US government seeks pharma feedback on cargo screening

The US Transportation Security Administration is seeking pharmaceutical industry comment on plans to bring forward 100 per cent screening of cargo carried by inbound international aircraft.

The TSA already mandates screening for domestic and international passenger aircraft originating in the USA, as well as high-risk inbound cargo, under measures introduced last year. Now however it has brought forward the 2013 deadline for screening 100 per cent of all inbound international cargo to December 31, 2011.

The new measures were announced in the wake of the incident last year in which two bombs disguised as toner cartridges were intercepted en route to the USA from Yemen.

Airlines, freight forwarders and cargo carriers have up to 45 days to comment on the new inbound requirement, and the TSA also wants to make sure that the requirements will not have a deleterious effect on access to medicines.

An opportunity to learn more about the plans and put forward comments will take place on February 11 at Pfizer subsidiary Wyeth's facility in Collegeville, Philadelphia. For additional details contact Brad Elrod at bradley.elrod@pfizer.com.