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In line with the recommendations of the European High Level Working Group on air cargo security, all cargo carried into the EU will be subjected to new security measures as of 1 February 2012.

The new EU regulation 859/2011, adopted in August 2011, introduces the following requirements to increase security of cargo flying into the EU:

• Any airline carrying cargo or mail into the EU will have to be designated for each station they are operating from as “Air Cargo or Mail Carrier operating in the Union from a Third country airport” (ACC3).
• All cargo carried by ACC3 shall be screened or security controlled and their security status shall be indicated in an accompanying documentation. Until 1st July 2014, these security controls shall be compliant with ICAO standards. After this date, the security controls will have to comply with EU requirements as set in Regulation 185/2010.
• The regulation also includes additional security measures for High Risk Cargo, defined as cargo originating from some specific countries, or cargo subject to significant tampering.
• As of July 2014, all ACC3 carriers as well as all ‘Regulated Agents and Known Consignors’ sending or handling EU-bound air cargo from foreign stations will have to be audited and independently validated by an EU recognized validator.

In order to comply with these rules, all Airlines carrying cargo into the EU have to contact its EU state of reference, as listed in Regulation 394/2011 before the end of 2011.

These new rules pose a real challenge to airlines and freight forwarders worldwide because they have to ensure that EU requirements are implemented at all airports in foreign countries. IATA is working together with the European Commission and EU Member States to facilitate the implementation of these rules for airlines prior to Between now and July 2014 IATA with guidance from the “Cargo Security Task Force” is also exploring solutions to assist Airlines and National Authorities comply with these requirements.

IATA will specifically look at harmonizing the documentation requirements, via the introduction of a standard Electronic Consignment Security Declaration, but also at building on existing industry standards and audits to avoid duplications.