lata pilots security programme in 14 countries

Despite a global clampdown on airfreight security, terrorists continue to find ways to breach stringent security measures using insiders to compromise supply chains. This is the warning from International Air Transport Association spokesman Chris Goater who said the top security risk to airfreight remained the potential for terrorists to conceal a bomb in cargo. “The most well-known example was the shipment of two consignments of explosives concealed in ink cartridges on separate aircraft from Yemen in October 2010. Fortunately, due to intelligence sources, the consignments were intercepted en-route,” Goater said. According to Iata, airlines spend more than $8.5 billion annually on aviation and border security for passengers and cargo. Goater said the industry had to remain vigilant to security risks posed by insiders. “Recent court cases have confirmed that terrorist organisations not only seek to radicalise airport-based and airline employees, but also provide specific instructions and training on how to compromise supply chains,” he said. “It’s very important that everyone plays their part in preventing unlawful interference in shipments, from the factory or warehouse and through every stage of the journey until it arrives safely at its destination,” he said. He believes the major challenge to improving security is countries’ political will to implement their international security commitments. “Security procedures and standards have been developed but developing and least developed countries often lack the capacity and expertise to fully meet their obligations. This often leads to airlines unilaterally assuming responsibility for applying risk mitigation strategies,” Goater said. The vision of Iata’s “Secure Freight” pilot programme is for fully secured global air cargo supply chains, with airfreight secured up-stream and protected until it is loaded onto aircraft, said Goater. “While acknowledging no system will ever be impenetrable, this approach keeps the focus on adapting to new threats and pursuing quality control and best practices,” he said. The programme provides templates, best practices, a Secure Freight Standards Manual, and Iata expertise to assist regulators and the industry. “While promoting global standardisation, each Secure Freight pilot project develops procedures and processes that take into account the unique requirements of each state,” Goater said. According to Iata’s annual review 2014, the electronic consignment security declaration (e-CSD) has been implemented in six countries over the past year. e-CSD pilot programmes, which give regulators the opportunity to access a standardised audit trail of security information, have been rolled out in 14 countries, including the UK, the USA and South Africa. Turkey, Hong Kong and Russia are among countries set for implementation in 2015. INSERT & CAPTION The vision of Iata’s Secure Freight pilot programme is to have airfreight secured up-stream and protected until it is loaded onto aircraft. – Chris Goater