A new non-profit business organisation, launched in Brussels, seeks to develop international standards for intermodal freight container security
The body says it aims to counter the threat to the estimated 7 trillion euro international trade in goods, from terrorism and organised crime, including smuggling and theft. The International Container Security Organisation (ISCO), which aims to publish global standards for container security devices (CSDs) and related systems, has been founded by businesses including General Electric Company, GreenLine Systems, JPMorgan Chase, Mitsubishi Corporation, Siemens AG, and Unisys Corporation. These companies are calling for global standards to help protect international commerce.
What they say
Dr Christoph Seidelmann, the Vice-President of the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) in Paris, and new President of ICSO, said, "The ICSO team will begin today to develop and deliver standards contributing to a secure transport system. Just as standards contributed to make today’s freight container transport system efficient, safe, and successful; so will standards for new and emerging technologies contribute to the security of containers and goods in-transit." Speaking at the launch, Thomas Frischmuth, Head of Siemens One added: "All too often international standards lag far behind the availability and use of new technologies they are designed to regulate. It is not uncommon for standards for one generation of technology to be developed just when a new generation is entering the market. ISCO is an organisation that will be ahead of the game and develop standards that support international trade."
ICSO says it will develop and recommend standards for notifying customs, other appropriate authorities, and authorised business staff when shipments and containers are compromised during transit, plus standards for devices that detect and report in-transit container intrusions and other irregularities. Membership of ICSO is possible for businesses, official agencies, and individuals.
