6. CARGO, COURIER AND EXPRESS PARCELS

All cargo, courier and express parcels intended to be carried on passenger or all-cargo aircraft shall be subjected to the security controls detailed hereunder before being placed on board the aircraft. Regulated agents shall be: designated, approved or listed by the appropriate authority; subject to specified obligations, as defined by the appropriate authority. Cargo, courier and express parcels shall only be carried by air where the following security controls have been applied: the reception, processing and handling of cargo shall be performed by properly recruited and trained staff; cargo shall be: searched by hand or physical check; or screened by x-ray equipment; or subjected to simulation chamber; or subjected to other means, both technical and bio-sensory, (e.g. sniffers, trace detectors, explosive detection dogs etc.) so as to reasonably ensure that it does not contain any prohibited article as listed in points iv and v of the Attachment, unless it has been declared and properly subjected to applicable safety measures. Where none of the above means and methods of security control can be applied owing to the nature of the consignment, the appropriate authority may specify a storage period. Once security controls have been implemented, including controls on cargo from known consignors, whether on or off airport grounds, sterility of the shipments shall be maintained until such time as it is placed onboard aircraft and maintained until the departure of the aircraft. The security controls detailed in paragraph 1 need not be applied in respect of: cargo received from a known consignor; transhipment cargo; cargo whose origin and handling conditions ensure that it presents no security threat; cargo which is subject to regulatory requirements providing for an appropriate level of security protection. A regulated agent or air carrier may only recognise a consignor as a known consignor by: establishing and registering the identity and address of the consignor and the agents authorised to carry out deliveries on his behalf; and requiring the consignor to declare that he: prepares consignments in secure premises; and employs reliable staff in preparing the consignments; and protects the consignments against unauthorised interference during the preparation, storage and transportation; and requiring the consignor to: certify in writing that the consignment does not contain any prohibited articles as listed in points (iv) and (v) of the Attachment; and accepts that the package and contents of the consignment may be examined for security reasons. Where consignments can be positively identified for carriage only on all-cargo aircraft, the criteria detailed in point 6.4 need not apply provided that the known consignor: has a confirmed bona fide business address; and has previously shipped with the regulated agent or air carrier; and has an established business relationship with the regulated agent or air carrier; and ensures that all consignments are protected from unauthorised access until taken into the custody of the air carrier. Transhipment cargo arriving by air need not have the security controls detailed in point 6.3. paragraph 1 applied to it provided that it is protected against unauthorised interference at the transit point. Other transhipment cargo, such as land or rail cargo, not being submitted to security controls at the point of departure or en route shall be screened in accordance with point 6.3 paragraph 1(b) and protected from unauthorised interference.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-10 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.