Customs and Border Protection has released minimum security criteria for Customs brokers joining the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

The agency in a posting to its Web site said customs brokers seeking to
join the supply chain security program on or after Dec. 31 will be required
to meet or exceed the criteria before they are certified for the program's
benefits.

Here's the web link to CBP's site...if you are interested.
Customs and Border Protection has released minimum security criteria for
Customs brokers joining the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

The agency in a posting to its Web site said customs brokers seeking to
join the supply chain security program on or after Dec. 31 will be required
to meet or exceed the criteria before they are certified for the program's
benefits.

Here's the web link to CBP's site...if you are interested.

http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/

An April 2 deadline has been set for brokers already in C-TPAT to comply
with the new rules.

An April 2 deadline has been set for brokers already in C-TPAT to comply
with the new rules.

The new criteria covers a broad range of areas, including

-- Business partner requirements -- Container and trailer seals -- Physical
access controls -- Procedural security -- Documentation processing --
Physical security -- Information technology security -- Security training
and threat awareness

"Brokers normally do not play a significant role in the physical aspects of
stuffing, loading, transporting and distributing merchandise," the agency
said, "[but] the broker does play a decisive role in the transmission of
key trade data and as a liaison between U.S. Customs and Border Protection
and other key entities in the supply chain. In this capacity, the broker's
key role for C-TPAT is to educate, corroborate, and encourage that members
within supply chains further the supply chain security tenets of C-TPAT."

Customs said existing C-TPAT member brokers will not be required to provide
written certification that the security criteria have been met, but the
agency will continue to use validations to gauge whether or not brokers
have adopted the new requirements. "Brokers found to be deficient may have
their benefits suspended or be removed from the program entirely." It said.