Given the important role that partnerships between the customs, transport and trade communities play in strengthening the supply chain, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have released two documents that provide key information on the security and facilitation measures implemented by both organizations.
Regarding the initiative, the WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, said that “in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to facilitate the safe distribution of vaccines, strong collaboration between Customs, Civil Aviation Authorities and relevant stakeholders is highly recommended.” And he emphasized: “WCO and ICAO members are encouraged to make the best use of advance cargo information for risk assessment, as well as to align partnership and security programs to ensure safe and efficient air cargo supply chains.”
The first publication titled “Joint WCO-ICAO Guiding Principles for International Pre-shipment Advance Cargo Information (PLACI)"provides the Joint Principles for Advance Cargo Information, as well as the Joint Guidelines on the alignment of the Authorized Economic Operator of Customs and Aviation Security," the WCO communication indicates.
“These Guiding Principles and Guidelines are the result of continuous joint efforts over the past 10 years, following serious threats and vulnerabilities to international trade supply chains,” it is stressed.
With these new lines of action, Another layer is being added to the multiple existing ones for aviation security to detect improvised explosive devices/improvised incendiary devices (IED/IID) in air cargo. These PLACI principles should not be used as a stand-alone method of aviation security screening (AVSEC), but rather to perform an additional assessment of the potential security risks posed by an air shipment.
The WCO clarifies that the Joint Guiding Principles comprise a number of specific guidelines to meet the needs and capabilities of both regulators and industry, and provide guidance for the risk analysis process. It highlights: “Combined with intelligence and other information, PLACI shipment data enables regulators to make an initial assessment of the potential risks posed by a shipment. The results of the initial assessment may also indicate the need for further action.”
As regards the second guidance text, referring to the new Joint WCO-ICAO Guidelines on the alignment of Customs Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and AVSEC Regulated Agent/Known Shipper (RA/KC) programs, the following objectives are sought:
- Harmonization and alignment between the WCO AEO and AVSEC RA/KC Programs;
- capitalization of synergies and consequent increase in efficiency;
- reducing duplication of regulatory efforts and burdens on trade;
- assists WCO and ICAO members wishing to assess the similarities between their Customs and AVSEC security programmes, with the aim of further aligning them.
“This collaborative work should ultimately lead to the simplification of procedures and the eradication of duplicate security requirements and controls, to the benefit of authorities and the airline industry,” the WCO stressed in concluding the meeting. release.
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