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Updated: TAPA calls for unity over truck parking standards

[ December 4, 2019   //   ]

Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) president and chief executive Thorsten Neumann is urging the European Commission to aligns its new EU Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPA) Standard with its own Parking Security Requirements (PSR).

TAPA says that aligning its own Parking Security Requirements (PSR) industry standard with the EU programme will help the Commission accelerate the growth of safe and secure parking places in Europe and eliminate any confusion in the industry between the two standards.

In calling for constructive dialogue with the Commission, TAPA proposes adapting its PSR to embrace the core requirements of SSTPA, while retaining the Association’s existing and proven methods of oversight which has been supporting facility, trucking and secure parking certifications for industry for over two decades.

Neumann commented: “We are not looking to compete with the EU SSTPSA, we simply want to add value to it. As the leading supply chain security association for manufacturers and logistics service providers, we represent secure parking buyers and decision-makers. In PSR, we have developed a Standard which has been created by industry, for industry and is already being used at 53 parking locations offering more than 5,000 secure parking places in 10 countries. By the end of 2020, we expect to have 80 PSR certified sites and have put the infrastructure and expertise in place to deliver a full end-to-end certification support to the industry.”

“TAPA has played an active role in supporting the Commission’s safe and secure parking standard but we also recognise that businesses are cautious because the EU LABEL project, the predecessor to SSTPA, failed to attract many parking sites and certifications were not maintained. Our solution is based on this business reality as well as our knowledge of what customers of secure parking places will accept. We support all initiatives, standards and regulatory requirements which promote the safety and security of people, goods, equipment and services in the global supply chain as long as they are affordable, easy-to-adopt, fit-for-purpose and sustainable. We hope the Commission’s representatives will step forward to talk to us to achieve a real step change in secure parking in Europe.”

TAPA said that 65 more companies had joined the Association in 2019, its highest ever level, including global manufacturing brands as well as logistics providers. Neumann said: “Our membership is at its highest-ever level because cargo crime is also at its highest-ever level. More and more manufacturers and logistics service providers now understand the growing level of risks their supply chains are facing. They recognise the importance of keeping their high value, theft targeted goods secure as well as the broad range of financial and reputational consequences which result from cargo crime.

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