Cotecna, the international inspection group, has been selected by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) to participate in a one-year pilot programme to conduct supply chain security validations in China.

 

The objective of C-TPAT, a voluntary US government/private sector partnership that was launched in the aftermath of 9/11, is to better secure global supply chains and facilitate legitimate cargo and conveyances entering the US.

 

It is open to importers, customs brokers, terminal operators, carriers and certain foreign manufacturers to enable them to benefit from reduced inspections and expedited processing at the US port of arrival or border. C-TPAT participation requires the submission of an application and subsequent certification and validation of the information provided by the applicant. Validation is done through on-site visits by CBP personnel and its successful completion makes the C-TPAT member eligible for enhanced benefits at the customs point of entry.

 

The objective of this pilot programme in China is for Cotecna and other selected companies to act on behalf of the US government to conduct on-site validations of the manufacturers that supply US importers enrolled in the C-TPAT programmne.

 

Today, around 10,000 companies are enrolled in the C-TPAT programme, of which. 6,500 are certified and about 4,200 validated.

Robert Massey, CEO of Cotecna, says, “We are proud to have been selected to become a key partner of the US government in the delivery of C-TPAT services in China. Our network in China will be a great asset to delivering these invaluable services. Our work on this pilot program further develops our excellent relationship with the US Department of Homeland Security that we began in Operation Safe Commerce and emphasises our commitment to global trade security.”