The cargo security impasse between the European Union and Russia, which started July 1 with the imposition of an EU rule, now threatens a trade war between the two, reports Atlanta area Air Cargo World.
Russia's ambassador to the EU says his country "does not intend to undertake additional inspections" because its airlines and airports already meet the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation's security standards.
But as far as the EU is concerned, facilities at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, the hub for Volga-Dnepr Group, need certification under the new EU 1082, also known as regulation ACC3.
Regulation EU 1082 stipulates that an airline can only transport cargo into an EU member state if its airport operation at the final point of departure for Europe has been certified by an independent validator.
Airport handling facilities in three countries that are in the European Economic Area, but are not EU members - Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - are exempt, as is Switzerland in a separate deal.
Also exempted are 12 additional countries, assessed as having safe procedures and appearing on an EU green list, which includes the US, China and Japan.
Airlines' facilities at all other airports with direct connections to EU countries must now undergo an audit by a validator, who is accredited by an EU member state.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the sole authorised trainer of validators, estimates that more than 1,000 locations worldwide are affected.
IATA is pressing the European Commission for information on how many locations have so far been certified, but no figures have yet been provided.
The new rule was drawn up following the failed Yemeni printer cartridge bomb plot in 2010.
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