TIACA hails WCO ‘7 + 1’ adoption

In a significant milestone for future air cargo safety procedures, the World Customs Organization (WCO) formally adopted the “7 + 1” data set, which will be the requirement for risk data analysis, helping to standardize basic pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) safety processes. The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) considers this an important update to its SAFE framework of standards to secure and facilitate global trade.

The PLACI processes have been undertaken by the United States, the European Union and Canada since the 2010 incident when al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for placing two bombs on two separate cargo aircraft, disguising them in copying-machine toner cartridges. The plot was discovered before the bombs were detonated. Using advance data for civil aviation risk assessment provides an additional layer of security, TIACA said.

The 7 + 1 data elements include the number of pieces, total weight, general cargo description, shipper name and address, and the consignee name and address (7), plus the airway bill number (1).

The 2015 version of SAFE will be available on the WCO website at wcoomd.org later this month.