The US government yesterday announced new security measures for international air cargoshipments parallel to moves by EU interior ministers to set up a blacklist of “unsafe” airports
following the foiled parcel bombs sent via UPS and FedEx.The developments are the first top-level political measures following the discovery of two bombshidden within printers shipped from Yemen and destined for Jewish targets in the USA. The so-called‘parcel bombs’ have generated widespread international debate about the security of the air cargosupply chain, in particular whether 100% screening of shipments should be imposed or whetherimproved targeting and intelligence is the better response to the threat.
Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, announced that all aircargo from Yemen and Somalia would be banned with immediate effect together with imports of tonercartridges on passenger planes. “No high risk cargo will be allowed on passengeraircraft. Toner and ink cartridges over 16 ounces will be prohibited on passenger aircraft inboth carry-on bags and checked bags on domestic and international flights in-bound to the UnitedStates. This ban will also apply to certain inbound international air cargo shipments as well.Further, all cargo identified as high risk will go through additional and enhancedscreening. These measures also impact inbound international mail packages, which must bescreened individually and certified to have come from an established postal shipper,” shedeclared.
“The Administration is also working closely with industry and our international partners toexpedite the receipt of cargo manifests for international flights to the United States prior todeparture in order to identify and screen items based on risk and current intelligence. We are alsoworking with our international and private sector partners on the expansion of layered detectionssystem including technology and other measures,” she added.
Last week Napolitano spoke with leaders from global shipping companies, including UPS, DHL,FedEx and TNT, to discuss enhanced air cargo screening and security efforts. She told industryexecutives that she wanted to partner with the shipping industry to strengthen cargo securitythrough enhanced screening and preventative measures, including terrorism awareness training forpersonnel.
Meanwhile, EU interior ministers yesterday agreed to a German plan to consider creating ablacklist of ‘high-risk’ airports that are seen as having poor security standards for air cargoshipments. Freight from these airports would undergo more intensive security checks. Other elementsof a five-point plan presented by German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere were creation ofspecial profiles of suspicious packages based on loading information and information about theshipper and recipient, as well as closer cooperation between the EU’s transport and interiorministers.
De Maiziere, who last week visited the UPS European air hub at Cologne, declared: “We agree thatissues of security in air cargo can only and must be tackled jointly in order to ensure therequired security.” The working group will present a package of security measures at the next EUinterior ministers’ meeting on December 2.
Meanwhile, DHL Express CEO Ken Allen told the Financial Times in an interview that the industryneeds to improve air freight safety. “What we need to do is improve surveillance at the pick-uppoint, have more aggressive screening as items enter our systems,” he said. He stressed that “targeting and intelligence” should have priority over “a blanket approach” and suggested therecould be different procedures for goods from known and unknown shippers.
