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Criteria to be a Regulated Air Cargo Agent

In order to qualify as a RACA, the air cargo agent must be a legal entity registered in Singapore. The air cargo agent will be required to put up a security programme as part of its registration application which will detail the basic security measures and procedures across its entire supply chain including the storage, packing and transportation of cargo.

Security Programme

The security programme is a document that describes the security measures and procedures to be used by RACA in securing and clearing consignments of cargo. It contains details of the RACA and its operations as well as a list of security personnel and third-party service providers. In addition, it also specifies the standards of protection for cargo including the physical security of these premises. This security programme must be submitted to Police for approval. The approved security programme must be fully implemented and complied with by the RACA. RACAs can expect to be audited by the Police on its compliance with the security programme.



Security Screening at Airfreight Terminals

Security measures will be carried out by the Cargo Terminal Operators when RACAs lodge their cargo at the airfreight terminals. It is important that RACAs differentiate their cargo into known and unknown and inform the Cargo Terminal Operators accordingly so that the correct levels of security measures can be imposed on the different cargo. This can be done by indicating on the export control form accordingly. Known Consignor should be represented by indicating “KC” on the export control form just beside the MAWB number. Similarly, for Unknown Consignor, it should be represented by indicating “UC” on the export control form.

Only cargo from known consignors and RACAs will be deemed as known cargo. Unknown cargo, referring to those that are not from known consignors or RACAs, shall be fully screened and the screening charges borne by the air cargo agent.

The criteria to recognise a consignor as known consignor is determined by the Police and will be made known to the RACAs.

(Note: This practice shall only apply to RACAs)


Audits

RACAs are expected to audit their own operations and self-evaluate their compliance to the approved security programme and to maintain records of such audits. Police will conduct surprise audits on the RACAs to ensure that the RACAs implement their security programme in its entirety and that it complies with all the conditions imposed by Police.

The RACAs are also required to engage an accredited auditor (who are recognised by Police) to audit its compliance with the approved Security Programme not more than 6 months before the expiry of its 3-year registration. RACAs will bear the cost of this audit and will need to pass the audit 1 month before the current registration validity expires before its registration can be considered for renewal.

To register as a RACA, the air cargo agent shall submit a duly completed application form and the following documents to support its registration:

1. the name, registration number and address of the air cargo agent’s business, company or limited liability partnership;
2. the business profile of the air cargo agent’s business, company or limited liability partnership including details of its:
   1. principal activities;
   2. principal place of business;
   3. trading name if it differs from the name of the business, company or limited liability partnership; and
   4. sole proprietor, managers, partners, directors, office bearers and shareholders;
3. the air cargo agent’s Security Programme

Why you should become a Regulated Air Cargo Agent
Air cargo agents may register to be Regulated Air Cargo Agents (RACAs) and be included in the List of RACAs maintained by Police. Air cargo agents who do not wish to register as RACAs may continue their current operations but entire consignments of their cargo will be subjected to full security measures at the airfreight terminals. Charges will be imposed for the application of these security measures and they will be borne by the respective air cargo agents.RACAs on the other hand, will enjoy lower level of screening of their known cargo as they would have already adopted an acceptable level of security measures in their business operations.

To be a regulated air cargo agent, the air cargo agent shall have fulfilled the following criteria:

1. The applicant is a legal entity and is a business, company or limited liability partnership which is registered under the relevant law in Singapore.
2. The applicant including its sole proprietor, managers, partners, directors, office bearers and shareholders are fit and proper persons
3. The applicant’s security programme complies with the specified requirements.
4. The applicant’s inclusion in the List of Regulated Air Cargo Agents will not pose a significant risk to aviation security.
5. The applicant agrees to seek Police’s approval before making any change to security arrangements which may impact the air cargo agent’s ability to maintain security standards.

The applicant is required to complete and submit a hardcopy of the completed application form together with:

1. The final copy of the Regulated Air Cargo Agent Security Programme (RACASP);
2. The latest copy of the business profile obtained from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) (not more than a month from the application date); and
3. A copy of the cargo agent’s industry certification (STP, TAPA Cat A or B, C-TPAT Tier 2 or 3) where applicable
   1. For more information on STP, please refer to the following website: https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/customs-schemes-licences-framework/secure-trade-partnership-stp
   2. For more information on TAPA, please refer to the following website: https://www.tapa-apac.org
   3. For more information on C-TPAT, please refer to the following website: https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/cargo-security/CTPAT

The completed application form and relevant documents may be submitted to the following address:

Forms can be downloaded from the RCAR website at www.spf.gov.sg/rcar. To register as an RCA, the air cargo agent shall submit a duly completed application form and the following documents to support its registration:

1. The name, registration number and address of the air cargo agent's business, company or limited liability partnership;
2. The business profile of the air cargo agent's business, company or limited liability partnership including details of its:-
   1. principal activities;
   2. principal place of business;
   3. trading name if it differs from the name of the business, company or limited liability partnership; and
   4. sole proprietor, managers, partners, directors, office bearers and shareholders;
3. the air cargo agent's Security Programme

Yes, Police may suspend or cancel a RACA's registration and remove it from the List of Regulated Air Cargo Agent if Police is satisfied that the RACA:

1. RACA has failed to comply with any conditions of registration
2. RACA has failed to comply with any provisions of the Air Navigation (Regulated Air Cargo Agent) Regulations, whether or not the RACA has been convicted of an offence for the contravention or non-compliance;
3. RACA is in or is likely to go into compulsory or voluntary liquidation other than for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction, or the RCA is declared bankrupt;
4. RACA has ceased to carry on the business of an air cargo agent in Singapore;
5. RACA has improperly registered himself as a regulated air cargo agent or provided false information; or
6. Public interest or national security of Singapore requires.

A regulated air cargo agent whose registration has been cancelled may not reapply to be registered and included in the List of Regulated Air Cargo Agents, until after the expiry of the period of 12 months from the date the registration was cancelled.

• Particulars Of Registered Company / Business / Limited Liability Partnership
• Particulars Of Establishment

• To Be A Regulated Air Cargo Agent