IATA warns “disjointed” EU PLACI roll out could result in customs delays

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for urgent action to address the disjointed roll out of the EU’s new Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) System.

The EU PLACI system is a new layer of advanced security information for air cargo shipments coming into the EU which went live on March 1.

However, according to IATA, the system’s launch runs the risk of exacerbating supply chain difficulties with custom clearance delays because it went live “despite 12 European States not being ready and not having given definitive information about their timelines for readiness”.

The trade body said some of Europe’s biggest air cargo hub airports are located in the 12 states that are not PLACI ready: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.

“The delayed implementation of PLACI in 12 European states must be urgently addressed,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s global head of cargo. “With supply chain difficulties already impacting people and businesses, the risk of increased delays for custom clearance must be avoided.

“It is exasperating that 12 European governments have not met the implementation timeline and have yet to provide definitive indication of when they will be ready. These states must urgently provide the necessary clarity to enable airlines to adapt their own implementation planning.”

In 2019, the timeline for implementation from March 1 2023 was adopted. With incomplete preparations in 12 European states, the air carriers must re-organise their own planning in accordance with the yet-to-be announced level of readiness of these countries, said IATA.

The submission of advance cargo information enables countries to target and assess risks related to cargo shipments prior to the arrival of the shipment to the country of destination, added the organisation.

This new layer of security is to be applied before loading shipments bound for the EU and complies with principles set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and World Customs Organization.