Laser Printer Toner Cartridges Make U.S. Headline News
In a thwarted attempt to blow up Chicago synagogues, a commercial airline, and a cargo plane, Yemeni terrorists utilized the image of harmless laser toner cartridges to assist in hatching their sinister plot on October 30, 2010. The terrorists replaced the innards of these laser toner cartridges with potent bombs and packaged them to be delivered to their destinations by airplanes. Fortunately, after a tip, a worldwide alert was initiated and both deadly packages were discovered and defused without incident.
In a reactionary move in light of this occurrence, the U.S. Homeland Security issued a directive which has caused the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to prohibit large ink and toner cartridges shipments on flights from overseas to the U.S. In addition, new procedures to handle laser toner cartridges on board aircraft have been executed by Homeland Security. These new directives include forbidding passengers to check-in or carry on toner and ink cartridges over 16 ounces on domestic and international flights to the U.S.
So, what does this mean for the laser printer toner and ink cartridge industry? Minimal impact should occur with shipping ink cartridges, since most of them do not weigh a pound. The impact will be felt with the importing of laser printer supplies since the majority of laser printer toners weigh over a pound. For average travelers this holiday season, this barring should not affect their plans since very few of them tote around heavy toner cartridges on planes. If for some reason, you find it necessary to bring toner cartridges on board a plane, call your local airport to check if there are alternative methods of transporting the cartridges.
This article was published on Tuesday 30 November, 2010.
