June 11th 2019– Deadline for implementation of ACAS air shipments to the USA
Although the deadline is now set on next week Tuesday June 11th, it is expected a short delay will occur since the airline carriers have been sending out warnings they are not ready to implement the new ACAS rules in accordance with the present deadline.
Nevertheless the mandatory requirement for ACAS will be an important development in your trade to the USA. The ACAS filing will allow the air freight forwarder/ Indirect Air Carriers to manage its own filings. In the current filing scenario, the air freight forwarder/ Indirect Air Carriers cannot file on its own and has to rely on the actual airplane operator.
The Atlas Logistic Network solution for ACAS
Atlas members who currently handle air freight will be able to make their filings through the facilities offered by the Atlas Logistic Network. As with ocean AMS, ISF and the others, the air freight forwarder will be able arrange his filings through our Atlas assistance. The Atlas Logistic Network fees will be less than what the airlines charge to make the filing.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has spent several years running a pilot program for air import shipments called Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS).
CBP’s goal is to strengthen its capability to target high-risk cargo earlier in the supply chain and provide an opportunity for members of the air cargo community to participate and prepare for eventual regulatory changes.
Why ACAS has been created
ACAS was designed to provide CBP with data concerning the parties and commodities involved in air cargo /prior to loading on an aircraft at a foreign port/airport. With information about inbound air shipments further back in the supply chain, CBP will be able to better identify high-risk shipments into the United States.
The ACAS pilot project was created in response to attempted terrorist threats discovered in October 2010. CBP determined that it could strengthen air cargo security if electronic cargo information was transmitted prior to loading at a foreign port. This is an additional security requirement that goes one-step beyond post-departure Air AMS.
Also transiting air cargo’s via the USA will require ACAS filing
CBP has made it clear that it intends to issue a regulation to require advance data submission to ACAS for all international shipments either destined for or travelling through the United States. The final regulation requires timely submission of ACAS data prior to consolidation and loading the cargo on an aircraft will be required. The sooner the information is submitted, the sooner screening or Do Not Load (DNL) messages can be communicated.
The following seven data elements are required for ACAS:
* House Airway bill (AWB) number
* Message sender
* Shipper name and address
* Consignee name and address
* Weight
* Piece count
* Description of goods
There are currently two methods to file ACAS:
1. the air carrier can make a Single Air AMS / ACAS Filing
2. the Air Forwarder and Carrier can make a Dual Filing (they each file).
With the single air carrier filing, the air carrier transmits advance shipment data for security filing while subsequently transmitting post-departure Automated Manifest System (AMS) data in accordance with Trade Act requirements. Air carriers transmit the AMS information to CBP prior to loading cargo, and perform all required screening. The pre-loading AMS transmission would be used by CBP to satisfy both ACAS and AMS requirements.
In a freight forwarder / air carrier dual filing, the freight forwarder may transmit House Air Waybill data directly to CBP to meet pre-loading targeting and manifest requirements. Both the forwarder and the carrier receive ACAS responses prior to consolidation and delivery to air carriers. Air carriers accept forwarder cargo for transport after confirming the successful ACAS transmission, and perform any required screening.
Additional info on ACAS
The coming days your ATLAS team will keep yu informed on the development of ACAS, our solution and the deadlines set for the implementation.
Enclosed you can find more official and additional info published by the US Customs and Border Protection and their implementation Guido Version 1.0 – June 2018.
Dowload the implementation guide here
