CBP Issues New C-TPAT Minimum Security Criteria, Implementation Plan for Marine Port Authority and Terminal Operators
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) minimum security criteria for U.S. and foreign-based marine port authority and terminal operators (MPTOs). CBP has also posted an implementation plan for the new C-TPAT criteria.
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(CBP has previously indicated that these new criteria replace the less detailed C-TPAT security guidelines that were in place. See ITT's Online Archives or 05/26/06 news, 06052615, for BP summary of the MPTO security guidelines.)
Implementation Schedule for Existing Members and New Applicants
The security criteria for MPTOs are effective as of August 6, 2007.
For existing MPTO C-TPAT members, all of the security measures outlined in the criteria will have to be implemented within 120 days from August 6, 2007.
According to CBP sources, MPTOs wishing to join C-TPAT must meet the minimum security criteria at the time of application to the C-TPAT program. (Note that CBP's implementation plan indicates that those MPTOs wishing to join C-TPAT have 120 days from the August 6, 2007 effective date to meet the minimum criteria.)
1To be eligible for C-TPAT, a U.S.-based MPTO must: (1) be an active U.S. MPTO in the U.S; (2)must handle cargo vessels arriving from international locations; (3) have a business office staffed in the U.S.; (4) have an active Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Marine Terminal Operation (MTO) 6-digit FMC MTO number; and (5) have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for C-TPAT.
For a foreign-based MPTO to be eligible, it must: (1) be an active MPTO in an international location that received an invitation from CBP to join C-TPAT; (2) handle cargo vessels departing to the U.S.; and (3) have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for C-TPAT.
(CBP has previously implemented C-TPAT security criteria and implementation plans for customs brokers, sea carriers, importers, highway carriers, foreign manufacturers, and rail carriers.)
(See today's ITT, 07080905, for BP summary of the minimum security criteria, implementation plan for Mexican long haul highway carriers.
See future issue for details of the security criteria for MPTOs.)
C-TPAT MPTO minimum security criteria and implementation plan (dated August 2007) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/mpto_imp.ctt/mpto_imp.doc and http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/criteria_marine.ctt/criteria_marine.doc
C-TPAT minimum security criteria and implementation plans for all sectors available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/