Newsletters

From 01 January 2027, road transport of secured air cargo and mail within the EU secure supply chain may only be carried out by a regulated agent, a known consignor, or an approved haulier. The current system, under which regulated agents and known consignors can appoint carriers through a signed haulier declaration, will therefore come to an end.

This change is not only relevant for road transport companies. Freight forwarders acting as regulated agents will also need to review their transport arrangements. Where they outsource the collection or delivery of secured air cargo, they must ensure that the carrier holds valid approved-haulier status. Simply having a contractual relationship or a signed haulier declaration will no longer be sufficient.

The new regime was introduced through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1255, amending Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 on aviation security. An approved haulier is an undertaking that transports and protects secured air cargo or mail on behalf of a regulated agent or known consignor and whose procedures meet the applicable EU security requirements. Approval is granted by the competent authority in the Member State where the haulier is registered and may be valid for up to five years. Approved hauliers are entered in the EU database on supply-chain security.

A freight forwarder that is itself approved as a regulated agent may continue to carry secured cargo using its own operations, subject to the requirements attached to that status. However, when transport is entrusted to an external road carrier, that carrier will need its own approved-haulier status from 01 January 2027.

If secured cargo is transported by a company that does not have one of the required statuses, the cargo will lose its secure status. It will then have to undergo security screening again before being accepted for carriage by air. This may cause additional costs, operational disruption and delays, particularly where sufficient screening capacity is not immediately available.

Obtaining approved-haulier status requires careful preparation. Applicants must generally submit a security programme, appoint a person responsible for its implementation, ensure that relevant personnel are appropriately recruited and trained, and undergo an on-site verification.

CLECAT therefore strongly recommends that companies review the status of their entire pool of road hauliers well in advance. Companies that wait until the end of the year may face a shortage of compliant road transport capacity, additional screening costs and operational delays.