TIACA promotes phased approach to advance data regulations

Regulators must continue to work closely with all members of the air cargo supply chain to ensure impending advance data regulations “enhance security without impeding cargo flows,” according to a new position paper from TIACA.
Pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) initiatives undertaken by the US, European Union, and Canada since the 2010 Yemen cartridge bomb incident have proved that using advance data for civil aviation risk assessment provides an additional layer of security, said industry body TIACA.
In October 2010, terrorists hid bombs in two computer printers sent by airfreight on FedEx and UPS flights from Yemen to the US. One was discovered in Dubai. The other was uncovered in the UK’s East Midlands Airport, having made it through airports in Dubai and Germany.
TIACA agrees that the so-called 7+1 data set currently used in the pilot phase is sufficient for civil aviation risk assessment and can be provided early in the supply chain.
But regulators "must enable all relevant parties including carriers and others, such as regulated agents or postal operators in the supply chain, to submit data in order to encourage industry to provide it as early as possible".
TIACA also called for a portal or other easily accessible system for small and medium forwarders to use when submitting data, to avoid the complications and IT costs to connect with existing automation systems. TIACA also urged regulators to avoid imposing penalties for 7+1 data submission errors.
“PLACI regulations must take into account the fact that industry is providing data to the best of its knowledge, at an early stage of the supply chain, in order to promote the shared objective of enhancing security,” said Doug Brittin.
 “Because of this, regulators should not look to apply penalties for any errors or updates to PLACI, as data is being provided on a best efforts basis.”
TIACA’s position paper states that advance data systems should adopt an outcome-oriented approach, and be flexible enough to adapt to diverse supply chain business models such as express, general cargo, and post.
“This will ensure that all supply chain models are able to provide the necessary data, and that the data can be analyzed and security enhanced, while commercial flows are unimpeded,” said Brittin.
TIACA is a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO)’s and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s Joint Working Group on Advance Cargo Information (JWGACI).
“We believe it is the right forum to discuss and develop Advance Data issues and solutions,” said Brittin.
“Global Advance Data standards need to be adopted quickly and TIACA is encouraged by the levels of collaboration we are seeing as we work towards a common goal, but much work remains to be done to ensure all of these programs work together, especially with the US and EU moving toward formal regulation quickly.”
A full copy of the Position Paper, which includes detailed, up-to-date analysis of the issues around Advance Data as well as TIACA’s recommendations and action points, can be downloaded by going to the TIACA website, www.tiaca.org