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Helpful Links
Foreign Manufacturer Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for C-TPAT, the Foreign Manufacturer must meet the following eligibility requirements: - Be an active Manufacturer incorporated in Mexico or Canada. (Copies of the company’s certificate of incorporation must be made available upon request by C-TPAT personnel).
- Have an active U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Manufacturer Identification (MID) Number.
- Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for C-TPAT.
- Commit to maintaining the C-TPAT supply chain security criteria as outlined in the C-TPAT Manufacturer agreement.
Provide CBP with a C-TPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the Foreign Manufacturer will meet, maintain and enhance internal policy to meet the C-TPAT Foreign Manufacturer security criteria.
Supply Chain Security: Is Your Company Complacent or Engaged? Imminent terrorist attacks or no, your competitive advantage demands that you secure your company's supply chain By Monica Isbell At the National Industrial Transportation League's spring conference in March 2004, Admiral James Loy, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), admitted DHS's biggest fear is that citizens have become complacent because no major terrorist attack has taken place on U.S. territory since September 11, 2001. A sense of normalcy and "business as usual" has descended upon America, despite the fact that it's impossible to read a magazine or newspaper or attend an industry conference without hearing about supply chain security and government initiatives to keep our borders safe. There's been much discussion but less action taken by citizens and companies to guard against terrorist threats. Because we're assaulted with so much information on this topic on a daily basis, perhaps it has become easy to ignore the perils since they seem nebulous and remote. But we do so at our own risk. To continue reading this article, please click here.
U.S. and China Begin Pilot C-TPAT Validation Program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced March 24 that it recently began a pilot C-TPAT validation program in China in cooperation with China’s General Administration of Customs. A CBP press release states that the program is being conducted with the voluntary participation of three U.S. importers whose supply chains predominately originate in China. According to CBP, China Customs is heading the validation initiative using the C-TPAT minimum security criteria as a guide and has completed the first validation with technical assistance from CBP supply chain security specialists.
The pilot program could open the way for more C-TPAT participants to qualify for Tier 3 status. This designation allows those that have been C-TPAT certified and validated and that exceed the program’s minimum security criteria to receive benefits such as expedited cargo release during all threat levels, fewer cargo exams, priority cargo searches and bigger reductions in Automated Targeting System risk scores. CBP notes that the three companies involved in the pilot have been ineligible for Tier 3 status due to CBP’s inability to validate security procedures in China. CBP will now use the information gathered under this program to decide whether these companies can receive higher level benefits.
In addition, CBP and China Customs will jointly evaluate the pilot program and determine next steps. According to an American Shipper article, more than 300 other companies that source most of their production from China could become eligible for Tier 3 benefits if this validation program is expanded. CBP has been pilot testing a program allowing third-party validations in China, but the article notes that only about a dozen companies have taken advantage of it.
The press release notes that CBP has performed more than 7,200 total C-TPAT validations since 2003. In 2007 CBP visited manufacturing and logistics facilities in 79 countries, validated 3,011 supply chains and certified 2,601 new members.
New inspectors at ports
THE US CONSUMER Product Safety Commission Mar 5 at the Port of Long Beach announced the creation of the new Import Surveillance Division of the CPSC.
This team, in coordination with the Customs and Border Protection agency, is tasked with inspecting, detecting, and stopping hazardous products from entering into the United States.
The Port of Long Beach is the first port that will have a permanent CPSC presence, and additional staff will be assigned to other busy ports as the division is expanded, according to the press release.
The new inspection unit will be able to place a hold on any shipments deemed hazardous, according to Nancy Nord, the commission’s acting chairperson. Previously, inspectors and customs agents checked goods only on a case-by-case basis at the nation’s ports.
"With new strategies and growing resources, I am confident that we can prevent the entry of unsafe products into our country, remove those that do find a way in and punish those who willfully disregard the safety of our consumers," said Acting Chairman Nord.
Web site:
Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/
Coast Guard Port Security AdvisoryPort Security Advisory (1-08)
A. Background:
The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) has mandated that the United States Coast Guard evaluate the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures in foreign ports and provides for the imposition of conditions of entry on vessels arriving to the United States from countries that do not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures (MTSA, 46 USC § 70108).
Indonesia is the most recent country the Coast Guard has determined to be not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. Actions required as listed in paragraph C of this Port Security Advisory take effect for vessels visiting Indonesia beginning on March 10, 2008.
To continue reading this article, please click here.
China Signals Willingness to Accept C-TPAT Validations by CBP Officers
According to press reports, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham said recently that China has signaled a willingness to allow CBP inspectors into the country to conduct validations under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Basham said customs minister Mu Xinsheng has offered to sign a memorandum of cooperation that will allow CBP to verify that Chinese factories and other entities in the supply chains of C-TPAT participants are complying with applicable security guidelines. Further details have yet to be determined.
The memorandum, once finalized, could allow more C-TPAT participants to qualify for Tier 3 status. This designation allows those that have been certified and validated and exceed the minimum security criteria to receive benefits such as expedited cargo release during all threat levels, fewer cargo exams, priority cargo searches and bigger reductions in Automated Targeting System risk scores. CBP has been pilot testing a program allowing third-party validators to review security practices in China in an effort to enable more participants to achieve Tier 3 status.
Customs Border Protection Chooses Intertek
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Office has recently chosen Intertek to participate in a one-year pilot program to conduct supply chain security validations in China to approximately 300 C-TPAT member importers who (at the current moment) are only able to achieve Tier 1 certification due to the CBP’s inability to validate these designated importer’s supply chains in China.
The CBP has officially notified these specific importers of their eligibility to voluntarily participate in this program. The pilot’s official launch date began July 1, 2007. The importer has 30 days to initiate the validation process upon receiving the official notification from the CBP and list of eligible third parties he/she can choose from (Intertek being one of these parties). The C-TPAT importer may choose any one of the third parties recognized by the CBP as a chosen participant of this program.
The CBP will regularly monitor and review operations of all third party entities to ensure standard operating procedures and requirements for validation are being met. All contracts between the third party entity and the C-TPAT importer are made exclusively between these two parties and without government intervention.
Intertek’s GSV program is recognized by the CBP for its excellence. Intertek’s presence in China, the quality of the training and experience of the inspectors, professional report, and advanced technology capabilities were important factors in this selection process.
Questions concerning Intertek’s participation in the Third Party Validation Pilot Program or other global trade security questions can be directed to our Intertek Supply Chain experts, Mr. Larry Simon at larry.simon@intertek.com
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Minimum Security Criteria for Importers
Q: 1.Why is CBP updating the security guidelines for C-TPAT importers? Will other enrollment sectors also be subject to new minimum-security criteria?
A: For C-TPAT to ensure its continued viability, effectiveness, and relevance, the program must continue to evolve – as the terrorist threat and the nature of global trade evolves. The impetus for strengthening the existing security guidelines is to provide more detail to the membership on the expectations of the program, and to assist CBP in defining a more consistent baseline for minimal program requirements and better-defined C-TPAT benefits. Throughout 2005, CBP will work with the trade community to develop minimum-security criteria for all enrollment sectors.
Q: 2. What basis did CBP use in developing the new security criteria?
A: The new security criteria are based on the processes, procedures and best practices collected from the thousands of security profiles that CBP has reviewed and approved, and the more than 470 validations that have been completed and documented to date. The new criteria were developed in partnership with the trade community over a 6-month period.
Q: 3. Does CBP intend to revise the security guidelines for all sectors of C-TPAT membership? If so, has CBP determined the timeframe for completion of the refined security criteria for each sector?
A: Yes. CBP will move forward with revising the current security guidelines for each sector of membership. After the new C-TPAT security criteria for importers has been announced, CBP will begin revising the sea carriers, air carriers and foreign manufacturers sectors concurrently.
Q: 4. Has the C-TPAT membership participated in developing the new security criteria?
A: Yes. The first draft of the new security criteria was disseminated in October of 2004 to a group of 18 C-TPAT importers and trade associations for review and comment. In November, the process was merged into the larger COAC C-TPAT Subcommittee where modifications to the initial draft were made based upon feedback from the trade community. Several additional drafts were then circulated and several conference calls and meetings transpired until the process was finalized in February 2005.
Q: 5. Is CBP moving towards making C-TPAT a regulatory program?
A: No. C-TPAT will continue to evolve as a voluntary, incentives based government / private sector partnership. As C-TPAT evolves, the program will continue to work in partnership with the stakeholders of the international supply chain and cooperatively develop improved systems of security and efficiency.
For additional, please click on the link
Security Criteria for C-TPAT Importers
Since October 2004, CBP and the trade community have worked collaboratively to develop minimum security criteria for importers either already enrolled in the C-TPAT program, or wishing to join this voluntary supply chain security program. These new minimum security criteria help solidify membership expectations, and more clearly define and establish the baseline level of security measures which must be employed by member importers. These security criteria are effective as of March 25, 2005. A phased implementation schedule has been implemented and applies to all C-TPAT Importer members. Please refer to the linked documents for all of details.
Al-Qaida plans high-sea terror
While al-Qaida continues to hide from international authorities 15 ships it has purchased, there are growing warnings around the world the next dramatic terror attack is more likely to come at sea than in the air.
US Customs and Border Protection
Click here to visit the Official US Customs Website to find out more information on C-TPAT.
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