BULLETIN : AIRFREIGHT EXPORT INCREASED SECURITY FROM MARCH 1 2019

Specific Freight as an AACA strongly suggests that if you are a regular air exporter that your company immediately apply to become a known consignor (please view below web site). If you are not a known consignor by march 1 2019, there will be extra costs to cover the X-ray, metal detection, explosive detection or piece level physical examination of cargo.

From 1 March 2019, before air cargo is uplifted onto an outbound international aircraft, it must be examined at piece-level by a Regulated Air Cargo Agent under an Enhanced Air Cargo Examination Notice, or by a Known Consignor through their approved, secure origination procedures.

This is an extension of security measures that have applied  to exports to USA for over a year now , and will apply to ALL exports from Australia by airfreight.

If you are a known consignor for the purpose of exporting airfreight to America there is nothing else you need to do

Air cargo security

The Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (the Act) and Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 (the Regulations) establish a regulatory framework that safeguards Australia’s essential aviation services against unlawful interference, while maintaining and improving aviation security.

Under the Act, air cargo is defined as ‘goods (other than baggage or stores) that are transported by aircraft’.

To ensure the safety and security of Australian aviation services, air cargo in Australia is secured from its point of origin to being loaded on an aircraft. This is in accordance with the international ‘Standards and Recommended Practices’ set out in Annex 17 of the Chicago Convention, administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Department is responsible for administering the following air cargo security schemes:

• Accredited air cargo agent (AACA) scheme– for industry participants who handle, and/or make arrangements for the transport of air cargo
• Regulated air cargo agent (RACA) scheme– for industry participants who examine air cargo under a notice, to clear the cargo for uplift on an aircraft
• Known consignor (KC) scheme– for industry participants who use secure methods and procedures to originate air cargo, allowing cargo to be cleared at its point of origin.

The Department is also responsible for administering Prohibitions on inbound international air cargo.

For detailed information and how to apply for known consignor status please view the below web site and contact  Simon Orico in our melbourne office or  Andrei Capotescu in our Sydney office

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/transport-security/air-cargo-security