IIFA

4th March 2025

Join us for the 4th Annual BCP Dublin Port Tour - May 2025

For the fourth year in a row, IIFA will host a visit of Dublin Port Border Control Posts with Department Agriculture, Food and the Marine for IIFA Members. Taking place on Wednesday 7th May 2025, the purpose of this visit will be to tour BCP facilities at Dublin Port and to then engage with DAFM, Revenue Customs and HSE through a series of presentations, closing with a Q & A session.

26th February 2025

Commission simplifies rules on sustainability and EU investments, delivering over â‚¬6 billion in administrative relief

The European Commission has adopted a new package of proposals to simplify EU rules, boost competitiveness, and unlock additional investment capacity. This is a major step forward in creating a more favourable business environment to help EU companies grow, innovate, and create quality jobs.

26th February 2025

Europa Road in Dublin crack the code for Irish exporters

Five years on from Brexit, the Britain remains one of Irelandâ€™s largest trading partners. For two economies so deeply entwined, Irish businesses have responded to the challenging trading landscape to achieve solid numbers.

25th February 2025

Belfast Harbour Reports Steady Trading Performance in 2024

Trade through Belfast Harbour increased slightly in 2024 as the shipping of key goods and commodities in and out of Northern Ireland remained resilient to global economic headwinds and persistently high energy costs. Releasing its annual trade figures, Belfast Harbour today reported that 24.1 million tonnes of goods were handled by the port in 2024, up from 23.9 million tonnes the year before and in line with projections for the period.

25th February 2025

Stena Lineâ€™s second new ship Stena Connecta launches

Stena Line has reached a further milestone in its NewMax fleet investment programme with a ceremony to mark Stena Connecta launching into the water at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Weihai, China. Stena Connecta is one of two new ships due to serve the Belfast â€“ Heysham route, a key trade corridor across the Irish Sea. Now that Stena Connecta has entered the water, the shipyard will continue with the installation of the interior.

24th February 2025

Towards Net-Zero: A Carbon Levy on the Horizon?

During its 83rd session, scheduled for 7-11 April 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is set to approve the so-called "mid-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction measures". These measures are part of the IMO's net-zero framework, aimed at achieving the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction objectives outlined in the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, thereby facilitating the international shipping industry's transition

17th February 2025

IIFA host Young Logistics Professionals event on 2nd April 2025

As part of the 2025 Logistics & Supply-Chain Skills Week, Irish International Freight Association will host an event for Young Professionals in the industry, with a focus on growing your skillset and career on Wednesday 2nd April 2025.

11th February 2025

Freight forwarders: Why you need carbon reporting & how to get started

Customers are asking for it. Regulators are requiring it. Competitors are offering it. Carbon reporting is quickly becoming a standard part of doing business for freight forwarders. Whether you're committed to sustainability or simply need to meet customer and regulatory requirements, providing accurate emissions data can help you stay competitive and build stronger relationships.

5th February 2025

CLECAT joins call to maintain Strong, Centralised EU Transport Funding Instrument

CLECAT, alongside 44 other organisations representative of Europeâ€™s transport sector, has signed a letter urging Member States and the European Commission to preserve and strengthen a solid dedicated European transport funding instrument in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

5th February 2025

Commission announces actions for safe and sustainable e-commerce imports

The Commission is taking action to tackle risks stemming from low-value imports sold via non-EU online retailers and marketplaces hosting non-EU traders.

3rd February 2025

The Big Picture: Navigating Uncertainty with Resilience and Collaboration

At the World Cargo Summit 2025 in Ostend, Belgium, FIATA took part in the Executive Panel that opened the conference, titled "The Big Picture". Moderated by Glyn Hughes, Director General at TIACA, the panel featured Wilson Kwong, CEO of HACTL, Eduardo Arenas Perez, VP Cargo at Avianca, and Dr StÃ©phane Graber, FIATA Director General. Together, they explored key opportunities and challenges for 2025, offering insights into how the industry can navigate ongoing disruptions. The discussion also tac

3rd February 2025

The Panama Canal: A Strategic Global Trade Link at the Centre of International Attention

Following several questions received by FIATA from its membership and industry partners, including at the World Cargo Summit 2025, FIATA provides the following information on the Panama Canal developments. The below update is non-exhaustive in nature to help FIATA members better understand what is at play, and is not to be construed as necessarily reflecting the opinions or positions of FIATA or its members.

29th January 2025

CLECAT Position on Trust & Check and Single Liable Person concepts of the Customs Reform

The proposed reform to the Union Customs Code (R-UCC) by the European Commission introduces the concept of a "Single Liable Person" (SLP) and the Trust & Check (T&C) trader framework. While the reform aims to enhance customs compliance and efficiency, it risks undermining the operational viability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the logistics sector, which are critical to Europeâ€™s economy and global competitiveness. CLECAT argues that the Customs Reformâ€™s concentration of al

29th January 2025

Logistics Week 2025: Driving Irelandâ€™s Green and Digital Economy

Irelandâ€™s logistics and supply chain sector is a cornerstone of the national economy, supporting â‚¬196 billion in exports annually and crucially handling over 47.5 million tonnes of goods through Irish ports in 2023. Despite its critical role, the sector faces significant skills shortages, with 31% of HGV drivers aged 55 or older and increasing demand for supply chain, green skills, and digital expertise.

29th January 2025

Pledge achieves ISO 27001 certification: Raising the bar for security in carbon emissions management

Pledge, affiliate members of IIFA, believe that sustainability and security go hand in hand. They are proud to announce that they have achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for their Information Security Management System (ISMS), solidifying their commitment to delivering enterprise-grade security for our customers. This milestone demonstrates their dedication to protecting data and ensuring compliance with globally recognised standards.

24th January 2025

CLECAT position paper on Clean Corporate Fleets

CLECAT today released its position paper on the upcoming â€˜Clean Corporate Fleetâ€™ initiative, contributing its views on how to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission light- and heavy-duty vehicles in road logistics. Building on the public consultation in spring 2024 and the mission letter tasking Commissioner Tzitzikostas to propose legislation promoting clean corporate fleets, this initiative provides an important opportunity for the freight forwarding sector to help shape policies that su

23rd January 2025

David Macken announced as winner of 2025 Young Irish Freight Forwarder of the Year

David Macken of IIFA Full Trading Member Hawthorn Logistics Ltd has been selected as IIFAâ€™s Young Irish Freight Forwarder of the Year for 2025.

10th January 2025

European industry associations call for change on railway capacity management

CLECAT, together with 11 other industry associations, has issued a joint open letter urging the negotiating partners on the European Railway Capacity Management Regulation to adopt an ambitious and international approach. The Regulation is seen as a crucial step toward improving the reliability of rail freight services, strengthening European supply chains, and boosting the broader economy.

9th January 2025

Towards Paperless Freight Transport: EU takes a step forward with eFTI Regulation implementation

Member States can now begin setting up their IT systems in preparation for paperless freight transport, as the first eFTI implementing and delegated acts entered into force today. The new acts specify how the IT systems should be designed, and the data to be exchanged.

31st December 2024

Ministers Ryan and Lawless welcome announcement of additional Pembroke-Dublin daily sailing

Ministers Ryan and Lawless and the Department of Transport have welcomed the announcement from Irish Ferries and the Port of Milford Haven in Wales that there will be an additional daily sailing service between Pembroke and Dublin for passenger cars and accompanied freight. From 7 January 2025, the Irish Ferries vessel Isle of Innisfree will operate on the route in addition to the James Joyce, which currently sails between the ports twice a day.

23rd December 2024

Ministers meet supply chain stakeholders in ongoing effort to facilitate alternatives to Dublin-Holyhead freight services

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, Minister of State James Lawless, and Department of Transport officials met this morning with stakeholders in the freight, supply chain, ports and maritime sectors. This meeting was part of continuous and ongoing efforts across the department to facilitate new services to replace the Dublin-Holyhead services to the greatest extent possible. The government is treating the closure of Holyhead Port with absolute priority.

20th December 2024

Quality Freight Group Ireland joins the Fracht Group

Fracht AG, headquartered in Basel/Switzerland, with over 150 offices in Fracht Group globally, has agreed terms for the acquisition of the entire shareholding in the Dublin headquartered Quality Freight Group, including Quality Freight Ltd , Renewable Logistics, Quality Freight (Belfast), Quality Port Logistics (QPL), Quality Freight Netherlands (QFNL) and Quality Freight Inland Container Depots (QFICD).

14th December 2024

Temporary relaxation of driving & rest times due to Holyhead closure impact

Department of Transport have issued the below notice concerning temporary relaxation of driving & rest times due to Holyhead closure impact. There are increases with driving hours, which are detailed below, but please also note the requirement for Drivers to provide evidence/ justification for exceeding the prescribed limits and the need to retain same for inspection. The Department also highlight that driver safety or other road userâ€™s safety must not be compromised.

13th December 2024

Ministers Ryan and Lawless fully briefed and monitoring situation at Holyhead Port in Wales + update from Revenue Customs

A further update from the Department of Transport regarding the management of impacts arising from the closure of Holyhead Port has been published. The article is available via the link below and the full text is included with this e-mail. Included after the Department update are two updates from Revenue Customs, also issued today.