License to Operate

Strategic goods are goods, which you are not allowed to export, import or transit to certain countries or only under certain conditions. This is for reasons of security and international agreements. It concerns goods, which can be used:

• for military purposes
• for both civil and military purposes
• for the production of weapons of mass destruction and/or means of delivery for such weapons

Military goods (such as guns) and dual-use goods (such as night vision devices and certain chemicals) can pose a threat to security. Companies that trade in such goods must therefore comply with strict rules. The same applies to companies that provide technical advice or export certain types of software.

If you do want to export, import or transit military- or dual-use goods, please check the website of the Dutch Government for more accurate information about the needed mandatory documentation for shipping these type of goods.

We at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, have strict rules in transporting strategic goods. Therefor early in the process all the shipments are checked. A team of experts evaluates every shipment that could be a risk for us. If the risk is real, the shipment will be stopped at origin and sent for more in-depth evaluation by the experts. After further inspection, we decide if we as Air France KLM Martinair Cargo can or cannot transport the specific shipment. In some cases, we might make a request for additional documents.

You as customer have the responsibility to provide Air France KLM Martinair Cargo as early as practicable in the process with the most accurate shipment information, before the shipment is dispatched to our freight facility.

Military strategic goods categories

Air France – KLM places great value in protection of animal welfare in general and particularly supports the preservation of wildlife. We endorse the WWF global approach to fighting against illicit wildlife trafficking as well as the claim that illicit wildlife trafficking compromises the security of countries, hinders sustainable social and economic development, destroys natural wealth and poses risks to global health.

Animal transport is highly regulated. Where animals are part of the transport chain, it is important that their wellbeing is guaranteed and strictly adhering to regulations is the first step to ensure a safe and responsible transport. Even though the laws and regulations can be complex, they have to be fully complied with by all parties in the supply chain.

The European Union lists the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) as the prime document describing the rules & regulations for the transport of live animals and describes packing, acceptance, handling and transport requirements for all parties in the supply chain.

All parties in the life animals transport supply chain have specific roles & responsibilities. This means that you take full responsibility, and therefore liability, for the safety and welfare of your shipment and mandatory documents, even while shipment acceptance is done via a Live Animals Acceptance Checklist at AF/KL´s Ground handling Agent (GHA). Still, if Air France – KLM – Martinair Cargo has any doubts regarding your cargo, we will immediately stop the process, which may result in a delay.

Your shipment, its data and its export declaration are essential to cross the EU borders, as Customs worldwide impose import controls on the data and your shipment. These data are essential so your shipment can cross the border quickly. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo uses your data for transport declarations such as pre-departure, pre-arrival and possibly transit. Associated handlers in our network will submit movement declarations with the same data.

Most Customs Authorities provide national websites with their specific regulations. Note that the EU member states have EU level regulations with national enforcement agencies. Depending on your shipments itinerary, IATA TACT rules and commercial conditions as specified on the General Conditions of Carriage and the Customs requirement destination list on local conditions page exactly specify the data needed. The majority of goods shipments fling with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo fly via EU ports, requiring FHL data level.

It is important that we as Air France KLM Martinair Cargo receive all the data on time and no later than prior to acceptance. Why important? FWB/FHL messages hold important shipment information on the nature of the goods and the entities involved. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo uses this information for risk screening purposes just as Customs does. If the information is not on time, complete or correct, this could cause severe penalties for Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.

Please note that IATA´s Cross Border Management Group gives regular updates on international border developments.

  

Be aware of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM)!

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has set-up conventions to prevent the spreading of organisms, which are harmful to plants or plant products. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has its secretariat located in FAO's Plant Protection Service. The IPPC is an international plant health agreement that aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests. IPPC developed the ISPM15, called:
“Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade.”
A wide range of countries has adopted ISPM15 in their legislation, including the EU as a whole.

As commodities – and their wooden packing materials – move around the world, organisms that present risks to plants travel with them. As a Shipper or Shipper´s Agent, you are responsible to comply with the phytosanitary regulations of the country of destination and the transhipment countries. It equally applies to dunnage materials added on behalf of the airline during ULD build-up.

Raw wood must be debarked (DB). Depending on specific country requirements, it must also be heat-treated (HT) or fumigated with methyl bromide (MB). Authorised producers identify approved wood by the ISPM15-mark.                                                                                                                                       

The mark consists of the IPPC logo
+ a country code (shown as XX)          
+ the approved producer code (shown as 000)
+ the treatment measure applied (shown as YY).
In this way, the mark allows for easy - but paperless -
verification that the wood meets the requirements.     

                                                

Wood packaging material used outside the EU and destined to any of the EU countries must be:

• Made of debarked wood
• Heat-treated (code HT)
• Officially marked with the ISPM15-mark in a visible place.

Exemptions: No marking is required for:

• Wood of 6 mm thickness or less
• Wood packaging material processed by means of glue, pressure, heat, or a combination thereof. Examples: plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or veneer.
• Wood packaging material used in intra-EU traffic.
• Products of alternative materials, like paper, plastic, Styrofoam, etc.

Phytosanitary authorities enforce these regulations, oftentimes in cooperation with customs.
Be aware that several countries require a fumigation certificate, even if the packing material bears the IPPC mark. Verify therefore at all times the ISPM website for the list of adhering countries and their requirements.

Above mentioned data risk controls are very important for us, therefor we do not accept or allow self-filers.

In case of any questions about above-mentioned subjects, please contact your local customer service organization.

Please note this is not a comprehensive overview of laws and regulations that may apply to air transport. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo cannot be held responsible for the correctness, nor completeness, of the information provided.