SITPRO welcomed today's announcement by the Prime Minister that the UK Border Agency would be responsible for the international movement of goods as well as people, an outcome SITPRO had lobbied for since the initial announcement in July. However, the UK's trade facilitation agency also sounded a note of caution regarding the placement of this new agency within the landscape of government.
Commenting on the measures outlined in the Cabinet Office report, Security in a Global Hub: Establishing the UK’s New Border Arrangements (Link to an external site - Disclaimer 
), SITPRO's Chief Executive, Malcolm McKinnon, said, "We welcome the emphasis on an approach that focuses on improving relationships in the border environment. We are also pleased that they have acknowledged that while security is vital, it is necessity to avoid disruption within the supply chain through improved targeting of risks.
Notes for Editors
SITPRO, the UK's Trade Facilitation Agency, was established in 1970 to simplify international trade and much of its work has focussed upon improving the procedures at ports and borders, looking at issues such as improving the arrangements for inspecting goods at the border and streamlining the submission of data to government. Since the attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001 highlighted the need for greater vigilance, SITPRO has also been campaigning for the application of trade facilitation principles to security controls that will enhance security without impeding trade.
SITPRO is a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and undertakes policy work at national, European and international levels. For further information, visit SITPRO's website at http://www.sitpro.org.uk/.
SITPRO News Release - 14 November 2007
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