newstodate.aero
Copenhagen, JAN 16, 2003 (newstodate): The US Customs Service is now writing regulations requiring that the electronic manifest for each air cargo shipment be sent to a government database before the shipment leaves a foreign airport for the United States.
A source in the industry told newstodate that new rules are expected to take effect Oct. 1 for air, rail, sea and truck cargo in a move to tighten border security.
Customs now faces the problem of figuring out how to handle the data electronically without stalling the flow of commerce.
-We can't wait until the planes take off, and if we do, you'll run the risk that some of these planes will be turned back, the source said.
US Customs, which officially becomes part of the Homeland Security Department Jan. 24, is holding four days of hearings to get feedback from industry on how to comply with the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
But at the first hearing Jan. 14, industry representatives stated that requiring a 24-hour notice before liftoff and risking delivery delays could hurt the air cargo industry.
US Customs is currently building a Web-based data system called the Automated Commercial Environment, ACE. The system will provide electronic information about cargo inspections and clearance into the United States, but it will not be fully operational until 2007. In the meantime, Customs must still rely on the ageing Automated Commercial System to handle the manifest data.
-I'm not sure we have a choice. We don't have the time to wait for ACE, the source said.
A source in the industry told newstodate that new rules are expected to take effect Oct. 1 for air, rail, sea and truck cargo in a move to tighten border security.
Customs now faces the problem of figuring out how to handle the data electronically without stalling the flow of commerce.
-We can't wait until the planes take off, and if we do, you'll run the risk that some of these planes will be turned back, the source said.
US Customs, which officially becomes part of the Homeland Security Department Jan. 24, is holding four days of hearings to get feedback from industry on how to comply with the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
But at the first hearing Jan. 14, industry representatives stated that requiring a 24-hour notice before liftoff and risking delivery delays could hurt the air cargo industry.
US Customs is currently building a Web-based data system called the Automated Commercial Environment, ACE. The system will provide electronic information about cargo inspections and clearance into the United States, but it will not be fully operational until 2007. In the meantime, Customs must still rely on the ageing Automated Commercial System to handle the manifest data.
-I'm not sure we have a choice. We don't have the time to wait for ACE, the source said.