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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2/16

1 April 2005

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 113/2005

US : "Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism" (C-TPAT) -
New Minimum Security Criteria for Importers

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently released a set of new minimum security criteria for C-TPAT importers.

DETAILS

  1. Launched in November 2001, C-TPAT is a joint US government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security. It is a voluntary and incentive-based partnership. Traders may refer to Commercial Information Circulars Nos. 58/02 dated 28 March 2002, 137/02 dated 24 July 2002, 172/02 dated 26 August 2002, 27/2003 dated 21 January 2003, 220/2003 dated 27 August 2003 and 117/2004 dated 30 April 2004 for background information.

  2. The new minimum security criteria are effective from 25 March 2005 (US time). Of note is that importers are required, among other things, to have written and verifiable processes for the selection of business partners including manufacturers, product suppliers, and vendors. Importers are also required to have documentation substantiating that business partners throughout their supply chain are meeting C-TPAT security criteria, or equivalent supply chain security program criteria administered by a foreign Customs administration.

  3. For new importers wishing to join C-TPAT, they will need to meet or exceed the security criteria before they will be certified and eligible for benefits. For existing C-TPAT importers, implementation has been phased in through three stages. Please refer to Annex (pdf format) for details. More information about the security criteria is available at http://cbp.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/criteria_importers/.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5403.




Yours faithfully,



(Ms Charmaine LO)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.