New seafood screening started at Alaska

AS an example to how other perishables entering the US will have to be processed from June, Alaska Air Cargo has made procedural changes to how it handles consignments of seafood.With effect from 15 February, to meet the US Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new requirements for the screening of cargo, freight that is not pre-screened by shippers will need an additional four hours before flight for the screening and at a cost of US$0.04 a pound, with a minimum of $2 per shipment. Due to the technical nature of the screening all seafood boxes will also have to have completely dry exteriors.Seafood boxes requiring security screening must be free from exterior moisture to ensure accurate testing. Wet boxes and containers that have not been pre-screened may be rejected.Seafood shippers already certified in the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) will be exempt from the security screening surcharge for pre-screened shipments. In addition, the tender time for CCSP-certified shipments will remain two hours prior to departure. The tender time of four hours prior to departure for freighter shipments will also remain the same.“We strongly encourage all seafood shippers to consider joining [CCSP],” said Joe Sprague, Alaska Air Cargo’s vice-president. “Receiving certified pre-screened freight is the best way to ensure the most efficient and highest quality shipment of seafood products to market.”

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