ICAO and WCO team up on air cargo security

ICAO and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for increased cooperation to protect air cargo from acts of terrorism or other criminal activity, and for speeding up the movement of goods by air worldwide.

More than 40% of freight by value is transported on passenger and freighter aircraft every year via a complex, multifaceted global air cargo system.

According to Raymond Benjamin, secretary general of ICAO, the solution to improving security without sacrificing speed of delivery is through the consistent application of relevant and effective controls, from start to finish during the shipping process.
Secretary general of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, added: "Moving goods by air is an essential part of the global supply chain and ensuring the security of air cargo is paramount, which is why this MOU is a powerful tool in our collective efforts to keep potential threats at bay."
Cooperation between the two organisations will focus on aligning the regulatory framework of both organisations relative to air cargo, and will include electronic advance data, the sharing of information at various levels (government-to-government, Customs-to-Customs and Customs-to-industry), training and education and risk management.

Given the volume of goods transported by air and the impracticality of screening all cargo, a risk-based approach is considered necessary. WCO and ICAO experts will explore the application of risk management to cargo for identifying threats and implementing the required security measures, including the vetting of advance-cargo information.

On July 1st, 2011, more stringent ICAO standards concerning air cargo became applicable. These include a new requirement for Member States to establish a supply-chain security process.

Quelle: eyefortransport
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