The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that manages the administration of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). ICAO works with the 193 member states that are currently party to the Chicago Convention to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS). SARPS are designed to ensure that members states maintain aviation operations and regulations that conform to global norms. Additionally, ICAO coordinates capacity building activities for states which support aviation development objectives and coordinates multilateral progress in safety and air navigation.
ICAO and its member states have developed a Secure Supply Chain Regime which seeks to reduce the burden of responsibility for applying security controls on the aircraft operators. While passengers and baggage are screened before takeoff, applying security controls and screening of 100 percent of cargo and mail is always not practical. Therefore, ICAO’s Secure Supply Chain Regime is based on a model in which security controls are applied at the point of origin or at a designated point before reaching the airport. By sharing security responsibilities among stakeholders in the supply chain, ICAO’s secure supply chain regime facilitates the movement of cargo, reducing possible delays which would otherwise occur under standard operating procedures.
The ICAO Secure Supply Chain Regime is implemented through Regulated Agents and Known Consignor regimes. These entities must be approved by appropriate authorities to perform security screenings. In order to achieve Regulated Agent status, applicants must provide documentation of a robust security program in which specified security measures are employed to secure cargo. As some types of cargo are time consuming to screen, ICAO’s Secure Supply Chain Regime also offers the implementation of a Known Consignor Regime. Known Consignors perform security controls at the manufacturing stage to promote further supply chain efficiency. Known consignors must also demonstrate compliance with Known Cosigner Security Program Protocol and be approved by the appropriate authorities. ICAO’s Secure Supply Chain Regime continues to be updated to best respond to evolving threats to the supply chain, while maintaining its focus on preserving the inherent advantages of the air transport mode.
