SA yet to commit to Secure Freight programme

Air cargo security regulations were heralded into the South African air cargo environment under Part 108 of the Civil Aviation Regulations which became law on July 1, 2009, according to Bob Garbett, MD of Professional Risk & Asset Management and honorary director of the Civil Aviation Association of Southern Africa (Caasa). “The regulations are based almost completely,” he told FTW, “on Annexure 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao), and the build-up to the introduction of the regulations involved significant input from the aviation industry and the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Saaca).” The regulations, and their accompanying technical standards, promote the establishment of a secure conduit from the consignor (sender) of air freight through the various twistsand- turns in the conduit to the aircraft. The regulations cover domestic, regional and international air freight. This concept has been adopted and encouraged in many countries and through many organisations including Icao and the International Air Transport Association (Iata). Contracting states to Icao, which include SA, must follow the standard practices which are introduced, such as Annexure 17, or lodge differences with Icao. SA has not lodged any differences covering Annexure 17, and therefore accepted it verbatim. The Iata “Secure Freight” programme, which is a mirror image of the Icao programme, according to Garbett, has been formally adopted by many countries including the UK and Australia.