US: New security measures imposed on incoming cargo shipments

US authorities are requiring airlines to give them more notice about certain types of cargo that officials believe may pose a security risk. The new measure took effect Tuesday. Carriers operating planes with commercial cargo now must send certain information about that cargo to US Customs and Border Protection before loading the plane. Until now, airlines generally weren't required to provide the cargo information until a few hours before the plane's arrival. Officials said that meant Customs might not have enough time to identify items that could be bombs or chemical or biological weapons until the plane was already on its way to a US destination. Customs said it will be able to order airline crews not to load suspicious cargo. The government is not detailing the information that the airlines must provide.<br/>