EU member states agree on air cargo security action plan

[News_Editor]

EU member states agree on air cargo security action plan

2010-11-29 22:29:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEW) -- Experts of European Union (EU) member states on Monday agreed on a series of recommendations regarding a regional action plan on air cargo security following a failed terror plot to blow up U.S.-bound cargo planes.

EU Vice-President Siim Kallas met with the high-level group on air cargo security to set out a series of recommendations, which include new harmonized EU cargo and mail security controls, EU coordination, and a 'global approach.'

The EU said the first steps will be to define criteria for identifying cargo which represents a particular risk and to establish mechanisms to allow for the evaluation of security standards at non-EU airports.

In addition, EU member states will be encouraged to accelerate the implementation of the EU's system of supply chain security, which is also known as consignor validation, and to introduce the new requirements as much as possible before the April 2013 deadline.

"The Member States and the [EU] Commission should as a matter of urgency strengthen the compliance monitoring of the cargo and mail rules," the EU added, adding that the Commission has so far made 30 cargo inspections at member state airports which show that the implementation of EU rules must be improved.

The proper implementation of cargo rules is linked to effective staff training, the EU explained, as standardized training packages for staff involved in air security could ensure robust and harmonized standards.

The EU also admitted that effectively screening cargo can be challenging, but it announced that there will be further investment in research to improve the performance of current detection technologies and to come up with new possibilities.

Furthermore, experts agreed that it is imperative that information about new threats is shared as quickly as possible so that member states can take action immediately.

The EU recognized that it should play an 'active role' in audits and capacity building initiatives as such actions 'will not only improve the security in those countries but will also vastly benefit global trade.'

The action plan comes several weeks after two bombs were sent via UPS from Yemen and were addressed to locations in Chicago. One of the bombs was found on a UPS plane that arrived at East Midlands Airport in England on October 29. A printer, containing a printer cartridge with explosives, was removed from the plane and eventually made safe.

Another bomb was discovered at a FedEx facility in Dubai, after it had traveled on two Qatar Airways passenger flights. It was scheduled to continue to the United States on another UPS cargo plane, but was found in time.

British police said earlier this month that the explosive device found in England was set to be activated at 10.30 a.m. UK time (5.30 a.m. EDT). "If the device had not been removed from the aircraft the activation could have occurred over the eastern seaboard of the US," Scotland Yard said.

Earlier, British officials said that the bomb found in England was powerful enough to bring down the aircraft if it had been detonated during the flight. Other officials had also said that it was likely the intention to cause the aircraft to crash somewhere in the United States.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the attempted terrorist attack, saying it will continue to strike American interests and the interests of America's allies.

In addition, the Al Qaeda affiliate also claimed responsibility for the crash of a UPS cargo plane in Dubai in September. However, local and U.S. authorities have not found any evidence to indicate that the aircraft crashed as a result of a bomb blast. However, the cause remains under investigation.

As a result of the attempted terrorist attacks, the United States recently announced an immediate ban on toner and ink cartridges over 16 ounces (453 grams) on passenger aircraft, while extending a Yemeni air cargo ban to Somalia. Other countries have also announced air cargo bans for Yemen.

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