Supply Chain and Air Cargo Security Convergence
17/01/2011

Items discussed include:

  • The formation of the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG)
  • A European action plan to strengthen air cargo security (IP/10/1651)
  • Discussions at the 6th meeting of the ICAO Facilitation Panel (FALP) in May 2010
  • US Department of Homeland Security partnership with World Customs Organization to strengthen the security and resiliency of the global supply chain

Consistently we see aviation security being regarded as a “sub-set” of supply chain security. Interest is being expressed in a risk-based holistic approach to securing all elements of the supply chain (air carriers, shippers, regulated agents, cargo handling operations and logistics service providers), across all categories of aviation (passenger and all cargo carriers) and related transport modes (air, road, rail, sea). Reliance on government-industry partnerships involving sharing of information is proposed; and, the vast majority of stakeholders are requiring that new ICAO Annex17 air cargo standards be implemented world-wide.

These initiatives require governments to establish mechanisms to mutually recognize comparable supply chain security regimes across trading partners, and to ensure communication of security incidents and threats. Industry and regulatory authorities are equally concerned in the rapid resolution of the definition as to what constitutes “high-risk cargo”.

The above notwithstanding, the “jury is still out” on which, if either, of the current “known shipper” models – EU independent validation of known consignors or the US Certified Cargo Screening model including shippers, regulated agents (or IACs) and independent cargo screening facilities (ICSFs) will be included in the revised ICAO Annex 17 measures.

The FIATA press release on the establishment of GACAG can be viewed at: http://www.fiata.com/index.php?id=388&L=en

The European air cargo security action plan press release can be viewed at: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1651

The ICAO Facilitation Panel Working Paper can be viewed at: http://www.icao.int/icao/en/atb/meetings/2010/FALP6/Docs/FALP6_WP03_en.pdf

The full DHS Press Release can be viewed at: http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1294331815795.shtm

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