Chennai airport must comply with EU's new air cargo security regulation on imports from third country airports (ACC3) effective July 1, reports The Hindu daily's Business Line.
The regulations aim to prevent the import of air cargo from a non-validated or non-recognised third country following 2010's Yemen air cargo bomb. It stipulates that cargo be security-checked by an independent EU certified validator.
Without the security clearance certificate cargo will be diverted to other airports, such as privately run Bangalore and Hyderabad which have been verified by EU regulators, unlike the Chennai airport.
Chennai lacks X-ray machines and dual scans needed for top and bottom of cargo. This has been compounded by a lack of EU certified agents.
Madras (Chennai) Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman J Krishnan said missing the deadline would divert the 30 per cent of total cargo handled at Chennai to the EU, not including cargo to the US that transit the EU.
According to a senior official at the airport, equipment needed is procured and they are "gearing up to meet the deadline". Upgrades have been delayed by privatisation initiatives, which have slowed capital expenditure.
Cargo migration to Bangalore has seen a decrease in air cargo to Chennai of 20 per cent due to poor infrastructure and connectivity, Mr Krishnan added.
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