ShippersNewsWire reports that, among other things, the second draft of revised C-TPAT security standards for importers moves away from characterizing the measures as 'minimum standards' and instead says importers should apply various prescriptions based on an 'assessment of their risk.' The articles adds that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has circulated the draft among customs compliance managers at 16 major corporations, and is asking for comments by December 3, 2004. (ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com, dated 11/23/04)
In an earlier edition of International Trade Today, Broker Power had substantially transcribed what is now known as the first draft version of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) New C-TPAT Security Standards for Importers.
According to Shipper's NewsWire, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is continuing to work on a regulation mandating importers use tamper-evident, mechanical seals for all incoming ocean containers. The article notes that DHS is considering quickly implementing the same requirement for shippers in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program as a temporary safeguard until a formal rulemaking is completed. The article also notes that real world testing of electronic seals and container security devices has not produced a silver bullet yet and that DHS officials state that if electronic surveillance technology is going to be relied upon, the integrity of the equipment needs to be as robust as possible before its use is required. According to the article, DHS officials also estimate that it will take another three years before it can endorse a container security device for limited deployment and five years for universal deployment on the millions of containers in the system. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/15/04 news, 04111599 1 for previous BP summary on only the electronic seal or container security device aspect of this Shipper's NewsWire article.) (SNW dated 11/12/04, www.americanshippper.com.)
Although Broker Power had been informed that a document that was largely transcribed in ITT's November 12, 2004 issue was the 'second draft' of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's proposed new C-TPAT Security Standards for Importers, that document may actually have been the 'first draft,' as Broker Power has obtained another draft version entitled: "Draft 2 - C-TPAT Security Standards for Importers."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing new measures that have been agreed to by the U.S. and European Union (EU) to strengthen the security of maritime container transport.
During the September 10, 2004 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Implementation Subcommittee1 outlined its recommendations regarding the MTSA requirement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establish " a program to evaluate and certify secure systems of international intermodal transportation."
ShippersNewsWire reports that DHS official Elaine Dezenski said in remarks to a November 9, 2004 Homeland Defense Journal conference that it will take another three years before electronic surveillance technology will be reliable enough for DHS to endorse the limited deployment of a container security device (CSD) for inbound ocean containers, and five years for universal deployment on the millions of containers in the system.
Press sources recently reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had circulated an initial draft of new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) security standards for importers among select importers for comment. Press reports had also indicated that CBP was expected to issue a second draft of the new C-TPAT security standards for importers within a week and hoped to issue final standards by early December 2004.
COAC Subcommittee's Report to DHS on Performance Standards for a "Smart" Shipment Concept (Part III)
During the September 10, 2004 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Implementation Subcommittee1 outlined its recommendations regarding the MTSA requirement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establish " a program to evaluate and certify secure systems of international intermodal transportation."
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a set of draft standards for ocean carriers in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). According to the article, the draft follows similar standards for importers that CBP issued during the week of October 25, 2004. (JoC Online dated 10/29/04. www.joc.com.)