Air Cargo Advance Screening, a United States Department of Homeland Security program, plays a crucial role in safeguarding the aviation industry by evaluating air freight shipments for potential threats before they enter the US.
Designed to strengthen the safety of US bound air cargo, ACAS requires carriers to submit specific data elements before loading shipments, in order to conduct a risk assessment on goods entering the US.
However, many carriers are pushing this responsibility onto forwarders, placing the onus on them to provide additional shipper related information to ensure compliance and navigate the risk of cargo delays or offloading if the necessary data is incomplete or inaccurate.
The introduction of Enhanced ACAS expands these requirements with new data elements and stricter compliance measures, meaning forwarders issuing master and house airway bills for transshipping or destined for the US (including US territories) must adapt quickly to ensure smooth operations and regulatory compliance.
What does ‘Enhanced ACAS’ mean for you?
Enhanced ACAS builds on the original data elements that air carriers were required to submit under the initial program. These core elements include:
- Complete Shipper Name
- Complete Shipper Address
- Complete Consignee Name
- Complete Consignee Address
- Number Of Pieces
- Total Weight
- Accurate Description of Goods
- Air Waybill Number
Under the Enhanced ACAS framework, additional data elements are now required to provide greater transparency into the air cargo supply chain, to help better identify parties involved prior to goods being loaded onto a US bound aircraft.
These include shipper and consignee phone numbers and email addresses, along with indicators for verified Known Consignor status.
The changes are designed to provide CBP and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with a more comprehensive view of cargo origins and destinations, enabling advanced security assessments.
Key changes and deadlines
Although the CBP has not provided any official deadlines for when these new data elements become mandatory, many airlines have started imposing their own deadlines on forwarders.
As a result, the Enhanced ACAS requirements are now effectively in force, with critical changes that demand immediate attention to ensure compliance and prevent operational disruptions:
- Detailed cargo descriptions: ACAS filings must include detailed and specific cargo descriptions. Any vague or non-compliant descriptions will result in shipment rejections, preventing cargo from being loaded at its origin.
- Shipper and consignee contact details: Enhanced ACAS now requires phone numbers and email addresses for both shipper and consignee to be included in filings. This ensures greater visibility and communication capabilities in the supply chain.
- Enhanced messaging standards: Updates to FWB (Master Air Waybill) and FHL (House Air Waybill) messages have been introduced to accommodate the additional data elements required for Enhanced ACAS compliance.
- Known Consignor verification: Shipments must indicate Known Consignor status, where applicable, to meet new security criteria prior to being tendered to air carriers.
Staying ACAS compliant with CargoWise
Navigating compliance doesn’t have to be a challenge. With CargoWise, you can simplify the process and ensure your shipments meet new Enhanced ACAS standards.
- Integration of additional data elements: CargoWise now supports reporting of additional ACAS data elements, including phone numbers and email addresses. These details can be transmitted via FWB and FHL messages, ensuring compliance with Enhanced ACAS standards.
- Automated data transmission: CargoWise automatically identifies if a shipment is destined for or transiting through the U.S., applying necessary compliance measures without manual intervention. Required information is automatically retrieved and transmitted as needed, eliminating data re-entry and enabling uninterrupted, efficient operations.
- Improved data validation: Validation tools will identify and alert users to correct errors in cargo descriptions and other required data, reducing the risk of shipment delays or rejections. And in cases where certain information can’t be retrieved, CargoWise provides warnings to help address issues promptly.
- Verified Known Consignor tracking: CargoWise enables users to indicate Known Consignor status, a critical requirement for Enhanced ACAS compliance. This feature helps ensure that shipments meet security criteria before they are tendered to air carriers.
We’ll continue to work closely with government authorities and industry bodies to support these new standards, while making it easy for your teams to meet evolving compliance requirements and avoid disruptions.
Contact us today to find out how you can make sure your business is ACAS ready with CargoWise.
Already a CargoWise customer? Take a look at our latest update notes for everything you need to know stay compliant.