G-8 NATIONS TO COOPERATE ON TRANSPORT SECURITY

G-8 NATIONS TO COOPERATE ON TRANSPORT SECURITY    The Group of Eight nations have agreed to a set of “cooperative actions” to promote increased transportation across all modes, while maintaining an efficient flow of legitimate freight across borders.
   “The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 illustrated the critical yet fragile nature of the international transport system,” said the G-8 in a statement. “For the global economy to flourish, this system must continue to provide safe, secure, efficient and reliable services to travelers and customers in all parts of the world.”
   The G-8, which comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and United States, held a summit meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, June 25-27.
   The G-8 cooperative action on transport security for cargo covers container, aviation, maritime and land transport security issues.
   Container security issues include:
   * Recognize the urgency of securing global trade and work quickly in cooperation with international organization to create and implement an improved container security regime to identify and examine “high-risk” containers and maintain “in-transit integrity.”
   * Develop, in cooperation with non-G-8 countries, pilot projects to test “integrated” container security concepts.
   * Implement common standards for electronic customs reporting by 2005 and work with the World Customs Organization (WCO) to encourage implementation of the same common standards in the non-G-8 countries.
   * Start work within the G-8 and the WCO to require advanced electronic information related to containers, in addition to their location and transit, “as early as possible in the trade chain.”
   Aviation security issues include:
   * Speed up implementation of standards for reinforced flight deck doors for all G-8 passenger planes, which is set for by April 2003.
   * Support the International Civil Aviation Organization in the “rapid” implementation of mandatory aviation security audits of all ICAO contracting states.
   * Improve cooperation on aviation security between countries.
   * Encourage non-G-8 countries to contribute to the ICAO’s operations.
   Maritime security issues include:
   * Support the International Maritime Organization’s amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to speed up the installation of automatic identification systems on certain ships by December 2004.
   * Support the IMO’s SOLAS amendment to require mandatory ship security plans and ship security officers on board vessels by July 2004.
   * Support the IMO’s SOLAS amendment to require mandatory port facility security plans and port security assessments by July 2004.
      Land transport issues include developing within the United Nations and other international forums an efficient security program for overland transport and distribution of hazardous cargoes with initial consultations this year.
   “In order to ensure timely implementation of this initiative, we will review progress every six months, providing direction as required to G-8 experts,” the G-8 said. “G-8 experts will pursue these priorities and will promote policy coherence and coordination in all relevant international organizations (ICAO, IMO, WCO, International Labor Organization), in partnership with industry.”