Australia and US agree mutual recognition strategy for air cargo screening

The US and Australian governments have agreed a policy to phase-in arrangements to screen all US-bound air cargo at piece-level.
The strategy will allow the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to continue recognition of Australia’s National Cargo Security Program (NCSP) for US-bound air cargo until mid-2017.
The move was welcomed by TIACA, in a notice to its membership. 
Under the agreement, from August 1 2015 airlines will have 45 days to submit a proposal for an amendment to the TSA’s Standard Security Program. The proposed amendments are to include “aggressive timelines” for meeting the current and future requirements of both governments.
On a government website, Australia’s Office of Transport Security (OTS) said: “The US obliges all airlines transporting air cargo to the US on a passenger flight to examine 100% of air cargo at piece-level.
“This means that each individual box, carton or other item in a shipment must be examined by technology or physically inspected before it is loaded onto a US-bound aircraft. This is a US Government legislative requirement.
“Complying with this obligation will require Australian-based exporters, freight forwarders and airlines to adopt new security measures for the preparation of US-bound air cargo.”
It continued: “To help industry meet this obligation, the Australian Government has developed a two part strategy, which will be implemented in partnership with industry: allowing approved businesses to examine air cargo off-airport; and establishing a known consignor scheme.”
Further details of the agreement have been published on the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development website, under “The Way Ahead” section, found here.