignments.

• We identified 11 import or export permit types that have the highest volume of use.  We asked responders to rate how beneficial it would be to their business if the process of applying for each permit were made part of the import or export entry submission process within TSW.  Responders rated the MAF BACC Application and the NZFSA Food Import permit the highest.

• Question 1 asked for the number of consignments transacted per year, across different transaction types.  Consignment numbers provide a basis for identifying the range of businesses that TSW must cater for, whether to prioritise imports or exports, and the total cost benefit across the industry.  However, the number of responses to this questionnaire is too small to be statistically relevant.

• There were 22 responses to a question about adoption of MAF’s E-BACCA facility – with one, an express courier, already using it.  Sixteen responders plan to adopt it over 2009, or when their software is able to support it.  The reasons given by five responders who do not plan to adopt it were being happy with the fax process; not knowing it was available; thinking it was still in trial stage; wanting to see how it goes first; or their software not supporting it. 

Trade Single Window Business Case Questionnaire

	Question	Answer Options
1	In order to quantify the benefits of the Trade Single Window (TSW) concept it would helpful for  us to know the scale of your company's operation. Please complete the following questions. Answers for consignment volumes can be rounded to the nearest 1000	Free form number
2	Registration: The ability to register parties and places with all Border Agencies by submitting a single application, and to provide update information once for all agencies e.g. Licensing/approval of Customs Controlled Areas and MAF Transitional Facilities; and issuing of MAF account numbers and Customs' broker / client codes.	Very Beneficial  Beneficial  No real benefit Not relevant
3	Lodgement: The ability to lodge goods or craft clearance information once via a single channel (including receiving responses from agencies).	Very Beneficial  Beneficial No real benefit Not relevant
4	Status enquiry: The ability to check in one place, the status of a transaction with each border agency e.g. Cleared MAF, held Customs.	Very Beneficial Beneficial No real benefit Not relevant
5	Payment: The ability to make an online payment for fixed fee charges related to submitting lodgements or registration applications e.g. CCA licence fee. (NOTE: this does not include duty, GST or variable charges such as inspection fees).	Very Beneficial Beneficial No real benefit Not relevant
6	Reference information: The ability to go to one place to get border clearance-related information and requirements, collated by subject e.g. fact sheets, new regulations, permit requirements, forms and procedures.	Very Beneficial Beneficial No real benefit  Not relevant
7	Information updates: The ability to subscribe to receive electronic advice of updates and news according to your areas of interest e.g. Tariff code amendments, new regulations and procedures.	Very Beneficial Beneficial No real benefit Not relevant
8	Information (reporting) services: The ability to review historic transactions (past lodgements and registrations).	Very Beneficial Beneficial No real benefit Not relevant
9	Electronic documentation: Over time, the TSW would allow agencies such as Customs, MAF and the NZ Food Safety Authority to eliminate the need for companies to submit paper documentation (including faxes). Do you make use of scanning technology to scan paper documents and convert them into electronic files?	Yes Not yet but planning to No plans to
10	In the future, client code applications could potentially be submitted online, with one application covering all border agency requirements. How much time (per application) would your company save if you only had to submit one application to establish a Client Code for use by both Customs and MAF?	Negligible 1-5 minutes 5 – 15 minutes Over 15 minutes
11	Once border agencies hold data in an electronic format, it opens opportunities to reduce the total number of documents that need to be submitted to agencies as part of the clearance process. Going further, a Trade Single Window could enable all border clearance data to be submitted in a single transaction. Please indicate below how much time (per consignment) your company would save if you had to make only one submission to get an import clearance from Customs and MAF, or an export clearance from Customs and NZFSA e.g. all data required for a Customs declaration and a MAF BACC application supplied in one submission.	Negligible 1-5 minutes 5 – 15 minutes Over 15 minutes
12	There is potential to include import and export permit application data in the TSW. For example, if a consignment required an import permit, the following could apply: (a)     The data required on the application could be included in the electronic import entry format in your system (b)     You could complete the above fields and submit the transaction, which would be sent to the relevant permit issuing agency; (c)     If the agency approved the application, you'd receive a response which would automatically tag approval on the entry; (d)     You could then complete the import entry as usual, and submit it for clearance; and (e)     The TSW would verify the approval as part of processing the entry. We'd like to understand which permits your company would most like to see included in TSW in the above way. Please rate each of the permits below in terms of how its inclusion in TSW would affect your company's business.	Very Beneficial Beneficial No real benefit Not relevant Response required for each certificate: -  MAF BACC Application; -  MAF Personal Effects; -  MAF Imported Used Vehicles; -  NZFSA (Food) - Import; -  NZFSA (Animal Products) -Export; -  NZFSA (Dairy) - Export; -  NZFSA (Dairy) - Export; -  NZFSA (Wine) - Export; -  NZ Horticulture Authority - Export;  - NZ Meat Producers Board - Export;  - Zespri International Ltd - Export.
13	What average value would your company place on one hour of time saved on the processes talked about in this questionnaire?	Free form $ amount
14	The costs of developing the Trade Single Window have yet to be fully assessed. There will be a cost involved in developing, implementing and operating the service. If those costs were not funded by government, how should they be met?	Fee per transaction (or message) Levy on consignments Annual registration fee on users Don’t provide the service
15	The Electronic Biosecurity Authority/Clearance Certificate Application (E-BACCA) allows you to submit MAF clearance documents (including the Bill of Lading and Quarantine Declaration) electronically, as an image of the document. Please answer the next question only if you are NOT currently using E-BACCA. Are you intending to move to E-BACCA in future? If so, when? If not, why not?	Yes (when?) Free form text No (why not?) Free form text