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IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) Guidelines provides harmonized and standardized procedures for advance cargo information filing in a unique, comprehensive manual. It enables users to improve procedural efficiency and empowers their compliance with the preloading advance cargo information regulatory requirements applicable in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Canada.
To learn more about PLACI programs and their impact on your operations, watch our on-demand webinar. Special attention is given to the implementation of EU-ICS2 which came into effect in March 2023. Additionally, IATA held sessions with regulators and impacted air cargo stakeholders in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Download the slides presented at these sessions: 2022 (pdf), 2023 (pdf), or 2024 (pdf).
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What's inside the PLACI manual?
The IATA PLACI manual provides additional air cargo supply chain security by enabling an initial risk assessment of the cargo being carried prior to the aircraft's loading at the last point of departure.
IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines encapsulates and furthers the international standards set in the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards through improved procedural harmonization and the inclusion of such additional elements as transmission protocols.
Why use the PLACI manual?
The benefits of IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines include:
- Alignment with regulatory requirements, such as US Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS), Canada Pre-Load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT), EU Pre-Loading Advance air Cargo Information (ICS2 PLACI) and UK Pre-Load Data Informed Targeting (also known as UK PreDICT), as well as future other PLACI initiatives worldwide
- Avoiding non-compliance issues with regulators and supply chain partners that could result in substantial penalties and severe delays in shipment times
- Having harmonized and standardized PLACI procedures in one user-friendly document
Relying on IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines will assist:
- Airlines by enhancing customer service through improved efficiency and shipment timings as well as by providing a single PLACI reference point for multiple regulatory regimes and supply chain partners
- Freight Forwarders by providing a means to deal with a multifaceted, multi-layered air cargo supply chain in a consistent manner and, also, by clarifying PLACI-related rules and processes
- Customs Authorities by promoting the mutual recognition of procedures and by facilitating training based on industry-agreed standards
- Ground Handlers by establishing their responsibilities and obligations with well-documented procedures and by allowing them to better manage their resources based on advance information
- IT and Security by encouraging the promotion of standards to keep the air cargo supply chain secure and by providing a user-friendly way to assess existing initiatives and plan future upgrades
Stay up-to-date
Significant changes and amendments to the 6th edition (2025) of the PLACI manual include:
- Outcome of the May 2024 IATA workshop in the UAE
- Lessons learned from EU ICS2
- Clarifications on data filing
- System challenges and recommended solutions from impacted stakeholders
- Status of readiness from CA and UAE
- Updates on incoming PLACI programs: CA PACT, UAE PLACI, UK PreDICT
- New high-level business process to clarify responsibilities of each stakeholder
- Addition of a glossary