The Airforwarders Association (AfA) is urging US shippers to brace for enhanced air cargo security measures set to be implemented in October 2023. This reminder, issued by AfA’s Executive Director, Brandon Fried, is crucial for shippers transporting particular types of freight on international all-cargo flights.
The temporary Impracticable to Screen Amendment, which accommodates cargo that traditional screening methods cannot accommodate due to size or volume limitations, is set to conclude on October 31, 2023. From this point forward, such cargo will only be eligible for air transportation if shippers are enrolled in one of the Transport Security Administration (TSA)’s authorized cargo security programs.
These programs, which shippers can join on a voluntary basis, bestow trusted status on their members. “There will only be three options after October 31st; join one of the programs, use sea freight instead of air freight, or don’t ship cargo at all,” Fried warned delegates at the CNS Partnership Conference in Miami.
Fried asserted that the TSA is firm on this deadline, with no extensions anticipated. To ensure shippers understand the impending changes, AfA has initiated in-person meetings and webinars. The association is urging forwarders to guide their shipper customers in working with the TSA and joining a program. The next scheduled face-to-face meeting will occur on June 27th 2023 in Chicago, with subsequent events planned for New York and Los Angeles.
The drive for enhanced security measures was triggered by a TSA mandate on June 30, 2021. It stipulated that all US-originating air cargo bound for non-U.S. locations must be screened or secured before loading onto an all-cargo aircraft. This measure was designed to address an international mandate that all cargo, including unique items like chemical drums and large industrial equipment, must be screened or secured to safeguard against potential aviation threats.
In light of this, the TSA has extended an opportunity for more shippers, assemblers, and manufacturers to adopt security measures during the packaging process. This strategy is intended to minimize the need for screening later in the supply chain. Entities that wish to adopt this approach must become a Certified Cargo Screening Facility, ensuring their cargo is assembled, packed, secured, and tendered for air transport in a secure manner, thus eliminating the need for additional screening.
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