Come August 2010, 100% of all cargo transported by passenger air carriers must be screened. That has some in the food industry concerned that the quality and safety of fresh food could be compromised, according to an article in USA Today.
The article says shipments of fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood could sit in warehouses for hours, losing freshness and putting the food at risk of contamination as cargo handlers dismantle crates and rifle through the contents to check for explosives.
The law represents the final phase of Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 legislation, which mandates that all cargo transported on passenger aircraft be screened at a level of security commensurate to that of passenger baggage.
In order to fulfill the new security requirement, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP). According to a TSA document, “The CCSP was created to: allow screening of cargo early in the air cargo supply chain by a trusted, vetted, and audited facility; initiate and maintain the integrity of a shipment throughout the supply chain by utilizing stringent chain of custody methods; and enable entities such as shippers to incorporate physical screening into the packing process.”
By signing on to the program and becoming a Certified Cargo Screening Facility, those in the supply chain can screen cargo offsite and transport it to the airport without the need for rescreening.