IATA has called for stronger, collaborative action across the air cargo supply chain to counter the risk from undeclared and mis-declared dangerous goods, arguing in a new white paper, Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain, that existing aviation security screening, designed primarily to detect explosives and other security threats, is an important layer of protection but not a complete solution on its own. The call comes amid regulatory discussions on the role security screening should play as a line of defence against dangerous goods more broadly. IATA says about 80 percent of dangerous-goods incidents reported to it in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or concealed items, most frequently lithium batteries and other hidden hazards such as undeclared e-cigarettes and aerosols. “Dangerous goods are transported safely by air every day. The risk comes when they enter the system undeclared or incorrectly declared. Every part of the supply chain has a role to play in identifying and stopping such incidents as soon as possible. Security screening, which is primarily focused on terror threats, is one layer of protection against rogue shippers, but it is not a complete solution. A comprehensive multi-layer approach beginning as far upstream the supply chain as possible is essential,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.

The white paper calls on governments to strengthen oversight and enforcement of dangerous goods requirements across the supply chain; manufacturers and online marketplaces to ensure hazardous items are correctly identified, certified where necessary, and accurately described; shippers, freight forwarders and postal operators to strengthen training and acceptance controls and make greater use of customer and shipment data to flag higher-risk cargo before it reaches the airport; airlines and ground handlers to strengthen checks before loading; and airports to improve coordination and information sharing across the cargo community.