TORONTO (Oct. 10, 2003) — The U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has published a notice in the Federal Register, outlining general requirements for participation in the FAST program.

U.S. Customs is requiring that all merchandise being imported must have been manufactured by a manufacturer approved for C-TPAT membership; and the foreign manufacturer must affix ISO/PAS 17712 high security seals (manufactured to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards from an approved ISO manufacturer) to the trucks, trailers and containers used to carry the merchandise to the southern border site.

The notice also highlights the fact that importers must submit an application to CBP containing detailed information about their trading partners and carriers, as well as other applicable information, before they will be able to utilize the fully electronic version of FAST (FAST/NCAP).

— with files from Livingston International