CBP Issues FAQs on ACAS, Provides Insight on Coming Mandatory Reqs
CBP posted a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) July 27 that offers some insight into the agency's work to develop a mandatory Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program. CBP and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have said they plan to issue a regulation to require advance data submission to ACAS for all international shipments either destined for or transiting through the U.S.
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Will Establish Penalties
CBP said there are now no penalties associated with ACAS, but once ACAS becomes a mandatory program, penalties for incorrect or untimely data submission will likely exist. ACAS is now being tested through a multi-phase pilot program. CBP previously said it would move toward implementation of mandatory standards for ACAS usage while the ACAS pilot program was going on.
(ACAS allows CBP and TSA to receive advance security filing cargo data as a means to target cargo shipments inbound to the U.S. that may be high risk and require additional physical screening under the appropriate regulatory framework and protocols.)
No Plans for Specific Data Filing Deadline
CBP said while the government doesn't plan to establish a specific data submission timeline, timely filing of ACAS data prior to consolidation and loading the cargo on an aircraft will be required to enable risk assessment for each cargo shipment and to conduct the required screening . The sooner data are submitted to ACAS, the sooner screening or Do Not Load (DNL) determinations can be communicated to industry stakeholders, thereby minimizing the impact to operations, said CBP.
CBP said it and TSA "are in on-going communication with industry stakeholders from all stages of the air cargo supply chain in an effort to enhance ACAS’ effectiveness and functionality from an industry perspective," as it works to develop a mandatory program. Upon the successful conclusion of the pilot, CBP and TSA intend to mandate both passenger and all-cargo carriers to submit data to ACAS, said CBP. The ACAS test is open to all organizations associated with the air cargo supply chain, including passenger carriers, all-cargo carriers, express carriers, and freight forwarders.
(See ITT's Online Archives 12040309 for summary of the ACAS Strategic Plan.)
Types of Data Required
Airlines and freight forwarders will exchange advance security filing data and related action messages for air cargo with CBP using new messages modeled on either existing Cargo-IMP format messages or CBP CAMIR-Air messages. While the overall form of the ACAS message will be similar to the message on which it is based, the new message formats will have slight differences in edits, timing, or new coded values as needed. The messages used for ACAS will be as follows:
| Optional ACAS Message Format | Based On | Source |
| PHL | FHL | Cargo IMP |
| PRI | FRI | CAMIR Air |
| PSN | FSN | CAMIR Air |
| PER | FER | CAMIR Air |
| PWB (future use) | FWB | Cargo IMP |