The Government Simplified Procedures for Inspecting Grain Cargo Ships
Today, the Government published a resolution in the Official Gazette that simplifies the inspection of grain and byproduct cargo ships. The inspection procedures for cargo holds have been updated. These changes were the result of a public-private partnership.
The resolution, Senasa 1278, eliminates the control over ship tanks and simplifies the certificate of fitness procedure, making it valid for multiple terminals within the applicable area, either on waterways or at sea. Specifically, the regulation defines a Waterway Zone (river area that includes bulk port terminals along the Paraná River and Río de la Plata coast) and a Maritime Zone (area that provides for bulk port terminals along the Argentine Sea coast).
Sanitary inspections of ship cargo holds have always been conducted using practices that have become outdated, according to the industry. Therefore, the export sector acknowledged that the move aligns with more predictable international practices.
According to Gustavo Idígoras, president of Ciara-CEC, there is “basically” a simplification of controls with clearer and more efficient procedures.
The resolution explains that “due to reasons of reorganization and technical-legal, regulatory, and procedural quality, it is necessary to adjust the administrative and procedural aspects of the current methodology for inspecting and approving cargo holds in ships and barges intended to transport grains and their byproducts in bulk for export. “This ensures compliance with minimum essential requirements for loading grains and their byproducts in the cargo holds of ships and barges”.
In this context, it is noted that “it is appropriate to update the supervision margins, based on a representative sample of all ships inspected by Certifying Entities”.
According to one of the annexes, the inspection requirements must “ensure that the cargo holds of ships and barges are free from live insects (in any stage of development as determined by the National Plant Protection Directorate, based on a risk analysis), live arachnids or mollusks, moisture, removable rust, objectionable odors, fresh paint, residues from previous cargoes, rodents, their excrement, or any other factors that may pose a sanitary risk or compromise the quality and safety of the cargo”.
Additionally, the notification period for inspection data to companies is extended from 24 to 48 hours, and the evaluation period for certifying entities is extended from three months to six months.
Moreover, joint liability for maritime agencies regarding the behavior of the selected certifying entity is eliminated. The risk evaluation also changes by removing the risk of oils as a cargo product and by relying on the validity of the cargo hold fitness certificate, according to the explanation provided.