Air Cargo Security

To prevent unlawful interference with aviation, the Australian Government has in place measures that require air cargo to be security cleared before it can be loaded on an aircraft. These measures apply to businesses that security clear, handle or make arrangements for the transport of air cargo.

The Government's Aviation White Paper released in December 2009 outlines a number of requirements to ensure Australia's air cargo security practices align with, and are accepted by, our international trading partners.

Supply chain security for air cargo is regulated under the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 and is currently administered through the Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RACA) and Accredited Air Cargo Agent (AACA) schemes.

Current Regulated and Accredited Air Cargo Agent Schemes

The RACA Scheme applies to businesses that make arrangements with airlines for the carriage of air cargo or operate a site for the purpose of storage, handling, examination, or processing of air cargo.

The AACA Scheme complements the existing RACA Scheme. The AACA Scheme covers businesses that provide road transport of cargo destined for carriage by air, such as courier companies.

Future changes to air cargo security rules: the securing the air cargo supply chain initiative

The Australian Government is working with industry to build a more secure end-to-end supply chain for our air cargo exports, involving those who produce, move or uplift goods on an aircraft.

The new air cargo security supply chain framework will extend security obligations throughout all aspects of the export air cargo supply chain and be phased in from July 2014.

For businesses operating within this environment these changes may result in future business opportunities as well as regulatory obligations.

Find out more about the future air cargo supply chain security framework.