The first ever full-fledged international conference dedicated to air cargo security concluded there was "no end to the plethora of changes in the cargo industry''.

Frustration at trying to meet the stringent US security rules pervaded the atmosphere at the conference in Frankfurt, hosted by Lufthnasa Cargo. The cost factor for putting in place the security measures was high on the list of complaints.

Several forwarding companies, particularly the smaller ones, voiced concern that the new security measures would have an adverse effect on their business. Some spoke of the emergence of a "two-class corporate landscape" with the bigger ones learning to manage the various rigid security measures and the smaller ones struggling to cope.

Karl-Heinz Koepfle, head of operations at Lufthansa Cargo, stressed that Lufthansa Cargo was against the two-class system.

Some of the participants vented their frustration over discrimination against forwarders privately. Cargo shipments should be examined against any terrorist dangers with the shipper first because the forwarder, as a rule, mainly takes over a closed consignment which he is not allowed to open, one forwarder told Cargonews Asia on the sidelines of the conference. Consequently, the forwarder is unable to examine or assess the security aspects of the shipment, he added.

One forwarder, however, expressed support for the security measures. Martin Sieg, managing director of GEIS SDV, urged other forwarders to see security in the transport chain as a strategic investment. He also pointed to the need for recruiting and training employees on security matters.

While it was generally agreed that security had become an inalienable part of the transport chain, sentiments were running high against imposing further measures. The consensus was on setting up an integrated security concept.

The conference clearly revealed that the EU security laws were being patterned after the US laws. European airlines have been pressuring forwarders to comply with US requirements so that they do not lose flight rights or face heavy fines.

Some German forwarders privately expressed concern over "the ever-stricter measures" imposed by the US which, they allege, was disregarding the core principle of the International Civil Aviation Organisation that the legal requirements of one country could not be forced upon others, even as the EU has been trying to meet the requirements prescribed by the US and co-ordination between Europe and the US had improved in recent years.

There was also a clear emphasis at the conference - apparently, with a view to sending a strong message to the US Transport Security Agency which was represented by its top man Edward Kelly - that any further erosion of the democratic character of a state should be firmly resisted.

Participants in the conference, which attracted representatives of government agencies, airlines, logistics companies and forwarders, insisted "every effort be made to weed out any danger".

Koepfle said Lufthansa Cargo was engaged in grappling with the growing challenges. But the carrier is also keen to see that the international security regulations do not adversely affect the logistic processes in the supply chain.