On 28 July the WCO and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) concluded a joint conference on air cargo security and facilitation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reiterating their common message that a secure and efficient air cargo supply chain was essential for international trade and world economic development.
Hosted by the government of Malaysia, the joint conference brought together over 300 participants from states, international and regional organisations, regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders.
The conference concluded that a robust regulatory framework, reinforced by good guidance material, was now substantially in place throughout the globe, but recognised that more work was required to ensure even implementation of its provisions. The requirements for achieving this would be high quality and targeted training programmes, focused capacity building, increased use of electronic communication channels and the promotion of innovation, all reinforced by effective quality control and compliance monitoring. Alternative paths to effective implementation were illustrated during the conference by reference to a range of international, regional and national initiatives.
The conference also noted a number of emerging or growing concerns, including issues such as insider threats and remotely piloted aircraft systems - known as ‘drones.’ The importance of a multi-layered approach to security was fully acknowledged as the most effective countermeasure in this environment, with consideration being given to such initiatives as the use of advance cargo information and the latest screening technologies.
