OTTAWA — Canadian Customs officials have announced they will mirror recent upgrades their American counterparts made to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

Partners In Protection, Canada’s version of the U.S. supply-chain security system for mainly American exporters and carriers, will get a nearly-identical facelift, reports the Journal of Commerce. Like the C-TPAT changes, applicants for PIP will clear tougher security criteria before being for benefits.

PIP, like C-TPAT, will soon be a pre-requisite for the expedited border-clearance program FAST.

The new PIP requirements will take affect next year and include: increased physical security of premises, more stringent conveyance security, better monitoring of trucks and yards; verified inspections; more extensive employee background checks; tighter access controls, and documented proof that required precautions are being taken by suppliers overseas or in the United States, the Journal reports.

For U.S. Customs, applications for new C-TPAT will only be accepted electronically, via the C-TPAT web-based online application for highway carriers. For existing C-TPAT carriers, a gradual, phased implementation approach will be followed, which provides existing members more time to address the new security measures.

Highway carriers failing to meet security criteria as evidenced through a validation, or from a resulting seizure due to compromised supply chain security, will be have their FAST program benefits immediately suspended.

— with files from the Journal of Commerce