Sun, Nov 02, 2008
50 Percent Compliance By February 2009 Expected
The US Department of Homeland
Security's Transportation Security Administration announced an
agreement Friday with the European Union Directorate General for
Energy and Transport on air cargo screening standards for passenger
carrying aircraft. The agreement was reached in advance of a
February 2009 deadline to screen 50 percent of air cargo on
passenger-carrying aircraft.
"By synchronizing the way that air cargo is secured on both
sides of the Atlantic, we're taking another potential vulnerability
off the table for terrorists," said Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff. "I commend our European Union partners on their
commitment to this landmark agreement."
The agreement will establish screening consistencies that are
aligned with the requirements outlined in the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, and will lead
to the development of compatible practices and benchmarks that
minimize regulatory differences. It also includes a pledge to
continue to share classified technical information in order to
develop common technical standards, create equivalent overall
levels of security, and explore new methods and procedures to
secure the air cargo supply chain.
TSA says it has taken a number of steps in recent years to
increase the security of air cargo on passenger carrying aircraft.
They include, screening all cargo at hundreds of smaller airports
nationwide, screening cargo requested for specific flights or
destinations, deploying more than 500 hundred specially trained
explosive detection canines to airports, allowing only verified
shippers to place cargo on passenger carrying airplanes, and
aggressively inspecting cargo operations with hundreds of
inspectors.
This agreement is the latest in a series of initiatives with
foreign allies to increase aviation security for the international
traveling public. Other efforts include collaborative airport
inspections, exploring new security technologies and enforcing
common limitations on liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on
baggage.
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