On August 8, 2024, CT Strategies hosted a CTPAT Q&A Webinar. During the webinar, our esteemed panel of former CTPAT Directors and Supply Chain Security Specialists (SCSS) addressed a wide range of topics from our audience, providing valuable insights into the complexities of CTPAT compliance.
Here are a few of the key questions asked and answered by our team of CTPAT Experts!
What is the recommended course of action if a customer does not return a completed supply chain security questionnaire?
“This is an ongoing challenge. Ultimately, it is your responsibility, as a CTPAT Member, to ensure that your business partners involved in your international supply chains (to the United States) are meeting the CTPAT security levels. If you have a business partner who is critical, yet they simply refuse to complete a questionnaire, you can conduct an audit of their facility/operation to find out for yourself. If this is an ongoing challenge for you with many of your business partners, you may want to consider a different questionnaire format which streamlines the MSC into categories or groups to reduce the number of questions. Additionally, the business partner questionnaire or audits should feed into your risk assessment so a partner that does not answer the questionnaire should present a higher level of risk for which you should determine how to mitigate.”
How long does it usually take to get an on-site validation visit by CBP officers?
“That is a tricky question which can have several different answers. Whether on-site or virtual, typically the validation list is part of the annual work plan. Once the annual work plan is released (typically in late February), it is up to the individual CTPAT field offices and SCSSs to schedule the validations which can take place at any point during the remainer of that calendar year based on logistics and budget. For newly certified companies, they must be validated in-person within a year of the certification. Finally, there are travel restrictions in place for some locations which can delay an on-site visit considerably.”
Is there a requirement to do the 7-Point Container Inspection at the destinations, e.g., at our warehouses, upon unloading?
“No. The 7/17- point inspections must be conducted prior to loading the cargo for transport to the United States. If the container/trailer arrives without incident or suspicion, the seal is reconciled, container/trailer shows no signs of tampering, and there are no significant discrepancies with the cargo, there should be confidence in the chain of custody. If any of these items were problematic, then it might be a good idea to conduct an inspection on the receiving end.”
If we are currently in the program but have recently opened a new plant, how do you apply for CTPAT certification for the new plant?
“Depending upon your operation and legal business organization, you may be able to simply add this new plant to your current account by notifying your SCSS. CTPAT may decide to conduct a site visit, even outside of the normal validation cycle, to ensure that security is up to CTPAT standards. CTPAT may also wait to do this at the next validation. In some cases, again depending upon your specific situation, the new plant may require a new application.”
As global trade continues to face new challenges, staying informed about the latest developments, best practices, and compliance strategies is more critical than ever. Our audience’s participation and thoughtful questions were key to the success of the event! This collaborative exchange of ideas is what drives our collective ability to adapt and improve, ensuring that we all continue to meet the high standards required by CTPAT.
You can watch the full webinar recording here.
