MEMO/06/422
Brussels, 10 November 2006
EU research helps fight fraud, security concerns and counterfeiting of goods The European Commission, through its in-house research service, the Joint Research Centre, has developed “ConTraffic”, a system based on route-risk analysis which can make a significant contribution to the fight against fraud, and increased global security. Such a system can identify false declarations of origin, which can be made to circumvent anti-dumping duties and reduce smuggling of counterfeit goods, nuclear materials or weapons. 90% of the word’s cargo is transported in maritime containers, but only 2% is physically inspected by customs authorities. This increases the risk of illicit activities, such as avoiding customs duties, circumventing quotas or smuggling. Therefore, a method has to be found to control and monitor containerized cargo. An information-based system of risk analysis is therefore a very effective way to identify high-risk consignments and target physical checks where needed.
Risk analysis has been used by customs authorities for some years to detect suspicious cargoes. What is new is the development of a system ConTraffic to analyse risk based on the routes taken by the containers at a global level. The routes include the port where the container was loaded, any transit ports and where the container was eventually unloaded. This information is gathered from web-based open sources.
The ConTraffic database has more than 220m records relating to more than 4.4m containers over a period of three and a half years. It also keeps information on more than 2.6m containers by 7 leasing companies. Of course, the database is not complete, but it does nonetheless contain enough information to allow a route-based risk analysis on a sound statistical basis.
ConTraffic is currently being expanded to address the movement of security-sensitive goods. It should therefore be able to provide new indicators to support control operations at ports, particularly in the context of the Container Security and Proliferation Security Initiatives. It will also feed eventually into a common set of minimum risk rules for container security in the EU.
