U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an Interim Final Rule making changes to the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program. The changes are intended to address new and ongoing aviation security threats. Recent incidents—such as the July 2024 fires caused by incendiary devices at European air cargo facilities—have highlighted vulnerabilities in the international air cargo supply chain. The enhanced ACAS program now requires the transmission of additional data elements for shipments bound for the United States, enabling CBP and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which collaborates with CBP on ACAS, to conduct more robust risk assessments before cargo is loaded onto aircraft. This proactive approach is designed to prevent high-risk cargo from ever boarding a plane, thereby safeguarding both aircraft and the broader supply chain.

The rule expands the current mandatory, conditional, and optional data elements that must be transmitted by air carriers and ACAS filers, including airfreight forwarders. New mandatory elements include the consignee’s email and phone number, the shipment packing or pickup location, and details about the “ship to” party. Conditional data elements, which are only required in certain circumstances, now include shipper contact information, customer account details, shipping cost, and device IP/MAC addresses used in transactions. For shipments where the shipper is not a “Verified Known Consignor,” additional data elements, such as biographic information and product listing links, may be required. These changes may require airfreight forwarders to update their data collection and transmission processes, ensure compliance with new record retention rules, and coordinate closely with partners to avoid shipment delays or enforcement actions.

A table listing all mandatory, conditional, and optional data-elements in ACAS filings and identifying the changes introduced by the Interim Final Rule is below.

The Interim Final Rule will become effective on the date it is published in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for November 21, 2025. That said, CBP is implementing a phased enforcement period of 12 months to allow industry adaptation during which it will “show restraint in enforcing” the new requirements, though willful or egregious violations may be penalized immediately. CBP is also accepting comments from industry for 60 days following the effective date. ACAS filers that have not already updated their procedures to collect the new mandatory data elements should expect increased IT and training costs. The expanded data requirements are intended to improve CBP’s ability to identify high-risk shipments, reduce threats, and enhance overall supply chain transparency. ACAS filers who proactively engage with these new requirements will help ensure the security of their operations and maintain compliance with federal regulations.