German Transport Ministry purges sloppy air cargo handlers

GERMAN authorities have withdrawn licences from three companies incapable of meeting the country's air cargo security standards in the wake of a foiled terrorist bomb plot on two cargo planes, reported The Associate Press.

The purge is aimed at cleaning up the industry, which is concerned that it may be brought under costly police supervision if it cannot get its house in order, reported Deutsche Press-Argentur. Government inspection of all freight would drastically increase transport costs.

German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer said the nation has tightened checks and controls on the nation's "cargo chain" that includes not only shipping firms, but also companies that regularly ship goods for export.

The Transport Ministry said the checks also found inadequacies at 20 companies, including guards who could not produce training certificates and bills of lading not properly filled in. They were given deadlines to fix problems or lose operating licences.

After 70 freight companies were vetted, the German Federal Aviation Agency stripped three companies in North Rhine-Westphalia state of their title of "known consignor". The status means they can send freight without it having to be x-rayed at airports, said DPA.

To become a known consigner, said DPA, businesses have to follow security rules, check the background of staff and undergo site inspections. Another three companies had their applications to become "regulated agents" rejected. Agents conduct the security checks that are a private-enterprise substitute for airport scrutiny of air freight.
(Source:www.schednet.com)