FIATA’s new working group will summarise global security rules

Friday, 09 February 2007

THE INTERNATIONAL Federation of Freight Forwarder Associations (FIATA) says the freight forwarding industry is concerned that an increasing number of rules and regulations regarding security for cargo transportation are being implemented by various countries and/or regulating bodies, without regard for global harmonisation.

While supportive of any security precaution which helps to minimise the threat of terrorism, FIATA says such measures should be standardised and established in close co-operation with the affected industry.

As a consequence, FIATA has created an ad hoc ‘Working Group Security’ group which has already started to work on a summary of existing regulations.

The group updated participants at FIATA’s recent ‘Headquarters’ Session’ in Zurich on the developments affecting transport security.

Its main task is to establish the national forwarders associations as the business partner of choice for authorities developing and implementing new security legislations and programs — and to achieve an appropriate level of security for freight forwarding by harmonised application of cost-effective, risk-based standards.
FIATA said a good example was the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between itself and IATA to form a ‘Global Air Cargo Security Industry Task Force’.

The Zurich meeting — the second most important event on FIATA’s annual calendar, after the World Congress — was attended by 210 delegates from 59 countries.