C-TPAT Year in Review

Customs and Border Protection has published a 2008 year in review of its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program.  Here are some interesting 2008 statistics:

  • Certified 1,448 new members
  • Validated 3,469 supply chains
  • Added 50 supply chain specialists
  • Suspended 121 members
  • Removed 118 members
  • Completed 52 appeals (26 denied, 18 approved, 8 reduced suspensions

For those of you who may not know, C-TPAT is a voluntary program under which members agree to undertake reasonable steps to secure their supply chain from container stuffing to delivery to the ultimate consignee.  The program requires considerations of physical security to the merchandise, plant location security, network access security, and personnel policies including background checks at hiring and appropriate measures when an employee leaves.

The benefits of membership include fewer intensive examinations at the time of entry and the possible participation in the Importer Self Assessment program.

And, as they say, that's it in a nutshell.  If this is new to you, visit here.

Comments

Lyes Sadoudi said…
As a C-TPAT Consultant based in San Diego, I believe that C-TPAT would have a better impact on the security of the supply chain if US Customs modifies its review process and validates companies immediately after the certification. It is certainly a question of resources but can you put a price on the security of this country?
Mar 6, 2009, 2:22:00 PM
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