TC Air Cargo Security Program

Acronyms and Definitions

ACI - Advanced Commercial Information - The ACI program is about providing CBSA officers with electronic pre-arrival cargo information so that they are equipped with the right information at the right time to identify health, safety and security threats related to commercial goods before the goods arrive in Canada.

ACR – Authorized Cargo Representative - Is defined as someone who physically handles the cargo, has access to the cargo or can influence its movement. Only persons with appropriate qualifications, the need and right are permitted access to cargo intended for transportation by air.

ACSP – Air Cargo Security Program - Program designed to enhance air cargo security and prevent the transport by air of unauthorized persons, weapons, explosive substances, incendiary devices or their components or other dangerous items that be used to jeopardize the safety and security of persons, aerodromes or aircrafts.

Air Cargo (MOU) – means unaccompanied goods, including normal freight, consolidations, transshipments, unaccompanied courier items, company stores and unaccompanied baggage shipped as freight destined for transportation on board an aircraft.

Air Cargo Security Assessment and Characterization Questionnaire – Document used to collect and analyze data from freight forwarders about current air cargo security practices and characteristics of the cargo they handle.

Bomb – Non-Specific Threat - An individual will make a single statement to the effect that a device has been placed. Generally, very little, if any detail is conveyed before the threat is terminated.

Bomb – Specific Threat - The perpetrator will provide detailed information that could include statements describing the device, why it is placed, its exact location, the time of activation etc

CANUTEC – Canadian Transport Emergency Center - operated by Transport Canada to assist emergency response personnel in handling dangerous goods emergencies.

CASR - Canadian Aviation Security Regulations - Part of the Aeronautics Act, it establishes the requirements for air carriers, aerodromes operators and screening authorities that relate to security information and incident reporting. Security committees, restricted areas, access control, trespassing, possession or sale of weapons, screening of passengers and their goods and cargo, transportation of persons, belongings, baggage and cargo, persons under escort, and security threats.

CATSA - Canadian Air Transport Security Act – Is responsible for the security screening of passengers, baggage, and other persons, and property that access aircraft and aerodrome restricted areas through screening checkpoints.

CBRN - Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear – Weaponized or non-weaponized CBRN materials that can cause significant harm. Non-weaponized materials have been traditionally referred to as Dangerous Goods (DG) or Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and can also include contaminated food, livestock and crops. The term “CBRN” includes DG or HAZMAT.

CSC – Cargo Security Coordinator - Is defined as a senior person at a company, who has the responsibility and authority to deal with air cargo security issues and liaise with Transport Canada as necessary.

CSD – Cargo Security Declaration - Document to be completed for all unknown shipper cargo searched as well as for all other cargo searches conducted in accordance with Transport Canada security requirements.

CSO – Cargo Screening Officer - Person specifically trained to conduct air cargo searches and who are designated by Transport Canada as cargo screening officers

CSP – Cargo Security Plan – Document to ensure that an appropriate level of security is applied in respect of cargo destined for transportation by air and to document the procedures implemented to accomplish this objective.

C-TPAT - Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism - Is a joint US government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security.

Dangerous Goods - Dangerous goods are articles and substances, which are capable of posing significant risk to health, safety, property or the environment.

Freight Forwarder (MOU) – Means the person, company or organization named on the air waybill that acts as the intermediary to arrange for the transportation of goods between the shipper and the air carrier but does not include postal authorities.

Goods – Means anything that may be taken or places on board an aircraft, or that may be brought into an aerodrome or other aviation facility, including personal belongings, baggage, cargo and conveyances.

GPS – Global Positioning System - Uses satellite signals to track the location or position of vehicles or vessels on earth.

IATA – International Air Transportation Association - A trade association representing and serving the airline industry worldwide.

IBC – Intermediate Bulk Container - Is a container constructed of fiberglass or plywood with steel reinforcing and is used for storage and transportation of goods.

ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization – Specialized agency of the United Nations, charged with the administration of the principles laid out in the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

IED – Improvised Explosive Device - Is the common name for explosive devices, often used in unconventional warfare by guerrillas, commandos or terrorists forces.

IMO – International Maritime Organization - United Nations Agency concerned with the safety of shipping and cleaner oceans

IND – Improvised Nuclear Device - Is intended to cause a yield-producing nuclear explosion. An IND could consist of diverted nuclear weapon components, a modified nuclear weapon, or indigenous-designed device (see CBRN).

Interim Procedure – Means a temporary security procedure that has been developed in response to the operator’s failure to implement or maintain an Air Cargo Security Plan.

ISPS - International Ship and Port Security Code - Is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities, developed in response to the perceived threats to ships and port facilities in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the US.

Known Shipper - A shipper that is registered in the Transport Canada Secure Supply Chain database.

MOU – Memorandum of Understanding - Is a legal document describing a bilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action.

PIP - Partners in Protection (Canada) - Enlists the cooperation of private industry in efforts to enhance border security, combat organized crime and terrorism, increase awareness of customs compliance issues and help detect and prevent contraband smuggling

RA – Regulated Agent - Means a freight forwarder that is a participant in Transport Canada’s Regulated Agent Air Cargo Security Program

RDD – Radiological Dispersal Device (dirty bomb) - An RDD combines a conventional explosive device such as a bomb with radioactive material. It is designed to scatter dangerous and sub-lethal amounts of radioactive material over a general area.

Risk - Defined as the “probability that an attack will be attempted and will be successful”.

Risk Assessment - An estimate of the probability that an attack will be attempted and will succeed.

Security Threat - A threat that, if un-addressed, may jeopardize the safety of the public or employees of the RA or the security of air cargo facilities or conveyances.

SSCMS – Secure Supply Chain Management System - Process and system to qualify and add shippers to the “Known Shipper Database”.

TC - Transport Canada - The department develops and administers policies, regulations and services for the transportation system.

TDGA - Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act - An Act to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods.

TDGR - Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations - Regulations that pertain to the transportation of dangerous goods, by any conveyances used to transport persons or goods.

Threat Assessment - An estimate of the probability of an attack being attempted against the target within a specific timeframe.

Unlawful Interference - Acts that are attempted to jeopardize the safety and security of civil aviation and air transport.

Vulnerability - Defined as “those characteristics of a target which could be exploited in an attack.

Vulnerability Assessment - An examination of the characteristics of the target to determine those weaknesses that could be exploited by various forms of attack, thus indicating the probability that these forms of attack could succeed.