A first workshop was successfully organised by UIC Freight & Security in cooperation with CCTT (Coordination Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation) in Paris on 24 April 2019 focussing on technologies available to ensure the integrity of goods on Eurasian corridors as well as best practices in the domain of customs processes and procedures.

This second workshop organised beside the meeting of BIRC working group ( Security – Border crossing, International Railway Corridors) aimed to take a deeper look at the use of digital solutions to ensure door to door cargo security.

Approximately 30 people from Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Israel and Poland attended the workshop, which was opened by Natalia Stepanova, CCTT Deputy Secretary General. In this opening session, Jerzy Wisniewski, Director of UIC fundamental values, also gave an update on UIC.

Then, a series of presentations as well as very intense and fruitful discussions where held focussing on innovative solutions such as electronic seals (eseals) and big lock, smart containers, digitalisation of shipping documents, and blockchain-based smart contract technology.

To conclude Marie-Hélène Bonneau, head of UIC security division highlighted some key issues raised during the afternoon:

• The need for door-to-door, and thus interoperable, solutions implies the need for unified technical requirements. As an example, there are more than 400 e-seals available on the market and standardisation is needed to achieve integrity of the goods door to door. UIC could contribute to this standardisation process according its expertise in producing IRS (International Railway Solution).
• The importance of having close work with customs authorities and engaging them more systematically: how to get the e-seal recognised by customs?
• The definition of the processes and the organisation of the response in case of an intrusion.

Then, on behalf of Sandra Géhénot, Director of freight department, she presented the perspective 2020 proposed by the Freight department at global level which are the following:

• Coordinate a survey to review how electronic seals are used in rail freight and perceived by customs authorities
• Engage with international organisations (ESCAP)
• Engage with customs; and
• Launch a multiregional project subject to APRA opt-in response