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New TSA directive upsets forwarders with US-bound air cargo

A NEW directive from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requiring a security declaration to be displayed at intermediate points while tendered cargo is in transit, has upset forwarders, reports Atlanta area Air Cargo World.

Under the new rule, all US-bound shipments must have a statement attached to the master air waybill that says "[name of entity] has reviewed all available documentation and has determined that none of the cargo being offered in this consignment or consolidation has originated in, transferred from, or transited through any point in Egypt, Somalia, Syria or Yemen."

US Airforwarders Association executive director Brandon Fried met with the TSA chiefs to voice displeasure of AfA members.

"I expressed the hardship this requirement has caused our forwarder membership, especially because the directive had not been communicated to indirect air carriers directly by TSA since they, and not the airlines, are expected to provide the certification," he said.

Mr Fried also told AfA members that the TSA understood their position, but since the agency doesn't regulate foreign forwarders overseas, the directive had been assigned to TSA-regulated airlines, requiring them to collect the certifications at the last point of departure for the US.

He said the TSA leadership is planning to meet with the Department of Homeland Security to come up with a solution, but in the meantime they should continue to work with their airline partners in fulfilling the requirement to the extent possible.