There are serious security problems in international air cargo transportation and the controls around it, according to a recent report by the International Transfer Center for Logistics and theTechnische Universit of Berlin.

The research, which was commissioned by the World Cargo Center GmbH in Frankfurt, surveyed third-party distribution companies and freight handlers that provide supply chain services about their security controls and perception of security risk.

The report claims a lack of standardised regulations in air and freight security are driving many of the problems, and 56 per cent of companies surveyed said the lack of consistency in this area is their biggest security challenge.

The study specifically looked at European regulation and found that 80 per cent of those surveyed thought the requirements of EU security regulations delay urgent air freight and drive costs high. Most companies, 77 per cent, and 83 per cent of freight handlers said that security requirements account for up to ten per cent of all logistics costs.