C-TPAT Certification
C-TPAT is a United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative that stands for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. C-TPAT is a voluntary program focused on improving the security of private companies' supply chains with respect to terrorism
This partnership is for organizations involved in the global supply chain including United States importers, customs brokers, terminal operators, carriers, and foreign manufacturers.
C-TPAT recognizes that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can provide the highest level of cargo security only through close cooperation with the ultimate owners of the international supply chain such as importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers.
Through this initiative, CBP makes it a norm for the businesses to ensure the integrity of their security practices and communicate and validate the security guidelines of their business partners within the supply chain. A third-party C-TPAT audit will ensure the security of the supply chain and verify compliance and improve U.S. border security in totality.
Who is eligible for C-TPAT certification?
The program has usually focused on imports into the United States. Air carriers, consolidators, cross-border highway carriers, marine port authorities, ocean carriers, rail carriers, terminal operators, third party logistics (3PLs) service providers, customs brokers, and importers are eligible for C-TPAT certification in the United States.
Third party logistics service providers who do not own of their own warehousing facilities, vehicles, aircraft, or other transportation assets cannot be C-TPAT certified. 3PLs must be licensed and/or bonded by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), CBP or the Department of Transportation (DOT) and have an office operated in the United States.
Benefits
- Playing an active role in the war against terrorism and good corporate citizenship
- A reduced number of CBP inspections
- Priority processing (front-of-line) for CBP inspections
- Eligibility to attend C-TPAT training seminars
- Precondition for participation in the importer self-assessment program
- Penalty mitigation under certain circumstances
- Assigned security consultant, a supply-chain security consultant
- Tier III importers allowed block designation application to DHS SAFETY Act
- Exporters who allow CBP to share information with other customs agencies gain reduced inspections upon arrival in those countries (see below list)
