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Security Officers

• Accredited Agents (AVSEC-RA)
  • AVSEC-RA Safety Officer Certification and Recertification Procedure November 2025.
  • Provisional list of admitted and excluded to the AVSEC-RA Security Officers Certification and Recertification process November 2025.
  • Final list of admitted and excluded to the AVSEC-RA certification and recertification process November 2025.
  • Provisional List of Exam Ratings (26/11/2025) - AVSEC-RA Safety Officers November 2025.
• Known Consignors (AVSEC-KC)
  • Certification and Recertification Procedure for Security Officers AVSEC-KC September 2025
  • Provisional list of admitted and excluded to the process of Certification and Recertification of Security Officers AVSEC-KC September 2025
  • Final list of admitted and excluded to the certification and recertification process of AVSEC-KC Security Officers September 2025
  • Definitive list of ratings- Safety Officers AVSEC-KC September 2025
  • Resolution Procedure for Certification and Recertification of Security Officers AVSEC-KC September 2025

ACC3 programme

In order to be able to transport cargo to the European Union from a third country, the air carrier transporting the cargo must be designated ACC3 (Air freight or mail carrier operating to the Union from a third country airport) at each origin from which cargo is transported to the European Union, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1998.

This programme lays down an obligation for air carriers to apply security measures to air cargo that reasonably ensure the absence of prohibited items in the cargo they carry to the EU. The designation is made on the basis of an in-situ validation of the security measures applied by the air carrier to cargo. This validation can be performed:

• In the case of Spain, directly by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency. This service shall bear the cost of providing the service, on the basis of public prices approved by the State Aviation Safety Agency.
• By an EU aviation security validator who draws up a report in accordance with the rules. The list of approved validators can be found at the following link. Validators apply their own fares, which must be consulted directly by the airline with the validators concerned. AESA will only accept reports written in Spanish.

The designation shall be granted for a maximum period of five years, and it is necessary to renew it at the end of the period of validity on the basis of an on-site re-verification.
Air carriers carrying cargo from a large number of origins located in third countries to the European Union may benefit from point 6.8.2.2.2 of Regulation (EU) 2015/1998, subject to the authorisation of the State Aviation Safety Agency.
The following e-mail address is available for further information or enquiries regarding the ACC3 programme: acc3.aesa@seguridadaerea.es
For the application of the ACC3 designation, the air carrier must prepare the ACC3 safety program of its Company at the origins they wish to certify, following the format approved by the State Aviation Safety Agency. The format shall be provided directly to applicants by EASA.

Submit documentation
 

Ad-hoc air operations

Ad-hoc air cargo operations outside the ACC3 programme shall only be valid for non-scheduled flights that do not follow a foreseeable pattern, and whose planning time does not allow the ACC3 designation of the origin from which the flight starts. AESA will only process requests for flights whose first point of entry into the European Union is Spain. Applications must be submitted 72 working hours before departure. AESA does not guarantee to comply with applications submitted with a shorter deadline. The submission of the application does not imply automatic authorisation of the conduct of the air operation. In order to transport cargo to the European Union outside the ACC3 programme, AESA must explicitly approve the operation. 

Submit documentation

The ad-hoc freight operations outside the ACC3 program only applies to non- scheduled flights that do not follow a predictable pattern, and whose short-term planning does not allow for an ACC3 designation of the airport of departure of the flight. AESA will only process those applications for flights whose first point of entry into the European Union is Spain. Applications must be submitted 72 working hours in advance to the departure of the flight. AESA does not guarantee the process of those applications submitted in a shorter term. Submitting the application does not mean the automatic approval for conducting the air operation. To transport cargo to the European Union outside the ACC3 program, AESA must approve the operation explicitly.

Send application forms

Explosives Detection Dog Equipment (EPDE)

Certification of explosive detection dog equipment for use in air cargo

26th certification of Canine Equipment

• Resolution final results certification October 2025. New!
• 27th call annocement EPDE October 2025
• Listing Admitted_Remediation_Excluded_desisted conv 27
• Guide to the registration of electronic applications EDD certification
• Annex 1. Application for certification
• Annex 3A
• Annex 4
• Quick Guide to Electronic Application EPDE Certificates
• Model authorisation

Certified equipment

• List of certified binomies for loading
• List of certified binomies for airport supplies and in-flight supplies

Approved Carriers (AH)

The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) acting as the competent authority in Spanish territory has established different procedures aimed at protecting persons and property from possible acts of unlawful interference in the field of civil aviation, following the requirements indicated in different international regulations, the most relevant being those set out below;

• Annex 17 and Doc. 8973 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 of 5 November 2015 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security
• Law 21/2003 of 7 July 2003 on Air Safety
• National Safety Program (PNS) and its respective Safety Instructions
• National Training Programme (PNF)
• National Quality Programme (NCP)

To comply with these regulations, the European Union has a security regime, under which all cargo and mail must be inspected or must come from an entity belonging to the secure supply chain before being embarked on an aircraft. The ultimate objective is to ensure the absence of items that could be used to commit an act of unlawful interference.

The entities and persons that make up the secure supply chain shall be responsible for carrying out the relevant security controls and protecting safe shipments from any unlawful interference.

The main figures of the secure supply chain are;

• Known Shippers (KCs) originating secure air cargo or mail
• Approved carriers (AH) in charge of moving cargo or secure airmail between the different points of the logistics chain
• Accredited Agents (RAs) who secure and/or perform security checks to ensure that all air cargo and mail is secure before boarding an aircraft

The figure of the approved Carrier (AH) arises from the need identified by the European Commission to improve the traceability and supervision of the transport of air cargo and mail between accredited agents, known consignors and airlines, operations that are usually subcontracted. By Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1255, specific requirements have been introduced for the approval and supervision of carriers, in order to maintain the integrity of the secure supply chain and to ensure that consignments that have passed prior security checks remain protected against unlawful interference during their surface transport.

This figure shall be mandatory from 1 January 2027, from which date only insured air cargo and mail may be carried within the territory of the Union:

• Accredited Agents (RAs), with their own means and resources.
• Known Shippers, in the case of cargo and mail that come directly from the shipper itself, also using their own means and resources.
• Approved Carriers (AH).

The supply chain ensures a high degree of security, while facilitating business relationships by avoiding both the duplication of controls and the agglomeration of cargo and mail at cargo terminals for inspection. The secure supply chain regime applies throughout the territory of the European Union so that once a shipment has been insured it can travel without the need to apply more controls within the same territory of the Union.

OBTAINING APPROVED INITIAL TRANSPORTERS APPROVED (AH)

You can consult the steps to follow regarding obtaining initial approved Carrier (AH) approval in the following document;

• Instructions Application for Initial Approved Carrier Approval (AH)_web aesa

In addition, the Cargo Security Service has prepared a summary of the procedure indicated above, which can be consulted below;

• Triptych AH

OFFICIAL LIST OF CERTIFIED AVSEC-AH SECURITY RESPONSIBLE

• SEC-CRAH-GU01-F05 Ed. 01 - Official list responsible AH

DOWNLOADABLE MATERIAL 

• SEC-AH-P01-F01 Ed. 02 - Preliminary questionnaire AH
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1255
• FAQs