TSA Tightening Screening Rules for Air Cargo Exports

For those carriers that deal in Air Cargo, you already know that since June 30, 2021, all air cargo offered for export from the United States must be screen, regardless of whether the cargo flies on passenger or all-cargo aircraft. Because some cargo is impractical to screen (referred to as ITS cargo), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has allowed air forwarders and air carriers to export ITS cargo under an amendment to their security programs. However, TA recently announced that this amendment will expire for all parties on October 31, 2023.

Thereafter, ITA cargo can only be exported by air if it is accepted from a shipper that participates in the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP). TSA has published guidance to shippers on joining the CCSP. Air forwarders, in particular, are advised to socialize this issue with customers who tender ITS cargo. Apart from diverting ITS cardo to other modes (which is often not feasible), TSA’s position is that those customers will need to join the CCSP by no later than October 31, 2023, a process that can take 90 – 120 days to complete.