As cargo crime continues to rise, the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) is launching a global campaign to double the number of TAPA-certified warehouse facilities to over 2,000 in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific in the next three years and to make a ‘quantum leap’ in the number of trucking companies operating in compliance with the Association’s Security Standards.

The rising problem of cargo crimes was highlighted by statistics from TAPA’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) region which saw incidents in the first half of 2015 rise 24 per cent year-on-year, with incidents recorded in 19 countries in the region with average losses per crime of €149,635. For 2014 as a whole there were 1,102 reported incidents and while only 33 per cent of these thefts from the supply chain reported a loss figure, the total value of these crimes alone was nearly €75 million, producing an average loss per incident of €205,624.

TAPA was formed in 1997 to tackle the multi-billion euro problem of cargo thefts from the supply chain and today it boasts over 800 member companies globally, including many of the world’s biggest manufacturers and logistics service providers, as well as leading SME freight forwarding and transport operators, and other stakeholders.

TAPA’s Facility Security Requirements (FSR) and Trucking Security Requirements (TSR) have been developed by supply chain security professionals and logistics specialists. Independently-audited, they are widely respected as the leading security standards for the movement of high value, theft targeted goods and many supplier contracts now demand compliance with TAPA Standards.

Scott Dedic, chairman of TAPA Americas, said: “Companies join TAPA because they see how our standards, training, networking and intelligence tools can further enhance their existing in-house security programmes. This campaign aims to help more of our members to gain FSR and TSR certification and to give our manufacturer members a bigger choice of suppliers to protect their products in the supply chain.”

The campaign includes a new self-certification programme for TAPA’s entry level FSR Class ‘C’ and TSR Level ‘3’ Security Standards. TAPA is providing free training for members’ in-house auditors and once this is successfully completed they can undertake their own audits to demonstrate compliance with Class ‘C’ and Level ‘3’.

“The entry level opportunity is important for a number of reasons,” adds Scott Dedic. “It introduces companies to the TAPA Standards in a low cost, manageable way and once they prove their compliance, it results in reputational benefits and new business potential. For many of our manufacturer members this level of supply chain security would be sufficient for a high percentage of their requirements. One of the main drivers for this campaign is that we believe the majority of TAPA members may already be at, or close to, this level of certification but have yet to complete the audit process. Through this initiative, we will help them to take this important step forward.”

The certification campaign also aims to build greater awareness for TAPA’s manufacturing members of the freight, logistics and transport companies that provide TAPA-certified facilities and trucking operations. This will include a new quarterly ‘Certification Bulletin’, profiles in the Association’s membership magazine and promotion through a new annual Directory of TAPA Certified Companies. TAPA is also looking to develop a new online tool that will enable manufacturers to ask if their transport and logistics service providers are TAPA certified.

Thorsten Neumann, chairman of TAPA EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), added: “The TAPA members that are certified at the top levels of our Security Standards already understand the benefits because of the level and quality of business they get by being TAPA certified. However, the threat of cargo crime is increasing and that is why we need a bigger choice of services from companies that have demonstrated their commitment to a secure supply chain by adopting our Standards.”

Tony Lugg, chairman of TAPA APAC (Asia Pacific), added: “The incidents and losses captured by our IIS intelligence tool are for industry-wide cargo crimes and not only for TAPA members. Our research tells us that TAPA members are far less likely to be victims of cargo crime because of the measures they have introduced. Nonetheless, there is absolutely no room for complacency. Cargo crime is growing massively all over the world and remains significantly under-reported. Companies also need to understand that it is not just high value goods that are being targeted by organised criminal gangs but just about every kind of product that has a resale value on the black market.”