The Puerto Rico Ports Authority (APPR) has initiated the process to repeal Regulation 8837 of 2016, which governed the truck scanning system at ports. The move comes after the program’s cancellation, announced by Governor Jenniffer González Colón on August 25, 2025, due to its inefficiency and unnecessary nature. The cancellation was a long-standing demand from the private sector, particularly the food industry, one of the main importers of goods to the island.
The APPR’s executive director, Norberto Negrón Díaz, stated that the new Law 126-2026, which promotes security in port facilities, has replaced the previous security model. However, the government is currently facing a lawsuit from S2 Services, the company that provided the scanning service, which is claiming around $106 million due to the cancellation of its contract.
The repeal process began with a public notice for comments, and interested parties have 30 days to submit their observations in writing. The regulation to be eliminated was adopted under Law 12 of 2008, which has already been repealed.