By Michael T. Jackson
The United States and Canadian governments have enacted new requirements tightening air cargo security by expanding the information that must be submitted in advance of shipment. According to the supply chain industry trade publication The Loadstar, the heightened security and new measures are connected to warnings received by European logistics companies of “unconventional incendiary devices” being sent via freight services and two reported incidents involving DHL earlier this summer.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a security directive (SD-5144-24-02), effective as of 21 August, requiring air cargo providers to provide additional detail related to shippers and consignees to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prior to shipment. CBP also released an updated Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Implementation Guide and an associated frequently asked questions document providing additional detail on the new and updated requirements resulting from the directive. The Canadian government also tightened restrictions on air cargo coming from several European and Central Asian countries, requiring shippers to not accept cargo from any entities without an established business relationship.
Air cargo providers and shippers have been working to ensure compliance with the new requirements in recent weeks. In the wake of these new requirements, some foreign carriers, most notably Korean Airlines, temporarily suspended shipments of air cargo to North America after the new requirements went into effect as new requirements were being sorted out, but most carriers have not followed suit.
Reports from WERC moving and shipping-focused members have indicated private sector impacts to date have been largely isolated to individual shipments, but members emphasized that while the situation remains in flux, the bulk of household goods shipments to and from the U.S. and Canada have not been adversely impacted. U.S. government relocation-related household goods shipments coming from or to Europe and Central Asia have seen some wider impacts, particularly immediately following the TSA’s new directive. WERC and its members will continue to monitor developments related to air cargo shipments to and from North America and will provide updates as they are available.