Authorities clamp down on misdeclared cargo

Civil aviation
authorities
have stepped
up efforts to
curb the misdeclaration
of dangerous goods and
are starting to levy “very
serious penalties” of up to
R1 million on shippers who
f lout the regulations.
“This is
in addition
to criminal
procedures
which can be
lodged against
a shipper – or
his designated
agent – for
misdeclaring
dangerous
goods,” says
Doug Smit,
managing
director of Air Cargo
Security Solutions.
He told FTW that
Part 92 of Annex 18 of
the International Civil
Aviation Organisation
(Icao) regulations
for dangerous goods
declarations now also
stipulated that it was
a criminal offence if a
clearing and forwarding
agent, or shipper, was
aware that certain
dangerous goods had been
misdeclared.
Smit said
that while the
onus generally
lay with the
shipper, the
responsibility
(and
consequences)
would lie with
whoever’s
name was on
the master bill
of lading. “If
a forwarding
agent’s name is on the bill,
they need to be 100% sure
that the dangerous goods
declaration is correct,” he
said.
There had been “lots
of incidents” in South
Africa with potentially
serious consequences
due to incorrect
declarations, he added.
“In fact an undeclared,
or misdeclared, goods
incident is far more likely
to occur in South Africa
than a terrorist attack.
And, unfortunately, it may
take a serious incident to
create real awareness and
change behaviours.”
He pointed out that
the misdeclaration of
dangerous goods was, in
most cases, not malicious.
“It often stems from a lack
of awareness,” he said,
highlighting the need for
dangerous goods awareness
training for any person who
had access to goods being
transported by air.
Another concern,
said Smit, was the
misconception that
dangerous goods
earmarked for air transport
were being detected by the
cargo screening processes.
“Unfortunately this is not
true. The security screening
processes are focused
on improved explosive
devices (IED) used in
acts of terrorism and are
not designed to detect
dangerous goods cargo.”
Smit added that
the South African
airfreight industry was
not complacent when it
came to implementing
global security standards.
“We have a good track
record globally and there
is generally a strong
willingness from industry
to comply as they realise
the consequences to their
businesses if they
don’t.
“So when it comes
down to dangerous
goods declaration,
it’s simply a matter of
increased awareness
and education,” he
said, advising freight
forwarders to educate
their clients about
the potential fall-out
for non-compliance.
INSERT
The responsibility lies
with whoever’s name
is on the master bill
of lading.
– Doug Smit