KIFFA to create new B/L and AWB standards for Korean freight forwarders

KIFFA (Korea International Freight Forwarders' Association) is devising a scheme for freight forwarders to present B/Ls (Bill of Lading) or AWBs (Air Way Bill) in the company's name.
The association proposed the change for freight forwarders' qualification standards and managing organization registrations to MOCT (Ministry of Construction & Transportation) on April 9. Especially, KIFFA proposed that freight forwarders present their own B/Ls and AWBs and on the back print an agreement in Korean and English about the freight forwarders' qualification standards.
The association pointed out that many freight forwarders issue MT (Multimodal Transportation) B/Ls or AWBs, but they don't know B/Ls or AWBs well and they don't know Hague-Visby Rules, international marine law or international transportation treaties such the as Warsaw Convention, either. To this, many problems have been exposed on account of responsibility bounds in disputes connected with transportation accidents / incidents. In connection, international confidence in Korean freight forwarders has fallen.
An insider at KIFFA said, "To remedy the situation, they have to present B/Ls and AWBs registered to the managing organization. Forwarders have to study special transportation knowledge connected with freight forwarding."
The association also proposed changing registration of managing organizations to MOCT from the existing regional government control, such as city, to the province. Korean Freight forwarders' registration is governed by a local self-governing body, different from shipping companies or airliners registration, which is governed by MOMAF and MOCT.
According to KIFFA, the fact that local self-governing bodies govern freight forwarders' registration work creates conflicts because the companies perform integrated international transportation using land, sea and air shipping. There are problems integrating forwarding due to the way in which each city or province governs freight forwarding. To this, MOCT needs to sort out the confusion at present for freight forwarding companies.