WASHINGTON, (Mar. 17, 2005) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is bringing on extra staff to conduct more physical supply chain verifications of foreign importers and carriers.

CBP plans to increase on-site visits in foreign countries to make sure importers and carriers are following through on voluntary promises to secure cargo containers during packing and transit as part of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program.

According to American Shipper magazine, CBP has validated 455 companies that have applied to participate in the C-TPAT, 38 percent of which are brokers. This year, the agency plans to focus on importers and carriers, which account for 36 and 15 percent of validations, respectively.

CBP says the addition of new supply chain security specialists will speed up the pace of validations and reduce cargo exams while expediting processing. CBP has funding for at least another 96 specialists to evaluate C-TPAT companies, CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner has said recently.

More than 8,800 companies have signed up to participate in C-TPAT, of which 4,475 have had their self-made security profiles reviewed and been certified by CBP.

— from The American shipper, via D. Dent & Associates.