Introduction

Singapore will be implementing the Regulated Air Cargo Agent Regime (RCAR) with effect from 1 April 2008 . It is a security measure to enhance air cargo security on commercial passenger aircraft and is a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This measure is necessary to ensure the safety and security of commercial passenger flights in view of the global terrorist threat.

The Singapore Police Force and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore have been consulting and working closely with the industry for many months to prepare for RCAR.

Principles of RCAR

The RCAR is based on the underlying principle that aircraft shall operate in a secured environment, thereby requiring consignments of cargo transported on commercial passenger aircraft to be subjected to some degree of security measures before they are loaded onto the aircraft. Security measures will be used to screen and clear cargo. Cargo that has been cleared shall then be protected from unlawful interference or contamination until they are loaded onto the aircraft.

Why you should become a Regulated Air Cargo Agent

Air cargo agents may register to be Regulated Air Cargo Agents (RCAs) and be included in the List of RCAs maintained by Police. Air cargo agents who do not wish to register as RCAs may continue their current operations but entire consignments of their cargo will be subjected to full security measures at the airfreight terminals. Charges will be imposed for the application of these security measures and they will be borne by the respective air cargo agents.

RCAs on the other hand, will enjoy random screening of their known cargo as they would have already adopted an acceptable level of security in their business operations.

Criteria to be a Regulated Air Cargo Agent

In order to qualify as a RCA, the air cargo agent must be a legal entity registered in Singapore . The air cargo agent will be required to put up a security programme as part of its registration application which will detail the basic security measures and procedures across its entire supply chain including the storage, packing and transportation of cargo.

Registration

To register as an RCA, the air cargo agent shall submit a duly completed application form and the following documents to support its registration:

1. the name, registration number and address of the air cargo agent’s business, company or limited liability partnership;
2. the business profile of the air cargo agent’s business, company or limited liability partnership including details of its:-
   1. principal activities;
   2. principal place of business;
   3. trading name if it differs from the name of the business, company or limited liability partnership; and
   4. sole proprietor, managers, partners, directors, office bearers and shareholders;
3. the air cargo agent’s Security Programme if the application is made on or after 1 Oct 2008 ;

Air cargo agents who register before 1 October 2008 and meet all the stipulated criteria will be issued a certificate of registration with validity until 31 March 2009 . Air cargo agents must then submit their security programmes before 1 October 2008 . Upon approval of its security programme, the validity of the registration of the RCA will be extended for another 3 years. Once the air cargo agent is registered and listed as an RCA, it shall abide by the regulations and the conditions imposed by Police.

Security Programme

The security programme is a document that describes the security measures and procedures to be used by RCA in securing and clearing consignments of cargo. It contains details of the RCA and its operations as well as a list of security personnel and third party service providers. In addition, it also specifies the standards of protection for cargo including the physical security of these premises. This security programme must be submitted to the Police for approval. The approved security programme must be fully implemented and complied with by the RCA. RCAs can expect to be audited by the Police on its compliance with the security programme.

To facilitate the launch of RCAR, Police will accept the air cargo agent’s application without its security programme before 1 October 2008 . As this security programme requirement is new to the industry, Police will allow more time for air cargo agents to put up their security programmes and will also be conducting workshops to guide the RCAs on putting up the security programmes. More information on the security programmes will be given at workshops to be conducted for RCAs in April and May 2008. The air cargo agents shall submit their security programmes to Police before 1 October 2008.

Security Screening at Airfreight Terminals

Security measures will be carried out by the Cargo Terminal Operators when RCAs lodge their cargo at the airfreight terminals. It is important that RCAs differentiate their cargo into known and unknown and inform the Cargo Terminal Operators accordingly so that the correct levels of security measures can be imposed on the different cargo. This can be done by indicating on the export control form accordingly. Known Consignor should be represented by indicating “KC” on the export control form just beside the MAWB number. Similarly, for Unknown Consignor, it should be represented by indicating “UC” on the export control form.

Only cargo from known consignors and RCAs will be deemed as known cargo. Unknown cargo, referring to those that are not from known consignors or RCAs, shall be fully screened and the screening charges borne by the air cargo agent.

The criteria to recognise a consignor as known consignor is determined by the Police and will be made known to the RCAs.

(Note: This practice shall only apply to RCAs)

Audits

RCAs are expected to audit their own operations and self-evaluate their compliance to the approved security programme and to maintain records of such audits. Police will conduct surprise audits on the RCAs to ensure that the RCAs implement their security programme in its entirety and that it complies with all the conditions imposed by Police.

Subsequently in 2011 and later, the RCAs will also be required to engage an accredited auditor (who are recognised by Police) to audit its compliance with the approved Security Programme not more than 6 months before the expiry of its 3-year registration. RCAs will bear the cost of this audit and will need to pass the audit 1 month before the current registration validity expires before its registration can be considered for renewal.

Legislation

The legislation governing the RCAR will be known as the Air Navigation (Regulated Air Cargo Agents) Regulations – a subsidiary legislation under the Air Navigation Act. Air cargo agents who have successfully registered to be RCA will be required to abide by the regulations and the conditions imposed by Police.

Penalty

Any person who is guilty of any offence under the Regulations shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both. Police may also decide to suspend or cancel the RCA’s registration, remove it from the List of Regulated Air Cargo Agents and blacklist the companies, on top of imposing the penalty cited earlier. Any RCA which lose its RCA status will be deemed as an unregulated air cargo agent whose cargo will be classified as unknown cargo and be subjected to full security measures at the airfreight terminals.

RCA whose registration has been cancelled may not reapply to be registered and included in the List of Regulated Air Cargo Agents, until after the expiry of the period of 12 months from the date the registration was cancelled.

Introduction

Singapore will be implementing the Regulated Air Cargo Agent Regime (RCAR) with effect from 1 April 2008 . It is a security measure to enhance air cargo security on passenger commercial aircrafts and is also a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This measure is necessary to ensure the safety and security of commercial passenger flights in view of the global terrorist threat.

The Singapore Police Force and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore have been consulting and working closely with the industry for many months to prepare for RCAR.

Principles of RCAR

The RCAR is based on the underlying principle that aircraft shall operate in a secured environment, thereby requiring consignments of cargo transported on commercial passenger aircrafts to be subjected to some degree of security measures before they are loaded onto the aircraft. Security measures will be used to screen and clear cargo. Cargo that has been cleared shall then be protected from unlawful interference or contamination until they are loaded onto the aircraft.

Screening of Cargo

Known consignors’ cargo will be subjected to a lower percentage of screening compared to unknown consignors whose cargo will be fully screened. However, known consignors found to have inadequate security measures may have its cargo subjected to a higher level of screening. A known consignor must also agree for his cargo to be subjected to any inspection and checks by the RCA and the authorities. Screening charges of known cargo will be borne by the government for the first 3 years after the launch of RCAR. Thereafter, they will be borne by the industry.

Responsibilities of a Known Consignor

A known consignor must ensure that it protects its cargo from any tampering by

1. ensuring that all employees of the company handling air cargo are given proper security awareness training;
2. employs reliable staff in preparing the consignments;
3. has protected the consignments against unauthorized interference during preparation, storage and transportation;
4. accepts that packaging and contents of any consignment may be examined for security reasons.

Storage, Documentation & Transportation

A known consignor must ensure that its consignments are protected from unlawful interference at all times. This may be achieved by ensuring that the consignments are attended to at all times, are held secured in secured premises, or are made tamper-proof by means of locks, cages etc.

A known consignor must also ensure that all handing over or taking over processes are properly carried out with the relevant documents.

Shipping of Dangerous Goods

All dangerous goods shall not be loaded as cargo unless —

1. the consignor of the goods has furnished the operator of the aircraft with particulars in writing of the nature of the goods and the danger to which they give rise; and
2. the goods have been properly packed and the container in which they are packed is properly and clearly marked and labeled so as to indicate that danger to the person loading the goods in the aircraft,

in accordance to Annex 18 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.

If you have any further queries, please contact us at

Hotline: 65463383 / 65463127
Email: spf_rcar@spf.gov.sg

Last updated: 18 Feb 2008