Executive Summary
CBP extended the Enhanced ACAS phased enforcement period from November 21, 2026, to May 1, 2027, effective immediately, according to its August 10 CSMS announcement.
The extension applies only to requirements promulgated through the Enhanced ACAS Interim Final Rule, and remains subject to the conditions in Section IV.I of that rule.
The extension does not pause existing ACAS data-submission requirements: air carriers and filers must continue submitting data as early as practicable and before loading cargo onto an aircraft destined for the United States.
Use the added time to correct data-quality issues identified by CBP, test systems against the technical specifications for full enforcement, and coordinate implementation concerns with CBP.
Enhanced ACAS phased enforcement now runs to May 1, 2027, rather than ending November 21, 2026. CBP announced the immediate extension in its August 10 CSMS bulletin, covering only requirements promulgated through the Enhanced Air Cargo Advance Screening Interim Final Rule, or IFR. Air carriers, eligible filers and other affected parties should treat this as additional implementation time, not a suspension of current ACAS filing duties.
What Does the Enhanced ACAS Extension Change?
The IFR established a phased enforcement period that was initially set to run for 12 months from its November 21, 2025, effective date, through November 21, 2026. CBP now extends that period to May 1, 2027. The agency says the change is effective immediately and is intended to give the trade community additional time for operational readiness, system integration, compliance procedures and data-quality work.
The extension is limited: it “solely affects requirements promulgated through the publication” of the Enhanced ACAS IFR and is subject to the conditions in Section IV.I of that rule. It does not state that all air-cargo screening requirements are deferred. Parties should identify which requirements they are implementing under the IFR before treating the new period as applicable to a particular obligation.
CBP says it will continue stakeholder outreach, technical assistance and data-quality monitoring during the extended period. The stated purpose is to help air carriers, filers and other eligible parties prepare for full enforcement and support a smooth transition.
Who Must Continue Submitting ACAS Data?
The ACAS program requires air carriers and other eligible filers to submit specified data elements for air-cargo shipments as early as practicable, but no later than before the cargo is loaded onto an aircraft destined for the United States. The advance data supports CBP’s assessment and mitigation of potential security risks before cargo enters the air transportation environment.
CBP expressly expects air carriers and filers to continue submitting ACAS data in accordance with existing regulatory requirements during the extension. The later phased-enforcement date therefore does not change the stated submission timing or remove the obligation to provide the required data. Other affected parties responsible for ACAS submissions should likewise use the extension to prepare for full enforcement, rather than treating it as permission to stop filing.
The bulletin does not enumerate the data elements or describe the filing process. Check the applicable ACAS requirements and your role in the submission chain to confirm which data and technical specifications apply to your shipments.
How Should Air Carriers Prepare for May 1, 2027?
CBP identifies four areas for action during the extended period: continue required submissions, promptly address data-quality issues identified by CBP, confirm internal systems can meet the technical specifications for full enforcement, and maintain coordination with CBP representatives to resolve implementation concerns. Those are the agency’s stated expectations for air carriers and filers.
The extension is also a practical opportunity to test whether data moves accurately through internal systems and filing arrangements. The bulletin does not establish a separate testing protocol or require a particular internal review, so keep preparation tied to the applicable technical specifications and any issues CBP has identified. Do not assume that a system is ready merely because it has transmitted data under existing requirements.
For technical questions about implementation, CBP directs parties to their assigned Client Representative. For operational inquiries, it identifies the National Targeting Center contact ACAS-SUPPORT@cbp.dhs.gov. Policy-related inquiries go to Cargo and Conveyance Security at OFO-MANIFESTBRANCH@cbp.dhs.gov.
What Are the Enhanced ACAS Enforcement Dates?
- November 21, 2025: IFR effective date. The phased enforcement period was initially set for 12 months following this date.
- November 21, 2026: Original end of the phased period. CBP’s extension replaces this scheduled end date.
- August 10, 2026: CBP announcement. The CSMS bulletin was sent on this date and says the extension is effective immediately.
- May 1, 2027: Extended end date. CBP identifies this as the new end of the phased enforcement period.
The bulletin provides no separate implementation milestone between the announcement and the extended end date. Continue meeting current submission requirements throughout the extension.
What Should ACAS Filers Do During the Extension?
Keep filing under current requirements. Continue submitting ACAS data as early as practicable and before loading cargo onto an aircraft destined for the United States.
Resolve identified data issues promptly. Track data-quality issues CBP identifies, assign responsibility for correcting them, and verify that corrections address the problem.
Test technical readiness. Compare internal systems with the technical specifications required for full enforcement and identify integration or procedure gaps.
Coordinate with CBP. Contact the assigned Client Representative for technical questions. Direct operational inquiries to ACAS-SUPPORT@cbp.dhs.gov and policy questions to OFO-MANIFESTBRANCH@cbp.dhs.gov.
Confirm the scope. Determine whether each requirement at issue was promulgated through the Enhanced ACAS IFR before relying on this extension.
What Does CBP Leave Unclear About ACAS?
The CSMS bulletin does not explain how CBP will apply the conditions in Section IV.I of the IFR, identify the specific data elements or technical specifications, or describe the consequences of a particular filing or data-quality failure during the extended period. It also does not provide a separate start date for full enforcement beyond stating that the phased period is extended to May 1, 2027.
CBP says it will issue further updates through future CSMS messages. Until then, parties should not infer that the extension changes filing deadlines or reaches obligations outside the requirements promulgated through the IFR.
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