Border security

Air Cargo Advance Screening Now Mandatory

The Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program went into effect last month, requiring the submission of advanced air cargo information on shipments arriving in the United States from a foreign location. Before June 12, 2018, a voluntary process in which many airlines already participated, was in effect. The program requirements are now mandatory for airlines flying to the United States.

As part of the ACAS program, participating carriers submit a subset of required pre-arrival air cargo data to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the earliest point practicable and prior to loading the cargo onto aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States.

The program had its genesis in October 2010, when the global counter-terrorism community disrupted an attempt by al-Qaeda in Yemen to conceal and ship explosive devices in cargo onboard US-bound aircraft.