New temporary restrictions have been introduced for air freight shipments into the US, Canada, and Australia from Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.
The United States’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented emergency measures – under the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) programme – following reports of at least two packages containing incendiaries catching fire in European postal networks.
Shippers are now required to provide more information, particularly to verify their identity, and ensure that the description of cargoes are detailed and accurate.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has implemented countrywide rejection of unclear descriptions of cargo, effective from October 7, 2024, with non-compliant cargo rejected and not loaded until full information has been provided.
Australia introduced similar rules on September 26, 2024, now requiring that freight forwarders only transport cargo from shippers with whom they have an ‘Established Business Relationship (EBR)’.
Affiliates have said shipments of household goods and pet relocations are among those impacted by the new regulations.