Air Cargo Security Plan calls for Strengthened Defences Against Terrorist Attacks

A comprehensive plan for air cargo security, the strengthening and hardening cockpit doors and the ongoing presence of air marshals on flights were some of the recommendations that will be presented to APEC Officials following the Second STAR Conference.

The Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference is a forum of leading business and government representatives from APEC's 21 Member Economies that focuses on overcoming the terrorist threat while ensuring the free flow of goods and services. The Final Report from the STAR Conference has been released and is now available online (www.apec.org)

At the conference the Working Group on Air Transportation Security recommended that a comprehensive plan for air cargo security is a necessity in the current environment in which there is a heightened security alert. Measures that could be implemented under these recommendations include the development and introduction of a networked air cargo data validation system and the identification of high-risk cargoes through canine detection services.

The meeting agreed that an effective approach to air transport security calls for adequate attention to the training of recruitment of personnel to work in roles such as monitoring suspicious activity and incident reporting.

The aim of the STAR Conference is to facilitate a dialogue between the business and government sectors on counter terrorism issues.

Recommendations from the STAR Conference will now be presented to APEC Officials, Ministers and Leaders for consideration and policy development.

Other areas that were discussed by the STAR Conference include Maritime Security, Business Mobility and Financial Intelligence Units.

The First APEC STAR Conference was held in Bangkok in 2003 with the Second STAR Conference hosted by Chile on March 5-6 attracting over 300 senior business and government delegates.