The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will miss a congressionally mandated deadline to screen 100 per cent of USbound air cargo by the first of August,US lawmakers noted recently.

In a recent report, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) also said TSA relies too heavily on a voluntary shipping programme to ensure the compliance of private companies in the 100 per cent screening requirement and recommended that TSA develop contingency plans to address shortfalls in voluntary participation.

The GAO report, Aviation Security: TSA Has Made Progress but Faces Challenges in Meeting the Statutory Mandate for Screening Air Cargo on Passenger Aircraft, determined that TSA should set up a staffing study forthe programme, verify the accuracy of screening data, set up a contingency planfor screening domestic cargo, and producenew plans for meeting requirementsfor screening cargo originating fromoverseas.

“TSA has made progress in meeting the air cargo screening mandate as it applies to domestic cargo, but faces challenges in doing so that highlight the need for a contingency plan,” the report stated. “TSA has, for example, increased required domestic cargo screening levels from 50 per cent in February 2009 to 75 per cent in May 2010, increased the amount of cargo subject to screening by eliminating many domestic screening exemptions, created a voluntary programme to allow screening to take place at various points in the air cargo supply chain, conducted outreach to familiarise industry stakeholders with screening requirements, and tested air cargo screening technologies.”

But meeting the 100 per cent screening deadline by 1 August could place burdens on trade, the GAO report warned. The participation of cargo shippers in TSA’s voluntary screening programme has been lower than TSA sought, the report found and the TSA also has not approved of any technology capable of screening large pallets and containers of cargo, although such technologies exist. The lack of certification by TSA, however, suggests the agency may have to take another approach to screening large pallets, the report cautioned. Estimates of inbound cargo suggest 50 per cent of it is being screened, TSA officials told GAO, but those estimates are not based on actual data. TSA has not determined how it will meet the requirement to screen 100 per cent of air cargo originating from foreign ports, so it should develop such a plan,GAO recommended.