Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)

The safety management SARPs are intended to assist States in managing aviation safety risks, in coordination with their Service Providers. Given the increasing complexity of the global air transportation system and its interrelated aviation activities required to assure the safe operation of aircraft, the safety management provisions support the continued evolution of a proactive strategy to improve safety performance. The foundation of this proactive safety strategy is based on the implementation of a State safety programme (SSP) that systematically addresses safety risks, in agreement with the implementation of the safety management systems (SMS) by the service providers.

Introduction of Safety Management SARPs

The initial introduction of ICAO Safety Management related SARPs across multiple ICAO Annexes is summarized in the document which can be downloaded here. It is important to note that these SARPs have applicability dating back as far as November 2001.

Annex 19 – Safety Management

In response to High-level Safety Conference 2010 (HLSC/2010) Recommendation 2/5, the ICAO Council supported a two-phased approach for the creation of a new safety management Annex:

a)    the first phase to consolidate existing and overarching Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS), currently contained in six different Annexes, into a single new Annex; and

b)    the second phase for the development of new and enhanced safety management provisions.

Phase 1

On 25 February 2013, the ICAO Council unanimously adopted the first edition of Annex 19 with an applicability date of 14 November 2013. The first edition of Annex 19 is a consolidation of existing overarching safety management provisions. Minor modifications were made as necessary for the purposes of clarity and consistency. In addition, the following amendments were made for harmonization purposes:

a)    the four components of the SSP framework were elevated to a Standard in Chapter 3;

b)    State safety oversight provisions (Appendix 1) were derived from Annex 6, Part I, Appendix 5 and Annex 6, Part III, Appendix 1 and their applicability broadened to all service providers identified in Chapters 3 and 4;

c)    Safety data collection analysis and exchange (Chapter 5) provisions were transferred from Annex 13. Legal guidance for protection of safety information (Attachment E to Annex 13) is replicated as Attachment B to Annex 19; and

d)    the SMS framework (Appendix 2) now applies to type design and manufacture of aircraft.

Independently of the 14 November 2013 applicability date for Annex 19, first edition, and the consequential amendments to the relevant Annexes, the previously adopted safety management SARPs maintain their original applicability date.

Compliance to all applicable SARPs remains the foundation on which State safety programmes are established. The concepts of performance or risk management in Annex 19 do not absolve the States from complying with the existing provisions in other Annexes, which remains fundamental to aviation safety. In the future, while overarching safety management SARPs will be included in Annex 19, new sector-specific safety management provisions are expected to be included in the appropriate Annexes.

Phase 2

The second phase for the development of new and enhanced safety management provisions consisting of Annex 19, Amendment 1, was published as the 2nd edition of Annex 19 reflecting the extensive nature of the Amendment. This marks the completion of the second phase development of the Annex.

Amendment 1 to Annex 19 addresses 3 main areas:

a)    Integration of the State safety oversight (SSO) system critical elements (CEs) and the State safety programme (SSP) provisions;

b)    Enhancement of safety management system (SMS) provisions to support uniform implementation, including the extension of an SMS to organizations responsible for the type design and/or manufacture of engines and propellers; and

c)    Protection of safety data, safety information and related sources.

Amendment 1 was adopted by the Council on 2 March 2016, became effective on 11 July 2016 and applicable on 7 November 2019. States are expected to begin working on implementation from the effective date in anticipation of achieving implementation of the new provisions by the applicability date.

Amendment 2 to Annex 19 proposed the enhancement of:

a)    State safety programmes (SSPs) and safety management system (SMS) provisions
b)    Extension of an SMS to certified remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operators authorized to conduct international operations and approved maintenance organizations providing services to them as well as certified heliports, and
c)    Provisions related to the development of safety intelligence to support aviation decision-making

Amendment 2 was adopted by the Council on 23 June 2025, with an effective date of 4 November 2025 and applicability date of 26 November 2026.

Sector-specific safety management SARPs

Sector-specific safety management SARPs have been retained in their relevant Annexes and PANS. These include:

Annex 1 — Personnel Licensing

Annex 6 — Operation of Aircraft

           Part I — International Commercial Air Transport — Aeroplanes

           Part II — International General Aviation —Aeroplanes and  

           Part III — International Operations — Helicopters

Annex 8 — Airworthiness of Aircraft  

Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services

Annex 13 — Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation

Annex 14 —Aerodromes

         Volume I — Aerodrome Design and Operations.

Annex 18 – The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air

Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) - Aerodromes (Doc 9981)

Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Air Traffic Management (PANS-ATM, Doc 4444)

Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) Aeronautical Information Management (Doc 10066)