Background

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an interim final rule that, effective Nov. 21, establishes additional mandatory, conditional, and optional data elements under the Air Cargo Advance Screening program. Comments on this rule are due no later than Jan. 20, 2026.

ACAS requires inbound air carriers or other eligible filers to transmit specified air cargo data as early as practicable but no later than prior to the loading of the cargo onto an aircraft. This data is analyzed as part of a joint CBP-TSA targeting operation that identifies high-risk cargo for further interventions before the cargo can be loaded onto an aircraft bound for the U.S.

CBP states that air cargo information received under ACAS has been an effective risk-assessment tool but that recent developments (including classified information regarding a specific threat to air cargo security) have convinced the agency that it needs a more complete understanding of the evolving threat environment, including the parties involved in cargo shipment transactions, the nature of their relationships, financial data related to cargo shipments, and additional identifying information for certain online marketplaces and shipments originating from individuals with unknown risk profiles.

CBP is therefore establishing additional mandatory, conditional, and optional data elements under ACAS, as indicated below.

 

Previous

Revised

Mandatory

Shipper name and address

Shipper name and address

 

Consignee name and address

Consignee name, address, email address, and phone number

 

Cargo description

Cargo description

 

Total quantity based on smallest external packing unit

Total quantity based on smallest external packing unit

 

Total weight of cargo

Total weight of cargo

 

Air waybill number

Air waybill number

 

 

Shipment packing location and/or scheduled pickup location

 

 

Ship-to party

Conditional

Master air waybill number

Master air waybill number

 

 

Verified known consignor

 

 

Shipper email address and phone number

 

 

Customer account name, issuer, number, shipping frequency/volume, establishment date, and billing type

 

 

Unmasked IP address or media access control address of device used during account creation

 

 

Unmasked IP or MAC address of devices used to (1) initiate the shipping transaction and (2) file the ACAS filing each time one is submitted

Shipping cost

 

 

Biographic data

 

 

Link to product listing and unmasked IP or MAC address of device used by the consignee to purchase the product

Optional

Second notify party

Second notify party

 

 

Origin of shipment

 

 

Declared value

 

 

Harmonized commodity code

 

 

Transaction type

 

 

Special handling type

 

 

Customer account email address and phone number

 

 

Shipper manufacturer ID code or authorized economic operator number

 

 

Consignee importer or record number

 

 

Regulated agent name, address, and code

 

 

ACAS filing type

 

Any additional data elements listed in § 122.48a or any additional information regarding ACAS data element

Any additional data elements listed in § 122.48a or any additional information regarding ACAS data element

 

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