Minimum Security Criteria Compliance Date for "Existing" C-TPAT Customs Brokers Extended to May 2, 2007
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site announcing that it has extended until May 2, 2007 (from March 31, 2007) the deadline for "existing" Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) customs brokers to comply with the C-TPAT minimum security criteria for customs brokers.
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According to CBP, it decided to extend the compliance date based on concerns voiced by members of the trade community.
CBP had issued its minimum security criteria for customs brokers in December 2006 and had given "existing" C-TPAT customs brokers - those who had become C-TPAT members before December 31, 2006 - ninety days (until 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 these minimum security criteria for C-TPAT customs brokers. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/07 news, 07010515, for BP summary of the minimum security criteria.)
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.
Questions regarding these security criteria may be submitted to Industry.Partnership@dhs.gov.
Revised implementation plan 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.