TSA Recognition of Australia’s National Cargo Security Program (NNF 2017/132)


Information was received from the Office of Transport Security (OTS) on 16 June 2017 in relation to Australia's National Cargo Security Program and its acceptance by the United States Department of Homeland Security Transport Security Administration (TSA) effective from 1 July 2017. This correspondence was forwarded to the Cargo Working Group, on which the CBFCA is a participant, and which has worked closely with the OTS over the past three (3) years to address air cargo security issues requirements of the TSA.

“As we discussed recently in Sydney the Office of Transport Security (OTS) has been working closely with the TSA for the last 2 years to reach an agreed outcome on air cargo screening arrangements for US-Bound air cargo that are commensurate with those of the US.  I’m pleased to confirm that this week the Acting Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Dr Huban Gowadia, has wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, to inform him that Australia’s National Cargo Security Program will be recognised for another year to 1 July 2018.  

The TSA has completed its assessment of Australia’s Enhanced Air Cargo Examination regulatory framework for cargo screening and clearance. The one year extension relates to the TSA’s desire to more fully appraise our implementation and compliance approach for the new Known Consignor arrangements.  We don’t foresee this as presenting a major challenge as work is already well advanced in these areas. The recognition by the US is of the piece level screening arrangements we have been working towards for two years, that is EACE and the Known Consignor scheme. What their recognition means is that if we implement these arrangements on 1 July, air cargo exports can continue to the US. Anything that is exported to the US by air from 1 July will need to originate from an approved Known Consignor or be screened by a facility approved to operate under an EACE notice.

I would like to thank you all for your engagement over the last two to three years on this issue.  I know this has been a long reform journey and we are thankfully getting close to the end of the process although we recognise that there is still significant implementation and adjustment to occur within the cargo sector.

Sachi Wimmer
Executive Director | Office of Transport Security
Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development