'Incompatible' EU, US security hinders air freight: TIACA

CONCERNS have been raised that "incompatible" European and US security regulations may delay international movements of air freight and raise costs.

Poor communication between the respective authorities was also highlighted as an impediment to a future secure supply chain at the executive summit of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) held in Leipzig, Germany.

Karl-Heinze Koepfle, Lufthansa Cargo board member for operations, expressed surprise that standardised security protocols had still not been agreed nine years after 9/11.

Ten separate agencies were imposing dissimilar rules, Mr Koepfle noted. In particular, the "approach of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US made little sense," according to a TIACA statement.

"We were horrified to note that the EU and US differ on fundamental points. There is a different philosophy and they don't harmonise," he said. "Alongside this, other countries have drafted their own regulations. There are an astonishing number of these. None translate immediately into practice."

Jan Muecke, parliamentary secretary for the German transport ministry, complained that the US did not recognise the European Commission's control mechanisms.

Mr Muecke also expressed concern that, ahead of the August 3 deadline for screening all cargo travelling on outbound passenger aircraft from the US, an interim demand for 75 per cent screening by May 1 had been introduced at short notice. He called for carriers meeting EU Secure Supply Chain requirements to be exempt from the screening requirement.

Mr Koepfle believes regulations governing US domestic and export air movements will also constrain imports. A shipment from Frankfurt to Mexico, certified safe to EC rules, would be barred if it transhipped via Miami, he noted. He claimed that the TSA had opted for screening at the last possible point in the chain, mimicking the passenger process, so built pallets flown in from Europe would not be certified safe.

Harald Zielinski, head of Security at Lufthansa Cargo, said, "Everything we ship is secure, both on passenger aircraft and freighters. Don't you trust what we're doing?"

Said TIACA chairman Ulrich Ogiermann: "It is clear that months if not years of work lie ahead to secure the supply chain in both directions without impeding the flow of trade. We are doing everything we can to facilitate this process. As a top priority, we are urging foreign regulatory authorities and TSA to share the details of their air cargo security protocols, so that they can engage in an urgently needed dialogue about possible mutual recognition of these programmes."

(Source: www.schednet.com)