Transport Canada Air Cargo Security Program

Transport Canada has announced the launch and implementation of its Secure Supply Chain Management System (SSCMS) as of June 2, 2008, which is a Known Shipper data base for air cargo purposes. Air carriers and freight forwarders participating in Transport Canada’s Air Cargo Security Program (ACSP) will be able to use SSCMS to determine a shipper’s status (ie. whether the shipper is a “known” shipper) and whether and how the shipper’s cargo may be transported by air.

Processing to achieve Registered or Conditionally Registered status for shippers normally takes up to thirty (30) days from the date the shipper’s data is received from a participating air carrier or freight forwarder. In the interim, cargo from shippers who are Not Registered will be subject to air transportation limitations and additional security processes. For example, the cargo may have to be transported on all cargo aircraft or subjected to a search before being transported on a passenger aircraft.

Shippers should check with their air carriers and freight forwarders to determine whether the air carrier or freight forwarder is participating in the ACSP and whether the carrier or freight forwarder has included the shipper in the SSCMS data base.

Air carriers and freight forwarders not participating in the ACSP will not have access to SSCMS or be able to submit companies for inclusion as Registered Shippers.

SSCMS will continue to be populated with shipper and other data after June 2nd in order to allow ACSP participants to submit additional information and accommodate new clients.

Participants will also be permitted to use their existing known shipper lists, until the department makes changes to the Air Carrier Security Measures, to allow them sufficient time to submit their current known shippers for registration.

For more information, you may consult the Air Cargo Security Bulletins on the Transport Canada website here and here.