U.S. is No Longer Mandating 100 % Screening of Cargo Containers

It was announced today that the United States is no longer going to screen every cargo container before it enters the United States.

On a visit to the Netherlands’ Rotterdam port, the fourth largest in the world, the DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said, “We believe the so-called 100 percent requirement is probably not the best way to go.”

In 2007 Congress mandated that all containers entering the United States must be scanned at their ports of exit by 2012. Earlier this week, Napolitano met with her British counterpart Home Secretary, Theresa May, as well as with other EU ministers to explain the U.S. position on the security mandate.

The 2007 bill empowers DHS to extend the 2012 deadline if the agency believed that the goal was not achievable, which in the past Napolitano had expressed her doubts about the feasibility of the screening 100 percent of the cargo entering the United States.

Napolitano says rather than scanning all cargo containers, DHS prefers a “layered approach” that includes increased cooperation between countries and better intelligence sharing and analysis in addition to screening some containers.

She explained, “I think what we have learnt over time is that there are many different ways to achieve a security objective. You have to have multiple layers that operate effectively.”

Napolitano is currently abroad on week-long visit to Britain and other European nations to bolster support for global efforts to secure the supply chain.

So far about fifty ports around the world have signed on to the U.S.-led Container Security Initiative (CSI) which is aimed at preventing terrorist attacks and the smuggling of dangerous materials by mandating that port authorities pre-scan and evaluate containers.

Mexico Will Soon Institute the Mandatory Advanced Cargo Data Requirement

The Mexican government will soon begin testing of their new electronic requirements for advance cargo data for departing and arriving flights. Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) which oversees the customs operations of Mexico is working with airlines and forwarders on a new system that will move toward electronic clearance of cargo.

Representatives for most all of the airlines serving Mexico have had meetings with SAT and are working with them currently on testing their systems with the Mexican government. Mandatory advance electronic data for import and export is expected to be required sometime during 2011.

To find out more about the SAT requirements and frequently asked questions go to the technical information bulletin section of their website at

http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/sala_prensa/158_18792.html