CBP To Permit Third Party Logistics Providers to Enroll in C-TPAT Starting January 2009
On September 30, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP)
announced
that it will permit Third Party Logistics Providers
(3PLs) to enroll in the Customs-Trade Partnership
Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
program starting in January 2009.
A 3PL is a firm that provides outsourced or “third party” logistics services to some, or sometimes all of a company’s supply chain management functions. 3PLs typically specialize in integrated warehousing and transportation services that can be customized to a customer’s needs based on market conditions and the demands and delivery service requirement for their products and materials. Typical outsourced logistics functions include inbound freight, customs and freight consolidation, and warehousing.
C-TPAT will provide for an implementation period to accept applications. The automated application process will take approximately 90 days to be available on-line. 3PLs interested in applying for C-TPAT can review the minimum-security criteria here.
The regulated minimum-security criteria areas include:
Effective January 1, 2009, these new minimum-security criteria establish the baseline level of security measures. All eligibility requirements must be met or exceeded for a 3PL to enroll in C-TPAT. CBP will continue to use validations to determine whether 3PLs have adopted these security criteria. Those 3PLs found to be deficient, may be suspended, or be removed from the program entirely.
A 3PL is a firm that provides outsourced or “third party” logistics services to some, or sometimes all of a company’s supply chain management functions. 3PLs typically specialize in integrated warehousing and transportation services that can be customized to a customer’s needs based on market conditions and the demands and delivery service requirement for their products and materials. Typical outsourced logistics functions include inbound freight, customs and freight consolidation, and warehousing.
C-TPAT will provide for an implementation period to accept applications. The automated application process will take approximately 90 days to be available on-line. 3PLs interested in applying for C-TPAT can review the minimum-security criteria here.
The regulated minimum-security criteria areas include:
- Business partner requirements (service provider screening; customer selection)
- Security procedures
- Container/trailer inspection, seals, storage, security (where applicable)
- Physical security and access controls
- Procedural security (document processing, manifesting, shipping & receiving)
- Information Technology (IT) security
- Security training and threat awareness
Effective January 1, 2009, these new minimum-security criteria establish the baseline level of security measures. All eligibility requirements must be met or exceeded for a 3PL to enroll in C-TPAT. CBP will continue to use validations to determine whether 3PLs have adopted these security criteria. Those 3PLs found to be deficient, may be suspended, or be removed from the program entirely.