Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announces the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism 2009 program highlights. Strong validation numbers, continued member growth and increased quality assurance highlight C-TPAT accomplishments in 2009. C-TPAT is a voluntary government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security.

“The 2009 C-TPAT metrics illustrate that the program is physically and repetitively verifying the security measures of all members, that there is good compliance from members, and that strong action is taken when requirements are not met,” said Bradd Skinner, C-TPAT Director.

2009 Highlights

• The program exceeded its target of 3,200 validations for the year by conducting 3,420 validations involving 4,131 physical site visits in 75 high risk countries throughout the world. Highlighting this fact, a team of Supply Chain Security Specialists were staying at the JW Marriot Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia preparing for a validation on the morning of the July 17, 2009 bombing incident. Two thirds of the validations involved formal revalidations (2,244) and the work plan included additional strategies to address risk such as revisiting the original supply chains of certain companies to confirm measures in place, and unannounced visits. This is the first year in the program’s existence in which the number of revalidations surpassed the initial validations.
• C-TPAT certified 1,237 new members in 2009, an increase of 9 percent from last year, and growing the total number of companies involved in the industry partnership program to 9,617.
• The program either suspended or removed a total of 297 members as a result of an incident or failed validation. The number of security incidents decreased by 26 percent in comparison with 2008; however, the number of failed validations increased by 20 percent which is attributable in large part to the fact that the program is holding members to a strict 90 day validation report response timeframe.
• The program adjudicated 51 cases in which the member appealed the initial suspension/removal determination. Of those 51 appeals, 32 were denied and 19 were approved and the partners were re-instated into the program.
• Validation reports are submitted to the partner on average within 45 days of the date of validation with an enhanced presentation format.
• The Best Practices catalog was updated and distributed to all members, which now includes hundreds of new and innovative ways in which members are securing their supply chains.
• In another first, the program conducted a regional specific conference in Buffalo for Northern Border Highway Carriers and several hands-on workshop sessions at strategic ports of entry on the Southern Border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.