A Unified Approach to Air Cargo Security is Long Overdue

ICAO’s engagement with industry, including GACAG members, in recognizing best practices and developing standards, recommendations, guidance materials and templates is a positive approach to achieving improvements.

As noted in today’s news, GACAG also encourages ICAO and its member states to conduct pilot exercises in collaboration with the industry and to consider their outcomes before finalizing new regulations.

GACAG recommends that states incorporate validation and quality control measures for aviation supply chain operators, e.g. Regulated Agents and Known Consignors, among others within their national air cargo security programs.

GACAG said it believes the following secure air cargo supply chain basic principles should be considered when developing national air cargo security programs:

• Wherever possible, air cargo supply chain security programs will use ICAO definitions to aid international harmonization and consistency, including those of Regulated Agent and Known Consignor.

• Any secure air cargo supply chain regime, including the Regulated Agent and Known Consignor programs, is to be consistent with ICAO Annex 17 Standards and Recommended Practices, and associated ICAO documents.

• Validation and registration of trusted secure air cargo supply chain operators shall be undertaken by the regulating authority or an independent party recognized by that authority.