Transparent handling
The stimulus of legislation in Europe can be seen in the effect of such provisions as the General Food Law that is aims at food safety in the whole transport chain from seeds in the land to final product in the retail shops.
It requires each link in a chain to know the transport and product details of each link before and after its own position. The necessity of a chain approach is witnessed also by the requirement for digital documentation and 24/7 transparency of the condition of the food in the chain. Similarly, the Environmental Liability Directive (2004) makes each participant in a chain liable for its environmental effects.
In the case of port authorities, this can pose a high financial risk as they are required to take immediate action in the event of incidents and accidents – and this may be complex because of the range of operators and tenants involved.
Customs laws such as the Green Lane and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) approach also encourage integration. The requirement for all links in the transport chain to deliver certain minimum qualities of transparency with appropriate electronic information is a strong incentive for a chain approach – where it also brings financial advantages.
In the White Paper ‘Environmental Transport Policy for 2010: time to decide’, the European Commission again draws attention to the major environmental impact of goods transport and also chooses a logistic chain and networks approach, identifying a key role for sea and inland ports in organising hinterland logistics.
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