The buck stops with the shipper

New cargo
screening
regulations
implemented on
August 17 this year have
created a whole new layer
of accountability for the
screening of prohibited
items – and shippers are
well advised to take heed.
That’s the view of David
Alexander, general manager
of Professional Aviation
Services (PAS), who pointed
out that the South African
Civil Aviation Authority
(SACAA) had called into
effect the new regulations
in December but allowed
for an eight-month grace
period for organisations
and individual screeners
to undergo the required
training and obtain the
company and individual
certification that is now
required by law.
“The revised regulations
affect training and
introduce significantly
extended training for
air cargo screeners,
screener supervisors
and managers. All cargo
screeners must now be
certified by the SACAA
and must be employed by
a Civil Aviation Authorityregistered
screener
organisation,” he explained.
Alexander told FTW
that while the certified
company, and the
individual screener –
who also needs to be
certified, according to
SACAA regulations –
would be held liable for
the accurate screening of
prohibited items, ultimate
accountability lay with
the shipper who needed
to educate him/herself
about the regulations as
well as the systems and
processes in place around
the screening.
“This is a far-reaching
change that will enhance
the security of air cargo,
and ensuring one is fully
aware of the detail of the
changes is imperative –
as is having a strategy
in place to ensure
compliance.” He added
that full implementation
of the revised regulations
would have a meaningful
impact on air cargo
security provided industry
embraced the changes and
“made every effort to be
compliant”.
Alexander said one of the
common misconceptions
around cargo screening
was that screeners would
automatically pick up other
dangerous goods, including
hidden dangerous goods.
“A good screener should
be able to pick up those
things but they are not
required to do so as per the
regulations. They are only
screening for prohibited
items which means the
shipper should be fully
aware of what dangerous
goods are part of the
shipment and whether
they have been properly
declared,” he pointed out.
He said South Africa was
one of the world leaders
with its cargo screening
regulations.