Reminder: Minimum Security Criteria for Existing C-TPAT Customs Brokers Takes Effect on Approximately March 31st
In December 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its minimum security criteria for customs brokers already enrolled in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, or for those wishing to join this voluntary supply chain security program. At that time, CBP also issued its implementation plan for the new C-TPAT minimum security criteria for customs brokers.
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(CBP has again posted these two documents, apparently as a reminder to the trade.)
Below are "highlights" of the minimum security criteria and the implementation plan:
Minimum Security Requirement for Existing C-TPAT Customs Brokers Takes Effect on Approximately March 31, 2007
In its implementation plan, CBP had stated that customs brokers who were members of the C-TPAT program before December 31, 2006 would have 90 days from that date (approximately March 31, 2007) to meet the security criteria.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/07 news, 07010510, for BP summary of the implementation plan for C-TPAT customs brokers (both new and existing).)
Minimum Security Criteria that Must be Met
CBP has previously stated that the following types of minimum security criteria must be met by C-TPAT customs brokers:
Business Partner Requirements
Container and Trailer Security (container/trailer security, etc.)
Container and Trailer Seals (seals, etc.)
Physical Access Controls (employees, visitors, etc.)
Procedural Security (notifying CBP, etc.)
Documentation Processing (transmitting information, etc.)
Physical Security (fencing, lighting, parking, etc.)
Information Technology Security (passwords and accountability)
Security Training and Threat Awareness
CBP has also previously stated that existing C-TPAT customs brokers would not be required to provide a written certification that the security criteria has been met, nor will previously submitted and accepted security profiles need to be resubmitted. It would be understood that customs brokers must meet or exceed these baseline security criteria by the end of the implementation timeframe.
CBP had stated it would use validations to gauge whether or not customs brokers have adopted these minimum security criteria. Those customs brokers found to be deficient may have benefits suspended, or be removed from the program entirely.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/07 news, 07010510, for BP summary of the implementation plan for C-TPAT customs brokers (both new and existing). See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/07 news, 07010515, for BP summary of the details of the minimum security criteria for customs brokers.)
Questions regarding these security criteria may be submitted to Industry.Partnership@dhs.gov
Implementation plan for customs brokers (dated 12/31/06, reposted 02/14/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/broker_imp_plan.ctt/broker_imple_plan.doc
New minimum security criteria for customs brokers (dated 01/01/07, reposted 02/14/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/broker_sec_criteria_final.ctt/broker_sec_criteria_final.doc