Getting into the 'Green Lane'

Five years on, the Secure Exports Scheme is going well.  

In 2004, the New Zealand Customs Service introduced the Secure Exports Scheme (SES) to Kiwi businesses.  

The scheme grew from the need for increased vigilance and security across international trade in the wake of terrorist attacks, and the need to actively secure New Zealand trade supply chains to key markets.  

In essence, SES works on the basis of business and Customs’ partnerships within New Zealand and internationally. The scheme calls for Kiwi exporting businesses to voluntarily implement or enhance security measures that ensures what they pack and seal for export is exactly what’s stated on their export documentation.  

This level of security is achieved by a business voluntarily becoming a partner in the SES, and working with Customs to develop, document, and apply supply chain security policies, that ensure security integrity of their export supply chains.  

The flow-on effect of that – and a major benefit for exporters who are in the partnership – is that their secure packages are sealed using a New Zealand Customs Service approved seal, and treated as ‘Green Lane’ exports.

In addition, those SES partners trading into the United States of America or Japan will experience minimal delays and costs associated with security interventions by customs administrations in those countries.  

This is where the SES partnership and mutual recognition come into play – with our international trading partners. Both the United States and Japan have formally recognised the SES as consistent with their own business/customs supply chain security partnerships.  

There are now well over a hundred exporting Kiwi businesses actively engaged in the SES partnership, all benefiting from reduced compliance costs and higher levels of assurance and predictability across their export supply chains. 

One of the first partners in the SES was Click Clack, who joined in 2004.  Click Clack designs, manufactures, and exports consumer durable products to over 50 countries.

Upon reviewing the last five years CEO Craig Dais says the partnership with Customs has had tangible benefits, particularly fast tracking of cargo into the United States.  

“Prior to the partnership, container inspection was as frequent as fortnightly. After becoming an approved partner, this gradually extended to monthly, then to quarterly, to what seems to be now as little as two containers per year.”  

Mr Dais says that in the initial set-up and formalizing of the partnership there was a substantial amount of work, but the on-going administration requirements are “very minimal”.   

If you’re an exporter and want to know more about how you can get your exports in the ‘Green Lane’, contact the New Zealand Customs Service on 0800 4 CUSTOMS (0800 428786).


A ship containing overseas exports

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