The World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have listed the priority projects they believe will further enhance air cargo security and facilitation worldwide.
ICAO and WCO stressed at their 3rd Joint Conference on Enhancing Air Cargo Security and Facilitation held in Kuala Lumpur on July 26 to July 28, 2016 the importance of a secure and efficient air cargo supply chain for international trade and world economic development.
In a joint communiqué following their conference, the organizations updated participants of the work that has been done under the WCO/ICAO Joint Action Plan that was crafted during the first joint conference in 2012.
Projects under the action plan include the publication of a brochure entitled “Moving Air Cargo Globally,” with a first edition in 2013 and a second launched during the third conference; development of a training workshop on air cargo security and facilitation, piloted in April 2015 and now to be presented in all regions; the launch of a Joint Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)/Regulated Agent (RA) pilot program in 2015; and establishment of a Joint Working Group on Advance Cargo Information, which has been meeting since August 2014.
Meanwhile, while recognizing the work that has been done, participants urged ICAO and WCO to complete the initiatives began under the action plan and identify further areas for cooperation that will benefit both regulators and industry.
Conference participants urged the global customs body and the United Nations aviation agency to increase their efforts in the area of pre-loading advance cargo information and exploit synergies between AEO and RA programs.
The conference also recommended updating the action plan so it gives more attention to promoting the implementation of electronic communication channels for air cargo shipments (e-freight).
“Encouraging a paperless environment, for instance by moving to Electronic Consignment Security Declarations and Air Waybills, would help to maintain a key advantage of air transport–speed of delivery–and competiveness, especially in expanding e-commerce markets,” the communiqué stated.
Guidance materials and specifications from ICAO and WCO will greatly assist in this transition, it added.
Similarly, the two organizations emphasized that developing advanced screening technologies is the key to sustaining a secure and efficient air cargo network.
The conference strongly advocated a dialogue between regulators, the air cargo industry, and equipment manufacturers to identify needs and develop a roadmap with clear milestones as a priority area for cooperation between ICAO and WCO.
Both ICAO and the WCO also concluded that joint work could usefully be carried out against emerging threats, such as attacks from insiders and the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones.
The conference supported the view that all efforts could be reinforced by extending the close working relationships developed between aviation security and customs regulators to other bodies dealing with the transport of air freight and cargo screening, such as the Universal Postal Union, the International Maritime Organization, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Lastly, the conference called on member states to intensify cooperation at the regional and national levels, which is often less well established than on the global stage.
In his opening speech during the joint conference, WCO secretary general Dr. Kunio Mikuriya stressed that “with the rapid growth in the air cargo industry and growing security concerns, a coordinated and collaborative approach between and among all stakeholders at the international, regional and national level is vital to achieve a safe, secure and sustainable global aviation system, leading to greater facilitation and increased economic growth.”
ICAO Council president Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu noted that “we are here to support a vital and progressive air cargo industry. This means achieving the right balance between security and facilitation…we must strive to do everything we can to prevent disruption of the global supply chain by acts of unlawful interference. Nothing will undermine efforts to facilitate air cargo movements as much as uncertainty about security.”
The fourth ICAO-WCO Joint Conference is scheduled for 2018. – Roumina Pablo
