Is your company CTPAT CERTIFIED?

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
Supply Chain Security

Customs Border Protection (CBP) established Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a supply chain security initiative, to monitor the flow of goods into, through and from the US. Over the past year it has expanded from carriers, shippers and importers to include brokers, NVO’s, and truckers. This fall it will reach overseas to include suppliers and their supply chain partners. Every U.S. importer and exporter is encouraged to establish himself or herself as a C-TPAT participant.

CBP is developing regulations that enable them to monitor cargo via manifest data for every shipment crossing U.S. borders. They will create a threshold between C-TPAT parties and everyone else. Known shippers (C-TPAT) are expected to receive essentially the same level of scrutiny they enjoy presently, while unknown shippers will get more attention. Customs will examine the documents and often the shipments of unknown parties more frequently. In some cases, only C-TPAT parties will be able to use expedited procedures. Thus non-CTPAT participants can expect a higher incidence of examinations or exclusions.

Before proceeding, we recommend you review the objectives outlined in the CBP website. It can be found under www.cbp.gov. CBP begins the process by asking you to make a commitment from an executive level to supply chain security. They expect you to evaluate your supply chain and establish procedures that ensure your cargo remains secure during its journey to the final destination.

CPB identified 5 components that are required for an effective program: Examples of these five elements were captured in "best practices" by some of the early C-TPAT participants.
They include: Many companies have asked how to start. We recommend the following steps:
  1. Discuss CTPAT goals with senior management. Ask them to support on all levels your company’s commitment to supply chain security. Sign the Agreement supplied by Customs.
  2. Make an outline of your supply chain. We can assist you with some worksheets to start the process.
  3. Send a questionnaire to each of the key participants in your supply chain to determine their security policies and practices. You may find that many already have satisfactory procedures in place to protect themselves from pilferage and theft that can be applied to C-TPAT.
  4. Ask supply chain participants for security procedure manuals to document their programs.
  5. Review the data. Ask questions. Ask for audit results to validate efficacy of their procedures.
  6. Visit your supply chain participants and audit their processes. Initiate corrective action when necessary.
  7. Train internal and external parties to help them comply with your objectives.
  8. Maintain an ongoing program of audit and review.
All Freight International has applied for C-TPAT approval for Customs Brokerage and NVO products. We will be submitting Export applications shortly.

We would like to offer our services to consult with you on developing your Supply Chain Management program. We recommend the establishment of a cross-functional team consisting of Loss Prevention, Distribution, Risk Management, Customs Compliance and Auditor personnel to establish your procedures and policies for C-TPAT.

We will work with your team to:
  • Identify your supply chain activities.
  • Conduct self-assessment review.
  • Identify corrective measures to become compliant.
  • Review security procedures and document them.
  • Develop new documentation when necessary.
  • Prepare the "executive summary" required for C-TPAT application.
  • Monitor acceptance into C-TPAT program by CBP.
The cost for providing this service will depend on the complexity of your program. It will be based upon the time required to develop the process and procedures. The more existing programs that you already have established that can be incorporated into C-TPAT will reduce the time needed to develop procedures and save you some expense.

Please contact the below parties to discuss specific details and your needs.

Jeanne Berg
VP Operations
All Freight International
131 SW 156th St.
Seattle, WA 98166
P: 206/988-4312
F: 206/244-1861
Jeanne@allfreightintl.com 		Henry Leong
VP
AFI California
2381 Rosecrans Ave.
EL Segundo, CA 90245
P: 310/725-0055
F: 310/725-0044
Henry@afilax.com

C-TPAT partners to include:

Importers
Carriers
Manufacturers/Suppliers
Brokers
Warehouses

And all their vendors

Look for:
Secure facilities/conveyances
       Building
       Yard
       Ownership
       Staff
Screen employees
Review Tally & log books
Seals Control(where to get seals)
Internal Access Controls
Shipping Procedures
Transportation

Cargo:
Weight cartons for verifications
Check mileage to confirm no stops intransit
Cargo moves in sealed trucks

When reviewing facilities:
Watch out for social compliance issues such as barbed wire-multiple exits for fire escape. Procedures-
Name requirements in purchase order terms and agreement.

Biggest worry for Customs is factory to consolidator.