TSA Known Shipper Changes effective August 1, 2009
|
As you are likely aware, the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) "known shipper" regulations go into effect on Saturday, August 1. According to TSA policy, beginning August 1, all human remains shipments originating in the U.S. or its territories must be tendered by a “known shipper.” This policy will apply to all airlines accepting human remains for transport, and requires funeral homes to register as a “known shipper” for each airline they use to ship bodies. That process might require an inspection and payment of an inspection fee. Today, TSA Cargo General Manager Ed Kelly sent the following message to John Fitch, NFDA’s senior vice president of Advocacy, regarding the upcoming compliance deadline: Dear Stakeholder: On August 3, 2007, President Bush signed into law the “Implementing Recommendations of the 911 Commission Act,” requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a system to enable industry to screen 100% of cargo transported on passenger aircraft at a level of security commensurate with that of passenger checked baggage, within three years of enactment. In addition, the legislation set an interim milestone for industry to screen 50% of all cargo shipped on a passenger aircraft within 18 months of enactment, February 2009. The impact of the 100% screening requirement is that all cargo must be screened at the piece level by TSA approved methods prior to being loaded onto a passenger aircraft. As part of the security program change necessary to accomplish this task, TSA required that all Funeral Homes be included in air carrier's known shipper lists prior to transport of human remains shipments. In late June, because many airlines had not completed their lists, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a one month extension to the July 1, 2009, requirement for human remains shipments to be accepted only from known shippers. The new deadline, August 1, 2009, is quickly approaching. Known shipper status is granted on a case-by-case basis by an air carrier or an indirect air carrier/ freight forwarder. TSA does not make shippers known. TSA manages an automated system that carriers may use to submit and vet information about their known shippers. Air Carriers have been encouraged to continue the utilization of the TSA Known Shippers Management System (KSMS), the KSMS user guide and the KSMS help desk. To date, approximately 10,000 separate funeral homes have been made known in KSMS by carriers. Based on the level of communication with the industry and the submissions to KSMS we anticipate a smooth transition by the funeral industry to the known shipper program. Sincerely, Ed We encourage you to share this message from Mr. Kelly with your members. NFDA has complied information and resources to help funeral homes comply with the "known shipper" regulations; the information can be found here: www.nfda.org/tsainfo. You are welcome to share this link with your members. If you have any questions about the “known shipper” regulations, please call NFDA at 800-228-6332. You may also contact our Advocacy staff in Washington D.C., who have been in communication with TSA and airline representatives on this issue: · John Fitch: 202-547-0441 or jfitch@nfda.org · Lesley Witter: 202-547-0877 or lwitter@nfda.org |