Notice from CAA re UK Aviation Security

This communication supplements previous messaging to UK industry advising air carriers of the regulatory requirements for carrying cargo and mail into the UK at the end of the UK-EU transition period. The key message is that a new UK ACC3 Scheme will come into effect on 1 st January 2021, augmented by and implemented through the launch of a new UK supply chain database. UK ACC3 Scheme To reiterate earlier messages, the UK will no longer be part of the EU ACC3 regime from 23:00 (UTC) on 31st December 2020. The UK ACC3 Scheme will take effect at this point. I would draw your attention to revised guidance that has been published on the CAA website explaining the UK ACC3 Scheme, including future validation arrangements and the general operational characteristics (see link below): www.caa.co.uk/CAP2015

No immediate action is required on the part of air carriers as a result of this change (aside from checking the accuracy of entries on the UK database described further below). Building on our previous advice, to ensure the continued security of inbound cargo to the UK, we will require UK ACC3 designations for all air carriers and their secure supply chains (RA3s and KC3s) where these are required under current arrangements for flying cargo into the UK. To minimise any disruption or additional burden on carriers, all existing ACC3, RA3 and KC3 designations currently listed on the EU Database on Supply Chain Security will automatically be accepted and retained on the UK’s own supply chain database as of 31st December 2020. On 1st January 2021, air carriers with existing designations may continue to fly cargo to the UK without the need for any additional approval action on their part, until those designations expire. Neil Williams Head of Air Cargo Security & Logistics Aviation Security Regulation 5 th Floor, 11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf LONDON, E14 4HD Tel: 0207 453 5806 E-mail: neil.williams@avsec.caa.co.uk Web Site: www.caa.co.uk

21st December 2020 All Air Carriers Operating in the UK All UK Cargo Regulated Agents For new UK ACC3 designations, including renewals on expiry of existing designations, air carriers and their respective supply chains will need to apply directly to the UK. Requests for designations will be administered from the outset using broadly the same criteria as the existing EU ACC3 regime, including maintaining the same “green” and “red” State/territory lists from Day 1 under the UK scheme. Equally, validation requirements will remain largely the same, including completion by validators of standard UK checklists (included as annexes in the UK ACC3 Scheme guidance). UK Supply Chain Security Database As indicated, we have introduced a bespoke UK Supply Chain Security Database, accessible via the following link: https://securesupplychain.caa.co.uk From 23:00 (UTC) on 31st December, the UK database replaces the EU system as the legal default database to be used by industry in respect of flights operating from applicable Last Points of Departure into the UK. The UK Supply Chain Security Database was launched as “live” for interrogation and verification purposes on 23rd November. Prior to re-launch, and as a continuing activity, the CAA project team is engaged in updating all UK air carrier (ACC3) and supply chain (RA3 and KC3) data currently stored. In this respect, I should be grateful if all air carrier representatives would urgently check via the link above their respective ACC3 entries on the UK database using the standard search functionality (“Air Cargo Carriers”). Please advise the CAA at Acc3@avsec.caa.co.uk as soon as possible should you identify any inaccuracies or if there are omissions regarding the data stored, including the designation expiry date (though please note that in some cases the expiry date has been extended by a short period for UK administrative purposes). Please also check the accuracy of the data/designation status held for those RA3s and KC3s included within your non-EU secure supply chains in respect of operations to the UK. Again, you should use the standard search functionality on the UK database (“Non-UK Regulated Agents” and “Non-UK Known Consignors”), advising us urgently of any errors or updates that are needed. The above actions are essential to ensure that the UK database is as accurate as possible on the formal commencement of the UK ACC3 Scheme from 23:00 on 31st December, as it will become the legal basis for carriage by air of cargo into the UK from relevant LPDs, as well as the point of reference for industry verifying the security status of supply chains.

EU Non-Recognition of UK Supply Chain Entity Status from 1st January 2021 I should also take this opportunity to advise or remind UK industry of some important messaging in the European Commission’s ‘Notice to Stakeholders’ dated 28th April 2020, which can be viewed at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/brexit_files/info_site/aviation_and_maritime_security_en_1.pdf . This Commission notice confirmed the effect of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU at the end of the transition period on UK domestic supply chain entity status (essentially Regulated Agents (RAs) and Known Consignors (KCs) in a cargo context). From 1st January 2021, the EU will no longer recognise UK RA or KC secure status as part of the EU secure supply chain. However, the UK will be an equivalent “green list” third country for EU ACC3 purposes. In practice, this means that cargo flown from the UK to the EU as transfer air cargo may still be accepted as secure, and hence there is no automatic requirement to re-screen prior to onward departure by air (dependent on the practices in each EU Member State). However, cargo carried by road (truck) from the UK to the EU for onward transfer by air may NOT be accepted as secure and may therefore need to be rescreened prior to flying from an EU airport. Note, however, that existing arrangements for secure cargo travelling between the UK and Ireland, in either direction, will remain unchanged in practice. Cargo will continue to be accepted as secure based on “essential services” provision and in accordance with the extant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries. Other existing security arrangements for air cargo carried inbound to the UK remain unaffected by the end of the transition period. This includes the screening requirements for air cargo transferring through the UK (including where brought to the UK by truck) unless accompanied by a specific UK air cargo transfer exemption and/or under the UK-Ireland MoU. I hope that this communication provides sufficient clarity regarding aviation security regulatory arrangements for air cargo flown into from the UK from 1st January 2021. However, if you have any questions, please get in touch via: Acc3@avsec.caa.co.uk