“Electronic data and documentation is a key to driving efficiency and enhancing security across the supply chain," Michael Schaecher, DHL's head of global airfreight, said in a statement. "We will work with Cathay Pacific to ensure a successful proof of concept to allow the adoption of an electronic security declaration in the UK market."

The resolution calls for the use of an electronic Consignment Security Certificate instead of a paper document. According to a DHL press release announcing the agreement with Cathay Pacific, the security declaration "speeds up the whole process and provides confirmation to the security approved air cargo agent or airline that all the security requirements have been met. It certifies that the cargo has been prepared and held in a secure environment, does not contain any prohibited articles and has not been interfered with." 

In a recent poll on the  Air Cargo World  website, 36 percent of all respondents said they were actively involved in e-freight.