The C-TPAT initiative recognizes that CBP can provide the highest level of security to the public and to other stakeholders only through close cooperation with the ultimate owners of the supply chain: importers, carriers, brokers, warehouse operators and manufacturers.

Through this initiative, Customs is asking businesses to ensure the integrity of their security practices and communicate their security guidelines to their business partners within the supply chain

C-TPAT Audits

Audits will be used to access overall trade compliance. The CBP Customs Regulatory Audit will play the new “Focused Assessment” methodology, a risk-based audit program, in conducting audits. Companies will not be required to undergo a Focused Assessment in order to participate in C-TPAT. Importers, however, must be C-TPAT participants to take advantages of the Customs Regulatory Audit by Importer Self Assessment (ISA) program.

Security Procedures:

For those business partners eligible for C-TPAT certification (carriers, U.S. ports, terminals, importers, brokers, consolidators, etc.) the Manufacturer must have documentation (e.g., C-TPAT certificate, SVI number, etc.) to determine if these business partners are C-TPAT certified.
For those business partners not eligible for C-TPAT certification, Manufacturers must require their business partners to demonstrate that they are meeting C-TPAT security guidelines via written/electronic confirmation (e.g., contractual obligations; via a letter from a senior business partner officer attesting to compliance; a written statement from the business partner demonstrating their compliance with C-TPAT security guidelines or an equivalent World Customs Organization (WCO) accredited security program administered by a Foreign Customs Authority; or, by providing a completed Manufacturer security questionnaire). Based upon a documented risk assessment process, non-C-TPAT eligible business partners must be subject to verification of compliance with C-TPAT security guidelines by the Manufacturer.