Following the recent approval of the Law to Promote Security in Puerto Rico's Port Facilities, which eliminates the mandatory scanning of containers at docks, the Ports Authority will begin implementing the law in phases, starting with the repeal of regulations. Director Executive Norberto Negrón Díaz explained that the first phase will involve evaluating the repeal of Regulation 8837, which requires companies bringing cargo to Puerto Rico to scan and pass through security systems.
This regulation will be repealed, and the law will be implemented, eliminating the obligation for companies to pay for this service. Governor Jenniffer González signed Law 126-2016 on Tuesday, adding to her previous action in August when she canceled the contract between Ports and S2 Services, the company responsible for scanning cargo at the San Juan dock.
The governor stated that this legislation modernizes the port security policy and eliminates costly and inefficient processes that have burdened commerce and consumers for years. The repeal of Regulation 8837 is expected to save companies approximately $11 million per year, which was the cost of the scanning system that had been in place for over 15 years without yielding any significant results.