News
The World Customs Organization （WCO） welcomed the decision of the Universal Postal Union （UPU） to make its security standards mandatory for its 192 member countries, thereby establishing a legal basis for the provision of advance electronic data on postal items to Customs and aviation security authorities.
Outcomes of the UPU's 25th Congress, which took place in Qatar from November 7-11, 2012, were presented by a representative of the UPU's International Bureau in Bern, Switzerland to delegates attending the 197th/198th Sessions of the WCO's Permanent Technical Committee, responsible for trade facilitation and security procedures.
The UPU's decision will greatly facilitate ongoing efforts by the WCO, the International Civil Aviation Organization （ICAO）, the International Air Transport Association （IATA） and the UPU to bolster the international supply chain by securing the air cargo sector, following attempts by terrorists in Yemen to comprise aviation security in 2010.
To facilitate implementation of the decision, the UPU is developing a global model to send advance data to Customs, other border regulatory agencies and airlines, in a manner and according to a timetable relevant to security needs, thereby enabling the prior examination of a consignment's security status by concerned authorities and the airline industry.
