‘Get ready for Security 108 legislation’

TECHNICAL STANDARDS relating to the implementation of Security 108 legislation have been finalised and these are likely to be published some time next year following consultation between the Civil Aviation Authority and its stakeholders. “We were looking at a number of changes to the published regulations and have had several meetings with the CAA,” chairman of the Air Cargo Operators’ Committee, Alwyn Rautenbach, told FTW. And while there is still no firm implementation date, Rautenbach says that airfreight operators should already be gearing themselves up. The legislation will hit the industry hard in terms of its ability to hand over freight and expect it to fly. Agents will need to be licensed, and to be licensed they will need to be audited. The origin of goods will have to be verified and goods screened before being handed over as known cargo. And this will demand the purchase of expensive X-ray equipment. The standards have already been implemented with variations all over the world. But Rautenbach doesn’t believe that South Africa is necessarily at a disadvantage through its later entry. “We are coming in after the fact which means that we could ultimately end up using more advanced systems when the legislation is eventually passed in this country.”