U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a news release and fact sheet outlining its achievements in fiscal year 2009 in securing borders and facilitating trade and travel.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Canada Public Safety Minister Van Loan recent met for the second of their formal biannual meetings, where they discussed initiatives between the U.S. and Canada. The initiatives build on their shared commitment to tackle common threats like terrorism and organized crime while ensuring the lawful flow of travel and trade across the border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message stating that members of its Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program will not be able to use their old FAST cards in passenger lanes effective January 5, 2010.
CBP has announced that the 2010 C-TPAT Supply Chain Security Training Seminar will be held March 17 through March 19, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Seminar is open to all C-TPAT certified partners, however space will be limited. Registration will open on January 6, 2010. (Notice, dated 11/17/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/cargo_security/ctpat/2010_ctpat_training.xml)
During the November 4, 2009 Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) meeting, CBP and Transportation Security Administration officials and the COAC Air Cargo Security Subcommittee discussed developments regarding air cargo security.
The Transportation Security Administration is requesting comments on the renewal of its information collection regarding the Certified Cargo Screening Program, which, effective November 16, 2009, moved from the pilot stage to a permanent program1 that allows shippers to screen their cargo before it is tendered to aircraft operators for transport on passenger aircraft.
At the American Conference Institute's recent conference on Import Compliance and Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials gave a presentation entitled "Single Issue Audits and Focused Assessments: How Audit Programs are Evolving and What You Need to Know to Prepare."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message stating that it is still accepting registration for Importer Security Filing progress reports (aka performance report cards).
On October 22, 2009, a House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee1 held a hearing entitled "Cargo Security at Land Ports of Entry: Are We Meeting the Challenge?"