The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Transport Canada have implemented emergency measures, effective immediately, for air cargo originating from Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The follow reports of two packages containing incendiaries igniting on European parcel networks.
International forwarders grouping FIATA says that challenges in implementing the new requirements have led to some carriers imposing an embargo on all cargo originating from the region.
It adds that the freight industry is concerned about the uneven application of the new measures, as well as the technical and operational challenges brought by the new data requirements introduced in the US Advance Cargo Air Screening (ACAS) programme. The measures will have a significant impact on shippers, particularly those with lower volumes.
Under the emergency measures, most cargo originating from Europe and the CIS can only be transported on passenger aircraft where it is tendered by a a Known Consignor or a shipper with an “established business relationship” with a regulated agent such as a freight forwarder or air carrier.
An “established business relationship” must either have been established before the effective date of the emergency measures and demonstrated by the evidence of an account with physical and billing addresses, as well as a documented payment history or other business records or, for an account accepted after the effective date, with documentation containing business registration and contact details, payment information, and a signed contract with the regulated agent or air carrier.
However, the latest version of the measures no longer require a minimum number of shipments to have been made within a 90-day period.
Cargo that does not meet the criteria can only be transported by cargo aircraft or ocean freight.
Exceptions include items weighing less than 16 ounces (453.6 grams), mail, diplomatic pouches and US government shipments tendered on a US Government Bill of Lading or air waybill where a US Government entity is listed as the shipper.
The new emergency measures also introduce Enhanced ACAS Security Filing, which must be conducted by entities currently responsible for standard ACAS Security Filings, requring additional data elements about the actual shipper to better identify the parties involved.
FIATA says it is working closely with its airfreight network to monitor the situation and support the industry in implementing the new emergency measures.
It is also calling on governments for greater harmonisation in data requirements in pre-loading advance cargo information programmes.