Congratulations to Mr. István Macsári as the First certified EU Aviation Security Validator in Hungary - 2 November 2014

Currently the EU requires air carriers that fly air cargo or mail into the EU from a non-EU airport to comply with its ACC3 programme, which has been put in place since 1st February 2012. Only air carriers that comply with this programme can be designated as an „Air Cargo or Mail Carrier operating into the Union from a Third Country Airport” (ACC3). The ACC3 designation will only be valid upon a successful process performed by an EU Aviation Security Validator (ASV), and is valid for a maximum of 5 years.

ACC3s must ensure appropriate security measures that all cargo and mail carried to the EU is physically screened according to EU standards or comes from an EU aviation security validated secure supply chain. According to EU regulations, the EU aviation security validation of ACC3's cargo and mail operations at each departure airport for EU bound flights is mandatory since 1st July 2014.

This means that by 1st July 2019, approximately 3,000 air carrier stations in non-EU airports and around 2,000 regulated agents and known consignors must be validated by Validators and re-validation must take place within five years.

An EU aviation security validation – which is a standardized, documented, impartial and objective process for obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine the level of compliance of the validated entity – may be carried out by an individual, who is approved as an EU aviation security validator and is listed in an EU database. EU aviation security validators are recognized in all EU Member States and may conduct validations of every air carrier and cargo handling entity seeking approval or designation according to the EU system for air cargo and mail from non-EU countries.

Mr. István MACSÁRI, – aviation security expert and trainer, Patronising member of IBSSA – who was awarded last year as „Aviation Security Expert of the Year” by IBSSA, has become the first Hungarian certified EU Aviation Security Validator. He is also an EU certified national auditor.

Being an EU aviation security validator, Mr. Macsári is entitled to validate entities outside the EU by offering his services to airlines transferring air cargo from third countries outside the EU to, or through the EU.

An EU aviation security validation of air carriers and cargo handling entities consists at least of an evaluation of security relevant documentation, such as a security programme, and of an on-site verification of the implementation of aviation security measures.

The EU aviation security validator will draft a report based on his findings and provide this report to the appropriate authority of the EU Member State that is responsible for the designation of that air carrier as ACC3. Based on this report, the appropriate authority will decide whether the air carrier can be designated as ACC3 for a specific operation supporting the 3rd countries’ export activities of the air transport industry.

The EU aviation security validator may be deployed to conduct validations of applicant regulated agents and known consignors, and can also validate logistic companies in 3rd countries outside the EU based upon a detailed check-list. By validating the out stations from the airlines, all air cargo can be transported as secured cargo into the EU. Upon this approval the out stations will be granted the status 'Third country known consignor' (KC3) or 'Third country regulated agent' (RA3), depending on their operations. With this status, they can engage with air carriers and become part of their secure supply chain, so to deliver secured air cargo to the ACC3 airline.

We express our congratulations to István for this professional and high-ranking position!

2nd October 2014

IBSSA HQ