Canada joins the US in implementing stricter requirements for European air cargo shipments

Canada has joined the US in the sudden implementation of stricter security requirements for Europe- and CIS-based air cargo shippers importing goods into the country.

Following the announcement of the new requirements, Air Canada Cargo warned shippers that they face an embargo unless they can meet the new requirements.

The airline said that Transport Canada had issued an immediate mandate that all cargo arriving from a list of 55 largely European countries (see list below) must not be accepted from shippers without an established business relationship with either Air Canada Cargo, their freight forwarder, their known agent, or that are a known consignor.

Shipments tendered to Air Canada on behalf of a freight forwarder or known agent must also adjust their master air waybill or e-air waybill to include new messaging provided by the carrier.

Alternatively, the shipment could be accompanied by a letter that must be dated and on company letterhead.

The move has echoes of cargo security directive 1544-24-02 issued by the US Transporation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in mid-August.

The directive caught many by surprise and Korean Air Cargo placed an embargo on shipments from Europe and CIS countries to the US as a result.

“Korean Air has made the decision to temporarily halt cargo sales for shipments originating from Europe, CIS, and Middle East regions destined for or transiting through the US until November 18, 2024 in response to the TSA regulations,” the airline told Air Cargo News in a statement.

Details on the exact requirements issued in the US have been difficult to obtain for security reasons.

The US Airforwarders Association (AfA) said that obtaining some of the extra information requested by the US had created challenges for forwarders.

“The air cargo security landscape is constantly evolving in response to an ever-changing threat environment,” AfA executive director Brandon Fried said.

“While the enhancements to the Air Cargo Advanced Screening requirements are not surprising, their implementation has proven more complex than anticipated.

“Since the government requires airlines to implement these new procedures, much of the necessary information comes from freight forwarders who manage the shipments,” 

“However, obtaining and sharing some of this additional information has presented practical challenges. Had CBP and TSA involved the forwarding and customs brokerage communities earlier in this week’s rollout, the process might have been more streamlined with our added insights.

“As a result, this week has been significantly challenging and confusing for airlines, forwarders, and customs brokers alike.”

It is not unusual for the TSA to issue security directives and emergency amendments.

A spokesperson for the administration said: “TSA continually adjusts security measures as part of our multi-layered approach to security and works closely with industry partners to implement them, consistent with the 2021 TSA Air Cargo Security Roadmap.”

The development comes as reports have been circulating that two packages containing incendiaries had caught fire within European parcel networks, with German police suspecting they were designed to damage infrastructure.

Full list of countries affected by Canada’s requirements:

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