C-TPAT

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 – […]

QUESTION: We are looking at leasing some warehouse space in our shipping off-season, but we are C-TPAT. Has anyone done this sort of thing and been C-TPAT and how was the leased space segregated? ================== ANSWERS: Require that the company you lease to also be C-TPAT (if an importer / exporter). ================ Much more detail […]

QUESTION: Does the community have any recommendations on how handle C-TPAT with a distributor who supplies imported product?   Are bulk shipments excluded from C-TPAT? ========== Answers: Domestic distributors don’t appear to be a business partners eligible for C-TPAT certification (carriers, ports, terminals, brokers, consolidators, etc.) However, if your entity is C-TPAT certified, you should […]

QUESTION: Wondering what the current practice is for importer representation at foreign factory re-validation. Although Customs told us the importer need not be present, we want to have representation at the revalidation of the foreign factory. We are wondering whether or not the US Primary Point of Contact and three foreign based SSR Managers is […]

QUESTION: Calling all Tier 3 importers. Anybody willing to share some best practices which convinced your SCSS to grant your company Tier 3 status?  ========== Answers: There are many variables to this puzzle, not just a couple of items. The majority categories of considerable exceeding the minimum requirements would be physical security, supplier/business partner management, […]

QUESTION: Does anyone in the community have a written procedure for the inventory, proper installation for internal use as well as for how business partners are required to use them for cargo bound for the US? ************* Answers: for C-TPAT purposes, be careful “volunteering” too much info to CBP, as they will make it mandatory […]

QUESTION: Does anyone know if there have been any updates to the C-TPAT Minimum Security Guidelines since 2014? We are up for revalidation and want to ensure we’re compliant. ========== No, whatever is on the CBP website under C-TPAT is still current. But certainly be aware, even though the minimum criteria has not been updated, […]

QUESTION: We are on point to have our second C-TPAT re-validation.  For those members who have been through multiple re-validations, can you share how the overseas factory is typically chosen for validation? Different factories each validation? ************* Answers: Usually, it is one of your top 3 exporters into the U.S. It is always a different […]

QUESTION: Recently a facility in MX went through a CTPAT visit and did wonderfully! Even with this positive outcome there are a few action items and recommendations required to close. Is there anyone in the community that has any type of procedures they are willing to share to benchmark on the areas below? The CBP […]

QUESTION: We would like to know what is mandatory and what is not required under the “Physical Access Controls” requirements for C-TPAT.   For the employee section: is it mandatory to require for each employee to wear and display the identification badge at all times upon entering the building?   Upper management wants to lessen […]

QUESTION: For those that participate in C-TPAT, wondering if you receive any notification of the that your annual profile update was accepted.  (other than the anniversary date changing)  For ISA, we receive a letter of continued acceptance in the program once the ANL is submitted and reviewed by CBP.  Its been about 3 months since […]