Challenges in developing screening requirements for air cargo inbound from foreign countries is thwarting the US Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) efforts to meet a legislative mandate requiring all freight on passenger aircraft to be screened by 2010.
US legislation passed in 2007 required the country's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a system to physically screen 50% of cargo transported on passenger aircraft by February 2009 and 100% of such cargo by August 2010. The TSA, a component of the DHS, is responsible for implementing the system.
Significant efforts to reach the 100% mark are ongoing, says a spokeswoman for the agency, which has achieved 100% screening of cargo on narrowbody passenger aircraft.
She confirms, however, that the TSA does not expect to meet the August 2010 deadline for screening 100% of all cargo on passenger aircraft.
The TSA "cannot implement a security regimen in a foreign country without extensive, cooperative planning with - and acceptance by - our international partners", explains the TSA spokeswoman.
About 44% of cargo transported to and from the US on passenger flights is inbound from a foreign country. However, the TSA is not pinpointing the countries that are posing screening challenges.
"For security reasons, we cannot point out any one country or region which we are having issues with," says the spokeswoman. "Any passenger airline carrying cargo into the US has to adhere to both the security rules of the country of departure as well as the security programs issued by TSA and our inspector force insures compliance with those requirements."
During a recent workshop in Seattle, the Air Cargo Management Group (ACMG) consultancy addressed the problems associated with screening inbound international flights.
"Many countries see unilateral US security requirements as a violation of national sovereignty," says the ACMG, noting: "No broad-based multi-lateral international approach to air cargo security exists."
Furthermore, says the ACMG, some experts say 100% screening reduces security relative to a risk-based approach that would focus resources on high-risk shipments.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
