C-TPAT

Questions and answers about C-TPAT

  • C-TPAT EXPORT VALIDATION

    QUESTION: Have any of the members had a C-TPAT Export Program validation visit yet? Can you provide details of the scope of the validation and any other important information? We have had multiple foreign validations for C-TPAT import validations, and are very familiar with the questionnaire and scope for that process, so we are looking […]

  • CTPAT NEW HIRE TRAINING

    QUESTION: As part of our new hire orientation, we refer the new hires to the company intranet to read our C-TPAT manual.  We expect them to read it, cover-to-cover and then sign a form validating they have read the manual and will abide by the security practices listed in the manual.  This may sound like […]

  • CTPAT SEAL PROCESS

    QUESTION: My company is a C-TPAT certified importer, but we do not participate in the C-TPAT export program. The majority of our exports are LCL, but we do export a small number of full containers to our international subsidiaries and customers. Currently we are using plastic seals. We do track seal usage. The commodities we […]

  • Exam Rate For Non-C-TPAT Members

    QUESTION: Does anyone have data, examples, or insight on an increase in exams for companies NOT in C-TPAT? We are having trouble finding figures online to help in our cost benefit analysis. For reference: $1B Revenue 3000 imports per year Little to no controls/OGA oversite. ************ Answers: My company is not in C-TPAT, and the […]

  • C-TPAT

    QUESTION: We are a Tier 2 C-TPAT member. We perform 5-step risk assessments for C-TPAT on 5 of our global suppliers each year. For those suppliers that have already completed the 5-step risk assessments, we have incorporated yearly follow-up inspections by our in-country sourcing agents. Some of our suppliers have already had security audits based […]

  • DDP SHIPMENTS AND CTPAT

    QUESTION: We buy products from US suppliers but the goods are actually DDP shipments from overseas. What security measures we should take, from CTPAT prospective, we should take with these suppliers? Are we as a consignee, not the IOR, responsible for validating the overseas suppliers that we don’t know about? ========== Answers: Interesting questions and […]

  • SUPPLIER REFUSING CTPAT VISIT

    QUESTION: We are a midsize importer with over 400 foreign vendors and our CTPAT revalidation is coming due. Our SCSS has informed us of some regions that they may visit. One of our top suppliers in a specified region is refusing to allow the possibility of a CTPAT visit. Unfortunately this happens to be a […]

  • CTPAT SUSPENSION AND CUSTOMER CONTRACT

    We are a CTPAT certified/validated importer and have a customer who wants us to sign a verification letter that we are CTPAT certified and will be throughout the term of the purchase agreement, which is over multiple years. Their terms state that if we lose certification it will constitute a material breach which could allow […]

  • CONTINUING CTPAT

    QUESTION: Our company has been a member of CTPAT for over 5 years.   The majority of our shipments are sent by air, and the limited number of ocean shipments are not usually selected for exam.   Due to limited resources, we are thinking about removing our company from the CTPAT program.   Can anyone […]

  • C-TPAT RE-VALIDATION

    QUESTION: We were told by CBP that we would have out C-TPAT revalidation this year.  CBP has chosen one of our suppliers in Indonesia.  Our revalidation will be in Nov.   Does one of the Compliance team have to/should accompany CBP?. What will be CBP be looking for and expect from out supplier? What should […]

  • C-TPAT SUPPLIER QUESTIONAIRE

    QUESTION: Due to the changes in the C-TPAT security profile, we are reviewing our current supplier questionnaire to ensure we are asking the “right” questions.  T The questions we ask were provided to us by a consultant  a few years ago but would like to benchmark against others.  Would anyone be willing to share their […]

  • C-TPAT FINES

    QUESTION: Our VP is refusing to consider C-TPAT, because someone at a major convention (supposedly a C-TPAT member)  told him that they had been fined by Customs because of a guard issue. I have NEVER heard of fines associated with C-TPAT, only the loss of privileges or tier status – that I can understand – […]