C-TPAT Security Criteria

by signinplus | 13 November 2015

C-TPAT  Security Criteria

U.S. Customs and Border Protection(CBP) is asking importers to follow C-TPAT importer security criteria. The article basically ask importers to follow the guide line.  Last year CBP has announced plans to begin an collaborative test with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a trusted trader program that unity the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and the Importer Self-Assessment program.  “Announcement of Trusted Trader Program Test.” This new “Trusted Trader” program is big news for U.S. and non-resident Canadian importers, and if implemented will combine the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self Assessment (ISA) programs, making ISA extinct.

C-TPAT? The C–TPAT program is a voluntary government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security. To apply, businesses must fill out a company profile as well as a detailed security profile – which is then reviewed, approved, and validated in person by CBP.  Many companies must make internal improvements to meet the required security standards the C-TPAT program entails.  CBP encourages participation by providing incentives to participants meeting or exceeding the program requirements. As a result, the program helps CBP achieve its twin goals of improving security while facilitating the flow of global trade. Businesses eligible to apply for C–TPAT membership include:

• U.S. importers of record;
• U.S./Canada highway carriers;
• Third party logistics providers;
• U.S. freight consolidators;
• Ocean transportation intermediaries and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs);
• Mexican and Canadian manufacturers; and
• Mexican long-haul highway carriers.

• U.S./Mexico highway carriers;
• Air, rail and sea carriers;
• Licensed U.S. customs brokers;
• U.S. marine port authority/terminal operators;

C–TPAT importers enjoy certain incentives based on their tier status within a three tier structure. Tier I incentives are afforded to those importer partners that have been certified; Tier II level to those that have been certified and validated; and Tier III incentives to those that go above and beyond – and have exceeded the program’s requirements – exhibiting best practices. There are many cost/benefit studies to C-TPAT business partners.

• 2011 Cost and Savings Survey
• 2010 Partner Survey

In summary; the time of the 2010 survey, C-TPAT had 8,166 business partners. And identified following benefits. Tangible Benefits for all Businesses

• Overall, the greatest C-TPAT impacts on business have included improvements in the field of workforce security, decreased time to release cargo by CBP, reduced time in CBP inspection lines, and increased predictability in moving goods. Importers identified an additional impact related to a decrease in disruptions to the supply chain. For the majority of non-Importers, C-TPAT had a imited impact on their number of customers and sales revenues. For Highway Carriers, the major C-TPAT impact has been the decrease of their wait times at the borders.

Intangible Benefits of the C-TPAT Program

• Of all the potential intangible benefits, “increases security awareness” and “enhances security in supply chain” had the highest mean ratings (3.76 and 3.75 respectively on a 4 point scale). In each of these cases, roughly three quarters of all businesses considered them to be very important benefits. • Other intangible benefits from the C-TPAT program included “demonstrating corporate citizenship” and, “improving risk management procedures and systems”. For Importers, the most important potential benefits included “assignment of a C-TPAT Supply Chain Security Specialist to help your company validate and enhance security throughout your supply chain” and “self-policing and self-monitoring of security activities through the Importer Self-Assessment program.”

How Signin+ help to implement C-TPAT implementation?

• After improving or implementing physical security  (doors, windows, electronic access, cameras, fences, gates, lighting, etc.)
• SignIn+ Kiosk help business to maintain the physical access security without waste time and money. With simple installation, all the information is saved and readily available for audit and compliance report.