Export.Gov Says 100% Screening Mandate to Apply Aug 1 to Domestic Air Cargo
Export.Gov issued a notice on June 3, 2010 stating that effective August 1, 2010, 100% of cargo flown on passenger aircraft originating in the U.S. must be screened as required by the 9/11 Commission Act.
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(Although the 9/11 Act requires both U.S. originating (domestic) and foreign originating (inbound) cargo transported by air to be 100% screened by August 1, 2010, the Transportation Security Administration and others have stated that the mandate cannot be met for foreign originating (inbound) passenger aircraft by that date. TSA is confident that the mandate can be met for U.S. originating (domestic) air cargo.
TSA had earlier announced that 50% of all passenger cargo, and 100% of all narrow body passenger cargo was being screened. In addition, on May 1, 20101, TSA increased the amount of cargo that was required to be screened prior to being loaded on U.S. and foreign flag passenger aircraft inbound to the U.S. (the amount of the increase was not made public).)
100% Screening Must be at the Piece Level, CCSP Essential for This Task
Export.gov states that the August 1, 2010 deadline for 100% screening of cargo on passenger aircraft originating in the U.S. (domestic) must be met at the piece level.
According to TSA, airlines often lack the space and facilities for "de-palletizing", screening, and re-configuring wide-body containerized or palletized cargo; however most of this cargo flows through freight forwarders (consolidators), who typically "containerize/palletize" this cargo prior to tendering it to airlines. As a result, the voluntary Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) is essential to meeting the 100% screening mandate.
Hundreds of Freight Forwarders are Authorized to Screen Air Cargo
On its website, TSA lists more than 400 freight forwarder indirect air carriers (IACs) that are authorized as CCSP freight forwarder facilities to screen air cargo for transport on passenger aircraft. TSA’s list includes the name of the company and its address (street, city and state).
More Than 50 Independent Facilities Can Also Do Screening
TSA also lists on its website more than 50 independent cargo screening facilities (ICSFs) that are authorized to screen air cargo for transport on passenger aircraft. TSA’s list includes the name of the company and its address (street, city and state). Most ICSFs are not freight forwarders.
Only One More CCSP Webinar and Town Hall Meeting on TSA’s Schedule
TSA has hosted a number of webinars and town hall meetings on the CCSP. Only one CCSP Webinar is left on TSA’s schedule; it will occur on June 10, 2010; and, the last scheduled CCSP Town Hall meeting is set for June 16, 2010 in Los Angeles.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/22/10 news, 10032220, for BP summary of a TSA and Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailed update on the August 1 screening mandate. See ITT’s Online Archives or 05/10/10 news, 10051053, for BP summary of TSA announcement of increased cargo screening for inbound aircraft.)
1In early 2010, for air cargo originating in the U.S., TSA had proposed that it was considering requiring the percent of screening to rise from 50% to 75% for U.S. originating passenger aircraft, effective May 1.
TSA’s CCSP webpage available here.