The US and Canada have introduced new security measures to address the potential risks posed by incendiary devices found in European parcel networks.

Recent incidents, such as the fire at a logistics hub in Leipzig linked to a Baltic package, have raised concerns about potential threats to global supply chains. German police suspected the two parcels in the European parcel networks were designed to damage infrastructure.

"The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Transport Canada have implemented stricter security protocols, adding layers of scrutiny to air cargo entering their respective countries," UK forwarder Metro said in a recent release.

It noted that these measures, introduced in August and early September, focus on cargo originating from Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Central Asia.

The new rules require air carriers to now provide more detailed information on shippers and consignees to mitigate risks.

The TSA and CBP issued an updated version of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Implementation Guide (IG) on August 21, 2024.

"The benefits are twofold: It promotes lawful international trade and reduces the risk of terrorism by providing CBP [US Customs and Border Protection] and TSA with significantly better information earlier in the supply chain process," CBP said in a statement.

It added that the Enhanced ACAS Security Filing also allows the industry to identify the actual consignees much earlier in the supply chain process.

"Taking steps to vastly improve entity identification is critical to help CBP properly segment risk by identifying the highest-risk and lowest-risk shipments prior to these shipments being loaded on an aircraft," CBP added.

The "Enhanced ACAS Security Filing" requires additional data on the shippers of all goods entering the US. This enhanced scrutiny aims to better identify parties involved in the supply chain before cargo is loaded onto US-bound aircraft.

As part of these emergency measures, air carriers can only transport cargo from Europe and CIS countries if it has been tendered by a "Known Consignor" or a shipper with an established business relationship with a regulated agent or carrier.

Meanwhile, Transport Canada's new rules require that cargo from 55 European and Central Asian countries must come from shippers with an "established business relationship" with freight forwarders or air carriers.

Under the "Pre-load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT) Program, all shipments to or through Canada will be required to declare to the Canadian authorities advance information about the cargo they intend to carry, similar to the ACAS program for the United States.

In line with these measures, Air Canada Cargo has mandated specific messaging on air waybills to confirm the relationship between shippers and their logistics partners.

To meet the security standards, shippers must have maintained an active account for at least 90 days, with a minimum of six shipments during that period.

These new regulations have not come without challenges.

Several carriers, including Korean Air Cargo, have imposed temporary embargoes on cargo originating from Europe and the CIS regions due to the difficulties in meeting the updated requirements.

The embargoes will remain in place until mid-November, and further assessments will follow as the new security rules settle into effect.

Other air cargo carriers have also informed their customers about the new rules.

ANA Cargo sought cooperation from its clients as it prepared its processes and systems to comply with the "Pre-load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT) Program." It noted that this program is scheduled to begin in October 2024 (tentative), but the carrier will make it mandatory from October 1 (Tuesday). 

United Cargo also issued an operational alert regarding the CBP's new and enhanced ACAS, which impacts air freight shipments travelling to or through the US. 

"Providing the required data elements will be a prerequisite for shipping in the imminent future. United Cargo has a target implementation date of October 3, 2024. Customers should do all possible to provide the required data by the October 3, 2024, implementation date," United Cargo said on September 16.

The European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT) said separately that these new provisions, affecting European and CIS-based air cargo shippers, were "implemented suddenly, creating operational challenges and disruptions across the air freight supply chain."

"As of the end of August, both the US TSA and Transport Canada have implemented stricter air cargo security measures, affecting Europe- and CIS-based shippers. These sudden regulatory shifts have raised significant concerns with freight forwarders, prompting a strong response from CLECAT," the organisation said.

"The new security requirements, particularly the US's Air Cargo Advanced Screening and Transport Canada’s latest mandates, were introduced with minimal warning, creating operational disruptions for air cargo shippers."

CLECAT explained that the Emergency Amendments require that all cargo from 55 largely European countries be tendered by known shippers or freight forwarders who have established business relations with shippers, placing an embargo on uncompliant shipments.

In addition, the US CBP has issued enhancements to the ACAS program, mandating additional data elements in the ACAS filing, the implementation of which has proven to be complex.

"CLECAT has voiced concerns over the logistical challenges of complying with these enhanced security directives and over the lack of communication and the abrupt manner in which these changes were introduced," it said.

"According to CLECAT, the new security requirements have placed unnecessary strain on the air cargo sector, particularly on freight forwarders who manage a substantial portion of international shipments," CLECAT further said, as it called for "greater engagement" between regulatory authorities and economic operators (EOs). 

CLECAT noted that on September 10-11, an EU-US Transportation Security Cooperation Group meeting in Washington, D.C., confirmed that the requirement of additional data elements for the enhanced ACAS security filings had been postponed until October 7.

"Also, the requirement for a transaction history of at least six shipments has been removed. Nonetheless, business relationships between shippers and logistics operators must still be demonstrated (unless goods are being shipped on behalf of a Known Consignor), " CLECAT added.