The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airline Catering Association (ACA)64 have released Standard Catering Agreements, in order to help caterers and airlines to manage the complexity of catering processes. The updated Standard Inflight Catering Agreement (SICA), jointly developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airline Catering Association (ACA) released in 2022, represents a significant modernization of the contractual framework governing the relationship between airlines and inflight catering providers. This revised agreement incorporates contemporary industry’s best practices and offers enhanced flexibility to accommodate diverse regulatory regimes, local customs, and operational requirements across jurisdictions. The 2022 SICA strengthens provisions related to liability, indemnity, security compliance, and food safety, while also addressing emerging challenges such as force majeure events and sustainability considerations. Integrated into the IATA Airport Handling Manual and promoted widely among industry stakeholders, the updated SICA aims to streamline contract negotiations, reduce disputes, and foster greater operational efficiency in the complex inflight catering supply chain. The Agreement mandates that catering service providers implement and maintain comprehensive food safety management systems consistent with internationally recognized standards, including the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) framework. In accordance with the HACCP principles, the Agreement requires identification, monitoring, and control of potential hazards throughout the catering process, to ensure the safety and quality of inflight meals. The SICA further grants airlines the right to conduct regular audits and inspections to verify compliance with HACCP protocols, with any failure to adhere to such standards constituting a material breach of contract. Additionally, the Agreement emphasizes rigorous documentation and traceability obligations to support transparency and accountability in food safety practices. This integration of HACCP provisions underscores the critical importance of preventative risk management and regulatory compliance in safeguarding passenger health and maintaining operational integrity in airline catering services. It is noteworthy that such agreements frequently incorporate so-called liability and indemnity clauses65, whereby the caterer is held solely liable for any damages 64 ACA, founded in 2018, is a not-for-profit international association. Its aim is to provide a forum for the promotion of cooperation among the operators in the airline catering industry and to support the activities of its members in their contribution to human, economic and social development globally and regionally. 65 A typical Liability and Indemnity Clause reads as follows “The caterer shall be indemnify the airline, including reasonable legal and consequential expenses, for any loss or damage to airline’s property or equipment held in Caterer’s 57 ITALY, FOOD, CONTRACTS
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