Security loopholes on bellyhold cargo will go unplugged for two more years
Those that play strictly by the rules may be at a disadvantage, claim shippers
Security loopholes governing cargo on passenger planes won’t be plugged for two years, leaving some shippers meeting stricter regulations than others, according to a shipper website.
Shippers’ Voice claimed new rules requiring shippers to be audited and validated by an authorised independent inspector, to gain the "known consigner" status required to move goods on passenger planes, could easily be avoided.
Andrew Traill, managing partner of Shippers’ Voice, explained that all EU known consignors – recognised by regulated agents, rather than the independent inspectors now required – before this April, could maintain the status for a further 24 months.
“This situation will not be well received by the travelling public, or those shippers that are complying with the stricter security programme in full,” said Traill.
“At the moment, to become a ’known consignor’, the rules in many parts of Europe are surprisingly tame: a shipper need only provide an annual security declaration to one regulated agent.
“Although security will be no worse than at present, it will disappoint many – not least the EC – if it takes another two years before one can say with any confidence that all freight is been adequately secured and safeguarded.”
Shippers’ Voice claimed new rules requiring shippers to be audited and validated by an authorised independent inspector, to gain the "known consigner" status required to move goods on passenger planes, could easily be avoided.
Andrew Traill, managing partner of Shippers’ Voice, explained that all EU known consignors – recognised by regulated agents, rather than the independent inspectors now required – before this April, could maintain the status for a further 24 months.
“This situation will not be well received by the travelling public, or those shippers that are complying with the stricter security programme in full,” said Traill.
“At the moment, to become a ’known consignor’, the rules in many parts of Europe are surprisingly tame: a shipper need only provide an annual security declaration to one regulated agent.
“Although security will be no worse than at present, it will disappoint many – not least the EC – if it takes another two years before one can say with any confidence that all freight is been adequately secured and safeguarded.”
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