ASSA-I Call for a More Stringent and Quality Based Approach to Cargo Security Globally

Brussels, November 3 (ots/PRNewswire) - In light of the recent
mail bombs discovered on board of cargo jets in the United Kingdom
and Dubai, the Aviation Security Services Association International
(ASSA-I) is calling for the quality of the screening methods used for
cargo, on both freight planes and passenger flights, to be enhanced
across the globe.

In the United States, new Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) rules that took effect in August 2010 require that every piece
of cargo should be checked for explosives. However, these rules do
not cover goods coming in from the European Union (EU) and other
third countries. Furthermore, similar rules do not exist currently in
the EU. Since August 2010, U.S. aviation officials have been pressing
the EU to require the X-raying of every package placed on passenger
planes, however to date this call has been met with resistance
because of the costs and logistics involved in screening of this
magnitude.

In relation to the recent bomb scares, ASSA-I General Secretary
Hilde De Clerck commented: "ASSA-I stresses the need for a more
global and stringent approach to cargo security, based on a high
quality approach that combines the installation of the appropriate
technology to screen these goods and well trained security guards to
handle these technologies adequately. ASSA-I believes that the
aviation industry is a global business and there is a need for
effective security regimes across the world."

Cargo is increasingly screened by X-ray machines and handheld
wands. However, certain X-Ray machines are not an effective tool to
screen bulk cargo because of the large size and number of items that
need to be inspected. As a consequence, ASSA-I stresses the need to
look into alternative screening methods for cargo security, such as
explosive detection dogs, which are not yet generally accepted as an
effective screening method.

About ASSA-I

The Aviation Security Services Association - International
(ASSA-I) represents the private security companies providing security
services at airports and for airlines. The aim of ASSA-I is to defend
the interest of the aviation security providers in national, European
and International fora and to promote high-quality security services.

ots Originaltext: ASSA-I
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
CONTACT: For further information please contact: Hilde De Clerck,
GeneralSecretary ASSA-I, c/o Roxanne Vande Zande, T
(+32)2-476-09-43-00, F(+32)2-460-14-31, http://www.assa-int.org,
mailto:rvz@i-b-s.be