UNECE and ICAO say that the digital innovations will move air cargo away from long-standing paper-based documents and promote a contactless environment and greater cross-border trade resilience.
In line with the ICAO Council’s Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations, the specifications will reduce physical contact among international trade and transport professionals to protect cross-border trade and transport operations from pandemic restrictions.
Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of UNECE says: “I am proud of the contribution of the practical tools developed with the support of UNECE’s United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT). UNECE looks forward to building on this successful cooperation with ICAO for seamless multimodal transport and trade to drive countries’ sustainable socioeconomic recovery efforts.”
Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of ICAO says: “The latest innovations reflect ICAO’s integrated, collaborative, and multilateral approach to transport policies encompassing air cargo and mail supply chains, and will play an important part in addressing both current and future pandemic risks.”
Digital specifications will replace the paper-based air waybill, Dangerous Goods Declaration, and the Consignment Security Declaration.