US moves forward 100% screening requirement

The US Transportation
Security Administration
(TSA) has set a January
2012 deadline for the
mandatory screening of all
cargo carried on passenger
aircraft bound for the US.
According to the
British International
Freight Association,
the Implementing
Recommendations of the
9/11 Act of 2007 (9/11 Act)
required the TSA to develop
a system to screen 100%
of all cargo transported
on passenger aircraft to
provide a level of security
commensurate with the level
of security for passenger
checked baggage no later
than August 3, 2010. With
the help of airlines, and
through the Certified Cargo
Screening Programme, TSA
successfully completed the
mission for cargo loaded on
passenger aircraft inside the
United States.
Because of the complex
challenges of screening
international inbound cargo,
it was decided last year that
cargo moving into the United
States would be screened at
100% no later than 2013.
Recent global events have
however demonstrated that
there is a compelling need to
move forward the 100% goal
to January 2012.
Carriers will have 30-45
days to comment on the
new 100% screening
requirement, and TSA will
review and evaluate the
industry comments prior
to finalising and making
the requirement effective,
according to Bifa.
TSA established increased
screening percentages for
airlines in May 2010. Most
carriers established new
acceptance procedures for
cargo from forwarders and
dramatically increased
screening percentages as a
result. TSA is pursuing this
latest proposed change after
reviewing the data provided
by industry which indicates
that air carriers are currently
screening a high percentage
overall of cargo inbound
to the United States. Many
air carriers, including a
high number of wide-body
operators, are already at or
close to 100% screening of
inbound air cargo.