The United States Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) have issued a directive declaring 5 new elements which constitute an "Elevated Cargo Risk". They have issued separate directives to Passenger and Cargo only aircraft operators, which will require carriers taking goods to the USA to comply with.

Some Airlines have already issued instructions, which some Forwarders may have seen and these may be even more stringent than the instructions issued by the TSA.

We have been involved in several discussions with our Australian Government Office of Transport Security (OTS), who are also liaising with the US TSA and our concerns in regard to the operational practicality of some of the points have been made.

Whist we cannot release the full US TSA directive, we can provide the following essential main points required of passenger air carriers as follows:

A. The foreign air carrier must not accept for transport on any aircraft any shipments originating or transferring from, or transiting through, any point within: Somalia or Yemen (countries listed currently).

B. The foreign air carrier must not accept for transport on any passenger aircraft any "Elevated Risk Cargo". "Elevated Risk Cargo" is cargo that meets one or more of the following criteria:

C. The foreign air carrier must review all documentation associated with each master air waybill (MAWB) and all house air waybills (HAWB) to determine if the shipment meets any of the criteria for elevated risk cargo.

D. For each MAWB accepted, the foreign air carrier must obtain a MAWB Acceptance Statement from an authorised RACA representative. If this statement is not obtained, the entire MAWB is considered elevated risk cargo and must not travel on a passenger aircraft

Please refer to the attached MAWB STATEMENT TEMPLATE

In the meantime, please discuss the fine detail with your relevant airline carrier BEFORE you consign any air cargo the USA.

Hawaiian and Qantas have already issued notices as attached:

Hawaiian Airlines notice.

Qantas notice

Please note that amongst other things, we have specifically asked the Australian Government OTS for:

• A clear direction in regard to the RACA TSP programs and any changes required to be inserted.
• The issue in regard to the new minimum 30 day limit for US bound aircargo, whereby the Forwarder and their customer do not have "an established business relationship of more than 30 calendar days". This is in conflict with our current 'Known Shipper' provisions under the Aviation Security Act and contained within your RACA TSP protocols.

We will advise as the situation changes and as we are advised by OTS and US TSA.

Regards