Michael Steen, Chairman of GACAG, said: 'We are a global industry and it is critical that we work with regulators to develop a global, harmonized approach in this area. We believe there will be great value from our industry members' participation in the ACAS pilot in the U.S., and on drawing lessons from that pilot towards a globalized and harmonized outcome.'
In its new position paper on Air Cargo Advance Electronic Information for Security Purposes, GACAG says it fully endorses and supports efforts to constantly improve security in the international air cargo supply chain and supports the use of advance electronic information for risk assessment purposes in accordance with the World Customs Organization's SAFE Framework of Standards and other applicable international security standards. The Group says it supports the use of Regulator-Industry consultation, collaboration and pilot programs as the means of developing these programs, such as the ACAS initiative in the United States led by U.S Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration.
However, GACAG warns against national authorities taking a non-uniform approach to the implementation of advance electronic data requirements for security, stating that this could result in added bureaucracy, additional costs and less predictability for the aviation sector. GACAG also believes that consultation and collaboration between regulators and industry are key to finding a workable approach.
Steen added: 'There has been a recent significant increase in the number of countries seeking to implement advance electronic information but as some countries may not be following the advance electronic information standards published in the WCO SAFE Framework, it is creating confusion and additional costs to the aviation sector. In their respective efforts to further secure the air cargo supply chain, some countries have been releasing ad hoc directives - including consideration of advance electronic information prior to loading - without adequate time for discussion, resulting in regulations that the industry may be unable to fulfill.'
GACAG is recommending a series of measures that need to be addressed in order to achieve an orderly rollout of advance electronic information requirements for security purposes. The Group's recommendations include a call for authorities to recognize that different segments of the air cargo industry have very different business models such as integrators, consolidation through freight forwarders, etc. Therefore, it says, advance data requirements for security risk assessment purposes should allow for multiple originators of filings based on the availability of the information, while also limiting multiple submissions of the same information. GACAG also suggests that importers, exporters or their agents should provide authorities with goods declarations (e.g. house waybill information) for security risk assessment purposes as early as possible. It also believes authorities should provide electronic notification of a security concern, where possible, in order to coordinate containment.
