AIR CARGO ADVANCE SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM
Recently U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice announcing that it had formalized and expanded an Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) pilot program. The pilot program began in October 2012 and will run for the next six months. CBP is accepting comments on the program any time while it is running.
The ACAS pilot program is a voluntary test program in which participants submit a subset of the data elements required by 19 C.F.R. § 122.48a at the earliest point practicable prior to the loading of cargo on aircraft destined to or transiting through the U.S. The pilot program is open to express couriers, passenger carriers, all-cargo carriers, and freight forwarders. Participants must have sufficient information technology infrastructure and support to comply with the ACAS program requirements. Participants in the ACAS pilot are not subject to legally binding obligations and CBP does not intend to enforce or levy punitive measures if ACAS pilot participants are non-compliant in the conditions of the pilot program. In response to a request from the air cargo industry, CBP recently published “Air Cargo Advance Screening Pilot Frequently Asked Questions” on its website.
The Trade Act of 2002 required the mandatory transmission of electronic cargo information by way of an approved electronic data interchange (EDI). Section 122.48a of those regulations specifies the full set of data elements that must be transmitted to CBP for air cargo.
After evaluation and analysis of the ACAS pilot program, CBP intends to begin rulemaking to require the submission of ACAS data before cargo is loaded onto aircraft for all international shipments either destined for or transiting through the U.S.
If you have any questions or would like further information regarding this Notice, please contact our office.