see also: in September 2007 News Releases:   CBP Seizes $2.5 Million Worth of Marijuana Inside Cargo Load at Texas Entry   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Achieves Container Security Initiative Milestone with 58 Operational Ports   CBP Agriculture Team Intercepts Narcotic Plant at Newark Airport   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Collects More Than $2.2 Million in Underpaid Antidumping Duty on Chinese Shrimp   Kiosks for Frequent International Fliers Now Available At Edmonton Airport   Port of Alexandria, Egypt Participates in the CBP Container Security Initiative   Ports of Colon and Manzanillo, Panama Begin Container Security Initiative Operations ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   C-TPAT Cost Benefit Survey (pdf - 752 KB.) on the web:   University of Virginia

contacts for this news release

Washington - Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members remain firmly committed to the program, according to the results of a survey conducted by the University of Virginia. Under C-TPAT, members sign an agreement to work with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to protect the supply chain, identify security gaps and implement specific security measures and best practices.

The survey was conducted at the request of CBP to gather the impressions of C-TPAT partners regarding the value, benefits and costs associated with membership in the program.

Significant findings revealed the following:

• The vast majority (81.3%) of members indicated that their ability to assess and manage supply chain risk had been strengthened as a result of joining C-TPAT.
• More than half (56.8%) of the members indicated that C-TPAT benefits either outweighed the costs or were about the same.
• The minimum security criteria were generally viewed as very or somewhat easy to implement across the various sectors.

“It is clear that members consider C-TPAT valuable on several levels, including reducing disruptions to their supply chains and having a direct link with CBP,” said C-TPAT Director Bradd Skinner. “We will carefully consider these findings in an effort to make the program even better.”

The survey was provided to all 6,000 C-TPAT certified members and designed so that responses could be provided anonymously. More than 1,700 companies participated; of those, more than half were U.S. importers.

The survey is available on CBP’s Web site, as well as, the University of Virginia’s Web site in its entirety. ( C-TPAT Cost Benefit Survey (pdf - 752 KB.) ) ( University of Virginia )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.