Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer dolor te diam wisi nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet. RCAR InfoPack exclusive for all SATS Air Cargo Agents Financial Consultation 20 April 2011
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. What is the Regulated Air Cargo Regime ( RCAR )? With effect from 1 April 2008, Singapore implemented the RCAR, a security measure to enhance air cargo security on commercial passenger aircraft. This is a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization and is a necessary measure to ensure the safety and security of commercial passenger flights in view of the global terrorist threat. The RCAR is based on the underlying principle that aircraft shall operate in a secure environment, thereby requiring consignments of cargo transported on commercial passenger aircraft to be subject to some degree of security measures before they are loaded onto the aircraft. Security measures are used to screen and clear cargo. Cargo that has been cleared is protected from unlawful interference or contamination until they are loaded onto the aircraft. Please refer to http://www.spf.gov.sg/rcar/rcarinfo.htm for information on the RCAR. If you have further queries, you may wish to contact the Singapore Police Force at spf_rcar@spf.gov.sg or at their hotline numbers 6546-3383 or 6546-3127. 2. How are RCAR security measures conducted? Security measures are carried out when air cargo agents lodge their export cargo at SATS airfreight terminals. Only export cargo from Known Consignors and Registered Air Cargo Agents ( RCA ) is subject to random screening. Export cargo from Unknown Consignors is subject to full screening. 2 of 10 P a g e
3. How do I declare my status as Known Consignments or Unknown Consignments? Please indicate accordingly on Export Control Forms. 4. Is RCAR security screening applicable to all cargo? RCAR security screening is applicable to all export cargo intended for transportation on commercial passenger aircraft, whether or not lodged in by Known or Unknown Consignors. Some exemptions as determined by the authorities apply. 5. What are the exemptions for RCAR screening? Export cargo lodged in by Known and Unknown Consignors that are exempt from RCAR Screening are: a. Live Animals b. Human Remains c. Diplomatic Mail d. Bonafide Consignments of Life-Saving Materials 3 of 10 P a g e
6. Are Live Ornamental Fish and Live Tropical Fish exempt from RCAR screening? As directed by APD, "Live Ornamental / Tropical Fish" are treated as Live Animals and are exempt from RCAR screening. SATS will however subject Live Ornamental / Tropical Fish to RCAR screening as part of SATS wider security measures. The cost of this screening will be absorbed by SATS. 7. Are stores and accompanied/mishandled baggage exempt from RCAR screening? As directed by APD, stores and accompanied/mishandled baggage are not subject to RCAR screening. SATS will however subject stores to RCAR screening as part of SATS wider security measures. RCAR charges will be imposed based on the following: a. Where such items are lodged-in via Service Airwaybill or Store Consignment Note, the cost of this screening will be absorbed by SATS; and b. Where such items are lodged-in via Commercial Airwaybill, screening charges will be levied on air cargo agents. 8. We are a Malaysian company trucking to Changi for export on flights. How do we become an RCA? Please refer to http://www.spf.gov.sg/rcar/rregist.htm for application guidelines to becoming an RCA. If you have further queries, you may wish to contact the Singapore Police Force at spf_rcar@spf.gov.sg or at their hotline numbers 6546-3383 or 6546-3127. 4 of 10 P a g e
9. My company is a Cargo Sales Agent ( CSA ) booking for other cargo agents. Currently, my company does not qualify as a RCA because we are not a cargo agent. All KCs who book with me therefore become UCs. Can you assist? All businesses related to air cargo are encouraged to sign up as an RCA. Please refer to http://www.spf.gov.sg/rcar/rregist.htm for application guidelines to becoming an RCA. If you have further queries, you may wish to contact the Singapore Police Force at spf_rcar@spf.gov.sg or at their hotline numbers 6546-3383 or 6546-3127. 10. I m a CTPAT member. Do I need to undergo RCAR screening? Yes. RCAR security screening is applicable to all export cargo intended for transportation on commercial passenger aircraft, whether or not lodged in by Known or Unknown Consignors. 11. Why is my company being charged for RCAR? When RCAR was implemented on 1 April 2008, the government provided a state subsidy to subsidize the screening of: a. Unknown export cargo from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009; and b. Known export cargo and air-to-air transshipments that transit Changi for more than 6 hours from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2011 The government subsequently extended the state subsidy for screening of unknown export cargo for another year from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, and thereafter for an additional three months from 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2010. Following the expiry of this state subsidy, charges for RCAR screening for cargo lodged in by Unknown Consignors were levied on 1 July 2010. The state subsidy for screening of known export cargo and air-to-air transshipments that transit Changi for more than 6 hours has expired and charges for RCAR screening for Known Consignments are now levied. On 31 January 2011, SATS issued a circular listing all RCAR charges. Copies were made available at all SATS acceptance counters. 5 of 10 P a g e
12. What are the charges for RCAR screening? Please refer to our circular dated 31 January 2011. A rate of $0.01 per kg is applicable for all Known Consignments lodged-in with SATS, subject to a minimum charge of $10.00 per shipment; where each shipment refers to one Master Airway bill. A rate of $0.02 per kg is applicable for all Unknown Consignments lodged-in with SATS, subject to a minimum charge of $20.00 per shipment; where each shipment refers to one Master Airway bill. 13. Do you charge for all Known Consignments regardless of whether random screening is done? RCAR screening charges are applicable to all export cargo of Known and Unknown Consignors intended for transportation on commercial passenger aircraft. 14. How are RCAR charges levied? RCAR charges are levied on the basis of gross weight and applied only at the Master Airway Bill level. 15. We hope SATS can reduce the minimum screening charge per shipment of $10 to $5. Please consider. The proposed RCAR charges are designed to help SATS recover the cost of implementing RCAR. The costs of implementing RCAR include the deployment of security manpower across SATS Airfreight Terminals and provision and maintenance of screening equipment at all terminals. In its efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the industry and to achieve a win-win solution for all stakeholders, SATS will absorb some costs of RCAR screening. For export cargo lodged in by Known Consignors, there is no change to the rate of $0.01 per kg levied for each Master Airway Bill. However, the minimum charge per shipment will be reduced from $10 to $5. For export cargo lodged in by Unknown Consignors, there is no change to the rate of $0.02 per kg levied for each Master Airway Bill, subject to a minimum charge of $20 per shipment. 6 of 10 P a g e
16. When will RCAR start? RCAR screening for export cargo lodged in by Known and Unknown Consignors commenced on 1 April 2008 and is on-going. In line with the circular dated 31 January 2011 where SATS informed all parties of new RCAR charges, charges for RCAR screening commenced on 1 April 2011. However, in order to facilitate additional system changes to accommodate the revised charges: a. SATS will not levy RCAR charges for the month of April 2011; and b. Revised RCAR charges will become applicable with effect from 1 May 2011. 17. What is the payment mode for RCAR screening charges? For agents with existing credit arrangement with SATS, you will be billed monthly. For agents without credit facilities, you may make payment via cash card or NETS. To sign up for credit arrangements with SATS, please sign up at www.satscargo.com.sg. Registration is expected to take 5-7 working days. You may also contact us at 6541-3814 or sats_cargo@sats.com.sg for follow up. 18. Who can I contact for assistance? Please email your enquiries to sats_cargo@sats.com.sg. Until 31 July 2011, you may also contact Mr. Gail Singh for all RCAR related enquiries at 6541 3840. 7 of 10 P a g e
CIRCULAR FROM SATS DATED 28 MARCH 2011 8 of 10 P a g e
CIRCULAR FROM SATS DATED 31 JANUARY 2011 9 of 10 P a g e
CIRCULAR FROM APD & CAAS DATED 31 DECEMBER 2010 10 of 10 P a g e