IMPORTANT: The following version of IATA Recommended Practice 1630

has been adopted by the 35th Cargo Services Conference (CSC/35) held in
Doha, Qatar on 10 March 2013 and will be declared effective by IATA upon
receipt of requisite government approvals.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1630

CARGO SECURITY

CSC(35)1630 (amended)

Expiry: Indefinite
Type: A

RECOGNISING the action taken by Contracting Member States of the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and recognising that ICAO has accorded the highest
priority to aviation security in adopting and maintaining Annex 17 to reflect worldwide
concern over acts of unlawful interference against aircraft;
RECOGNISING ALSO the importance placed on aviation security by the IATA
Operations Committee and the resulting Recommended Security Practice; and
AS A RESULT OF these developments and action taken by the IATA Cargo Agency
Conference in amending the Cargo Agency Rules to specifically require adherence to
airline cargo security measures.
RECOMMENDED that:
1. SCOPE OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
This cargo security Recommended Practice is intended to protect air carrier operations
against acts of unlawful interference. All Members and IATA Cargo Agents should
implement the cargo security measures described in this Recommended Practice. All
Members and IATA Cargo Agents should acknowledge and respect cargo security
measures accepted or required by governments and those embodied in ICAO Annex 17.
In increased threat situations, supplementary measures may be implemented. Guidance
material to assist in the implementation of this Recommended Practice is available in the
IATA Security Manual.
2. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are adopted:

2.1 ACCOUNT CONSIGNOR. A consignor who originates cargo or mail for its own
account and whose procedures meet common security rules and standards sufficient to
allow carriage of that cargo on all-cargo aircraft or mail on all-mail aircraft.
2.2 AIR SIDE. The movement area of an airport, adjacent terrain and buildings or
portions thereof, access to which is controlled.
2.3 KNOWN CONSIGNOR. A consignor who originates cargo or mail for its own
account and whose procedures meet common security rules and standards sufficient to
allow carriage of cargo or mail on any aircraft.
2.4 REGULATED AGENT. An agent, freight forwarder or any other entity that
conducts business with an air carrier and provides security controls that are accepted or
required by the appropriate authority in respect of cargo or mail.
2.5 REGULATED CARRIER. Air Cargo or Mail Carrier, approved by an appropriate
authority, operating into a destination Country from a departing Country Airport.
2.6 SCREENING. The application of technical or other means which are intended to
identify and/or detect weapons, explosives or other dangerous devices, articles or
substances which may be used to commit an act of unlawful interference.
2.7 SECURITY. Safeguarding civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference.
This objective is achieved by a combination of measures and human and material
resources.
2.8 SECURITY CONTROL. A means by which the introduction of weapons,
explosives or other dangerous devices, articles or substances which may be used to
commit an act of unlawful interference can be prevented.
2.9 SECURITY PROGRAM. Measures adopted to safeguard international civil
aviation against acts of unlawful interference.

3. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
3.1 General
All cargo intended to be carried on passenger or all-cargo aircraft should be subjected to
security controls before being uplifted on the aircraft.
3.2 Regulated Agent
3.2.1 Each Regulated Agent should have a security programme approved by the
appropriate authority in respect of the acceptance, storage and forwarding of cargo.
3.2.2 Each Regulated Agent should register with the appropriate authority and establish
with the air carriers, that it conducts business with, its identity and address as well as the
agents authorised to carry out deliveries on its behalf.
3.2.3 The appropriate authority should conduct periodic inspections of the facilities to
ensure that the security programme has been implemented and is maintained.

3.3 Known Consignor

3.3.1 Each Known Consignor should register with the appropriate authority and
establish with the Regulated Agents or air carriers, that it conducts business with, its
identity and address as well as the agents authorised to carry out deliveries on its
behalf.
3.3.2 Known Consignors should declare in paper, electronic format, or any other means
that may be allowed in the future its commitment that:
3.3.2.1 its consignments are prepared in secure premises; and
3.3.2.2 it employs reliable staff in preparing the consignments; and
3.3.2.3 it protects the consignments against unauthorised interference during
preparation, storage and transportation.
3.3.3 Known Consignors should certify in paper, electronic format, or any other means
that may be allowed in the future that each consignment does not contain any unknown
cargo or dangerous goods, or that dangerous goods in the consignment have been
prepared in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
3.3.4 Known Consignors accept that the package and contents of the consignment may
be examined for security reasons.
3.4 Account Consignor
3.4.1 Each Account Consignor should establish and register with the Regulated Agents
or air carriers, that it conducts business with, its identity and address as well as the
agents authorised to carry out deliveries on its behalf.
3.4.2 Account Consignors should declare in paper, electronic format, or any other
means that may be allowed in the future its commitment that:
3.4.2.1 its consignments are prepared in secure premises; and
3.4.2.2 it employs reliable staff in preparing the consignments; and
3.4.2.3 it protects the consignments against unauthorised interference during
preparation, storage and transportation.
3.4.3 Account Consignors should certify in paper, electronic format, or any other means
that may be allowed in the future that each consignment does not contain any unknown
cargo or dangerous goods, or that dangerous goods in the consignment have been
prepared in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
3.4.4 Account Consignors accept that the package and contents of the consignment
may be examined for security reasons.
3.5 Security Controls
All personnel accepting or handling cargo should be subjected to background checks,
possess all competencies required to perform their duties and be appropriately trained
according to the requirements established by the appropriate authority.

3.6 Security Screening Personnel

Persons involved in security screening of cargo, should be subjected to background
checks, possess all competencies required to perform their duties and be appropriately
trained according to the requirements established by the appropriate authority. Persons
carrying out screening operations should be certified according to the requirements of
the national civil aviation security programme to ensure that performance standards are
consistently and reliably achieved.
3.7 All Aircraft Operational Security
3.7.1 All cargo should be subjected to security controls prior to being uplifted on an
aircraft. Air carriers should not accept cargo for carriage onto an aircraft unless it has
applied such controls itself or their application has been confirmed by a Regulated
Agent, or if being uplifted on an all-cargo aircraft, an account consignor.
3.7.2 All consignments accepted from Known Consignors and/or Regulated Agents will
be deemed to have met required security provisions only after proper checks have been
completed.
3.7.3 All consignments accepted from persons other than Known Consignors or
Regulated Agents must be physically searched, electronically screened or screened by
other means. In addition, a person other than a Known Consignor or Regulated Agent
must provide acceptable documentation as to his identity, the details of which shall be
recorded.
3.7.4 Cargo cleared for all-cargo operations should be subjected to appropriate security
controls if transferred onto an all passenger aircraft (either at origin or before uplift onto
a passenger aircraft).
3.8 Safe Custody
3.8.1 Air carriers must ensure that from the time of acceptance and until completion of
air transportation, cargo consignments are protected from unauthorised interference.
3.8.2
All known cargo consignments that are not adequately protected from
unauthorised interference after acceptance, as required by the National Civil Aviation
Security Programme, shall be screened.
3.9 Right of Inspection and Refusal of Carriage
3.9.1 Air carriers reserve the right to examine, or cause to be examined, the packaging
and contents of all cargo consignments and to enquire into the correctness or sufficiency
of information or documentation tendered in respect of any consignment.
3.9.2 Air carriers reserve the right, without assuming any liability, to refuse, delay or
return any cargo or mail consignments when circumstances so require or for security
reasons.
3.10 Acceptance of Mail

3.10.1 The responsibility for the security screening and sealing of mail is that of the
postal authorities.
3.10.2 Air carriers must ensure that mail is received by their authorised personnel who
will establish the identity of the person presenting the mail that the seals are intact and
that the bags do not show signs of having been interfered with.
3.11 Security Screening Equipment
Any equipment used to screen cargo consignments must be approved by the
appropriate authority as being suitable for the task and shall be maintained and serviced
so as to meet manufacturers' specifications as well as local health, safety and regulatory
requirements. Where practicable, in order to improve efficiency, modern screening or
examination techniques and technologies should be used to facilitate the physical
examination of goods to be exported.
3.12 Security Declaration
3.12.1 The appropriate authorities and/or air carriers may require for each shipment a
security declaration to be provided in paper, electronic format, or any other means that
may be allowed in the future. It is the responsibility of all Members and IATA Cargo
Agents to be familiar and comply with any such security declaration requirements.
3.12.2 For paper security declarations, where not otherwise specified, it is
recommended that the form to be used is the standard Consignment Security
Declaration form shown in Attachment A. Completion instructions are shown as
Attachment B. A completed form is shown in Attachment C.
3.12.3 Support of the electronic format can be provided through IATA CIMP messages
(or IATA XML messages). This information can also be reproduced on the standard
Consignment Security Declaration form. As an example, an indication of which fields
from the Air Waybill Data (FWB) message can populate the form is shown in Attachment
D.
3.12.4 The storage of this completed Consignment Security Declaration form or the
electronic message information also establishes an audit trail that can be accessed by
the regulators if requested.
4. IATA CARGO AGENTS
4.1 IATA Cargo Agents should ensure that the security standards described in this
Recommended Practice are followed. In increased threat situations, supplementary
security measures may be required by air carriers or appropriate authorities.
4.2 The Cargo Agency Conference Resolutions, which embody the rules for
accreditation of cargo agents, include text specifically relating to security. This requires
the agent to implement security controls as required by the appropriate authorities and
which may be supplemented by Member air carriers.
4.3 Cargo agents' security procedures should embody those in this Recommended
Practice and include the following recommended provisions:

4.3.1 security requirements for the packing, storage, transportation and delivery of
consignments to an approved agent or carrier;
4.3.2 established procedures for the identification and verification of persons including
Account Consignors, Known Consignors or Regulated Agents and the recording of their
details;
4.3.3 requirements for the physical protection and safe-keeping of consignments held in
their custody prior to delivery to the carrier;
4.3.4 criteria for the training and recurrent training of agents' staff involved with security
screening, storage, transportation and delivery of consignments.
5. GUIDELINES
Guidelines for the practical implementation of cargo security procedures are described
in the IATA Security Manual.

RECOMMENDED PRATICE 1630

Attachment A
Consignment Security Declaration

RECOMMENDED PRATICE 1630

Attachment B
Completion Instructions
Box

Description
Regulated Party Category (KC, RA or AO) & Identifier
The category (i.e. Known Consignor, Regulated Agent or Aircraft Operator) and
its unique identifier that originally issued the security status must be entered.
Unique Consignment Identifier
The identification of the consignment itself must be entered.
This may be an air waybill (format is nnn-nnnnnnnn), a house bill or a mail
consignment identifier.
Content of the consignment
The identification of the consignment details (e.g. goods description) must be
entered in the case of a direct air waybill shipment or house waybill shipment.
In case of a consolidation shipment, i.e. a master air waybill with associated
house waybill(s), the consolidation box should be ticked in lieu of the goods
description.
Origin
The identification of the origin of the consignment must be entered.
This would be the origin related to the appropriate transport document (air waybill
or house waybill) as identified in Box 2 (e.g. IATA three-letter airport or city
code).
Destination
The identification of the final destination of the consignment must be entered.
This would be the destination related to the appropriate transport document (air
waybill or house waybill) as identified in Box 2(e.g. IATA three-letter airport or
city code).
Transit/Transfer points
The identification of an en-route stopping point where cargo may be transferred
to another aircraft or remain on board the same aircraft should be entered if
known to the issuer, (e,g, IATA three-letter airport or city code) otherwise this
entry may be blank
Security Status
The coded identification of the security status assigned to the consignment must be
entered to indicate whether the consignment is secure for:
a) passenger, all-cargo and all-mail aircraft (some regions use the code
SPX);
b) all-cargo and all-mail aircraft only (some regions use the code SCO); or
c) passenger, all-cargo and all-mail aircraft, in accordance with high-risk
requirements (some regions use the code SHR).

Received from
The coded identification of the category (i.e. Known Consignor, Regulated Agent
or Aircraft Operator) that tendered the consignment. If no other reason, i.e.
Screening Method or Grounds for exemption is indicated and the
consolidation box is not ticked then this entry cannot be blank.
Screening Method
The coded identification of the screening methods (ICAO codes are still under
development) used by the Known Consignor, Regulated Agent or Aircraft
Operator when securing the consignment could be entered as a reason that the
security status was issued, e.g. Screening Method codes.
If no other reason, i.e. Received from or Grounds for exemptions is indicated
and the consolidation box is not ticked then this entry cannot be blank.
In some cases a single screening method may not be sufficient to inspect all
types of consignments, therefore more than one screening methods may be
listed.
Grounds for exemptions
The coded identification (ICAO codes are still under development) indicating why
a consignment is exempted from screening as defined in States NCASPs could
be entered as a reason that the security status was issued, e.g. Screening
Exemptions codes.
If no other reason, i.e. Received from or Screening Method is indicated and
the consolidation box is not ticked then this entry cannot be blank.
Specify other screening method
If the code entered in Box 9 Screening Method indicates that any other means
were applied then text specifying the other means used must be entered.
Security status issued by
If the consolidation box is not ticked then the individual of the Known Consignor,
Regulated Agent or Aircraft Operator who issued the security status must be identified
by name or employee number.
Security Status Issued on
If the consolidation box is not ticked then the exact date and time when the
security status was issued by the Known Consignor, Regulated Agent
or Aircraft Operator employee must be indicated.
Regulated Party Category (KC, RA or AO) & Identifier
The identifier of any Known Consignor, Regulated Agent or Aircraft Operator that
accepts custody of the cargo and accepts the security status originally issued by
the Known Consignor, Regulated Agent or Aircraft Operator identified in Box 1
must be entered.

This entry would confirm that the cargo has remained secure and would follow any
other entries for other Known Consignors, Regulated Agents or Aircraft
Operators that have also accepted the original security status.
Additional security information
Any additional security information that may be required by an ICAO Member
State, e.g. any national regulation applicable to the responsibilities in case of
false declaration, or any applicable emergency amendment.
A signature of the responsible person initially issuing a hardcopy consignment
security declaration set out in box 1 should be inserted when the supply chain is
paper based.

RECOMMENDED PRATICE 1630

Attachment B
Appendix A
Consignment Security Declaration

RECOMMENDED PRATICE 1630

Attachment C
Consignment Security Declaration

RECOMMENDED PRATICE 1630

Attachment D

Message Completion Technical Instructions

IATA EDI messages, e.g. Cargo-IMP or Cargo-XML, can be used to exchange the
required security information for a consignment.
For the purpose of these instructions, it is the IATA Cargo Interchange Procedures
(Cargo-IMP) Air Waybill Data (FWB) message used as the reference point.

Regulated Party Category (KC, RA or AO) & Identifier

Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.3 ISO Country Code + Ref. 29.5 Information Identifier (ISS) + Ref. 29.7
Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (RA and ED) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
ISS - the regulated agent issuing the security status
OCI/GB/ISS/RA/001-011
///ED/0213
Unique Consignment Identifier
Ref. 2.1 AWB Identification
125-12345675LHRJFK/T1K40.0
Content of the consignment
Ref. 12.11 Goods Description or Ref. 12.12 Consolidation
/NC/CONSOLIDATION
Origin
Ref. 2.2.1 Airport/City Code (of Origin)
125-12345675LHRJFK/T1K40.0
Destination
Ref. 2.2.2 Airport/City Code (of Destination)
125-12345675LHRJFK/T1K40.0
Transit/Transfer points
Ref. 4.2.2 Airport/City Code and 4.3.2 Airport/City Code

RTG/JFKII
Security Status
Ref. 25. Special Handling Details
SPH/SPX

Received from
Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.3 ISO Country Code + Ref. 29.5 Information Identifier (ISS) + Ref. 29.7
Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (KC + ED) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information:
OCI/GB//KC/001-011
///ED/0213
Screening Method
Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.7 Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (SM) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
///SM/RES
Specify other screening method
Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.7 Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (SM) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
///SM/AOM-SPECIFY ANY OTHER MEANS
Grounds for exemptions
Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.7 Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (L) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
///L/DIPL
Security status issued by
Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in
particular Ref. 29.7 Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
Identifier (SN) + Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory
Control Information
///SN/JOHNNY WALKER
Security Status Issued on

Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular

Ref. 29.7 Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (SD) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
///SD/05MAR131200

Regulated Party Category (KC, RA or AO) & Identifier

Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.3 ISO Country Code + Ref. 29.5 Information Identifier (OSS) + Ref. 29.7
Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (RA and ED) +
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
OSS - the regulated agent accepting the security status given by another
regulated agent
OCI/GB/ISS/RA/001-011
///ED/0213
/US/OSS/RA/002-022
///ED/0213

Additional security information

Ref. 29 Other Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information in particular
Ref. 29.7 Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information Identifier (ST)+
Ref. 29.9 Supplementary Customs, Security and Regulatory Control Information
///ST/THIS MASTER AIR WAYBILL CONTAINS NO
///ST/1. FREIGHT FROM THAT COUNTRY
///ST/2. TONER CARTRIDGE GREATER THAN 550
///ST/ GRAMS TRANSFERRING THIS COUNTRY