Cargo Shippers Security Rules Delayed

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- New security rules are being delayed for most cargo shippers because the government must adapt its computer software, the Homeland Security Department said Thursday.

The new cargo rules require electronic manifests identifying freight shipped by truck, rail, plane and ship to be sent to customs officials before the goods reach the border.

"We recognized right from the very beginning we had to make the system more efficient," said John Considine, director of cargo verification for Customs and Border Protection. "We said we would not implement until we made those changes."

Officials said the electronic information will be compared with law enforcement and commercial databases to target potentially dangerous shipments that need to be inspected. Mislabeled cargo or a shipper's record of past violations might cause cargo to be labeled high risk.

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