October 4, 2024
The current embargoes affecting household goods and personal effects shipments inbound to the USA are being imposed by airlines, not by the U.S. Government nor TSA. While TSA is not restricting these shipments, they are requesting additional details about the nature of the cargo, the shipper’s background, and the commodities involved. All of this must be implemented in the recently modified Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program issued on 21-August 2024. The responsibility for compliance falls on overseas freight forwarders and the issuing carriers, such as airlines and IATA Freight Forwarders, who must ensure that the ACAS standards are updated and compliant with new regulations.
While some carriers, like Delta and United, are continuing to move cargo, others, such as Lufthansa, appear to be refining their compliance processes before fully accepting personal effects shipments to the U.S.
Additionally, there is a significant upcoming change, effective November 12, 2024 that will prevent “Used household goods or Personal Effects” from being listed on the Air Waybill (AWB). Instead, specific items from the packing list must be detailed (e.g., clothes, shoes, kitchenware). Airlines may also require passport information, though the specifics are still being clarified.
IAM will continue to monitor this evolving situation. Thank you to Peter Work – GSA Air Freight Director at Arpin International Group, Inc. and James Grimes – DTS Limited for providing information included in this update.
CBP Extends ACAS Vague and Unacceptable Description Rejection Deadline (constantcontact.com)
Delta Cargo Update on TSA Requirements
Implementation Guide ACAS_ig_v2.3.2_508_compliant