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17 June 2011
Last updated at 07:54 ET
The government says it has barred parcel company UPS from screening air cargo at some facilities in the UK because of security problems.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has not revealed what the security issues are and did not identify any locations.
A spokesman said the ban would remain until the carrier "has satisfied current security requirements".
UPS said it was "working to address the problems" identified by the DfT and that some deliveries would be delayed.
Last October a bomb was discovered on a US-bound UPS cargo plane at East Midlands airport and a similar bomb on a FedEx plane in Dubai.
The explosive contained in the device was found in the UK after a tip-off and was not picked up by initial screening.
Investigators at East Midlands carried out a re-examination as a precaution and the bomb was found hidden in a printer cartridge posted in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
In the wake of this incident, Home Secretary Theresa May banned unaccompanied freight flown to the UK from Somalia as well as Yemen.
Safety 'paramount' And in March, a fake bomb was put on a cargo plane and flown from the UK to Turkey without being detected.
The UPS flight travelled to Istanbul with the package, reportedly containing a timer, wires and a detonator.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The safety of the travelling public is paramount and our security regime is kept under constant review.
"We can confirm that, following careful consideration, the department has restricted the number of sites in the UK at which UPS Ltd are permitted to screen air cargo until it has satisfied current security requirements.
"For obvious security reasons we will not comment on the details."
A UPS spokesman said: "As part of a scheduled review by the DfT of UPS procedures and employment documentation related to security, the DfT identified areas of concern that UPS now is working to address.
"Some facilities have been temporarily taken offline, which in some cases has led to delays in the movement of packages. UPS has activated contingency plans, communicated with customers and expects service levels to return to normal early next week.
"The DfT reviews have been helpful, educating UPS on the expectations of DfT auditors.
"UPS continues to assess the operation of its UK network and, in co-operation with the DfT, may refine it to ensure an even more efficient level of service to its customers."
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The Department for Transport (DfT) has not revealed what the security issues are and did not identify any locations.
A spokesman said the ban would remain until the carrier "has satisfied current security requirements".
UPS said it was "working to address the problems" identified by the DfT and that some deliveries would be delayed.
Last October a bomb was discovered on a US-bound UPS cargo plane at East Midlands airport and a similar bomb on a FedEx plane in Dubai.
The explosive contained in the device was found in the UK after a tip-off and was not picked up by initial screening.
Investigators at East Midlands carried out a re-examination as a precaution and the bomb was found hidden in a printer cartridge posted in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
In the wake of this incident, Home Secretary Theresa May banned unaccompanied freight flown to the UK from Somalia as well as Yemen.
Safety 'paramount' And in March, a fake bomb was put on a cargo plane and flown from the UK to Turkey without being detected.
The UPS flight travelled to Istanbul with the package, reportedly containing a timer, wires and a detonator.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The safety of the travelling public is paramount and our security regime is kept under constant review.
"We can confirm that, following careful consideration, the department has restricted the number of sites in the UK at which UPS Ltd are permitted to screen air cargo until it has satisfied current security requirements.
"For obvious security reasons we will not comment on the details."
A UPS spokesman said: "As part of a scheduled review by the DfT of UPS procedures and employment documentation related to security, the DfT identified areas of concern that UPS now is working to address.
"Some facilities have been temporarily taken offline, which in some cases has led to delays in the movement of packages. UPS has activated contingency plans, communicated with customers and expects service levels to return to normal early next week.
"The DfT reviews have been helpful, educating UPS on the expectations of DfT auditors.
"UPS continues to assess the operation of its UK network and, in co-operation with the DfT, may refine it to ensure an even more efficient level of service to its customers."
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