Nippon Express completes C-TPAT validation process

Nippon Express recently completed validation of business locations in the US and Japan under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), an anti-terrorism approach being implemented by the US Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, becoming the first Japanese carrier to be certified for participation in this program.

C-TPAT was introduced by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection in November 2001 following the 9/11 attacks. This voluntary participation program is aimed at ensuring and strengthening security throughout the global supply chain via international collaboration with importers, carriers, customs clearance brokers and other private companies in businesses involving import into the US. Approximately 7,400 companies have already applied for participation.

Supply Chain Security Specialists (SCSS) from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection conduct on-site validations of business locations inside and outside the US along the respective global supply chains of companies certified for participation.

Nippon Express U.S.A., Inc., a US subsidiary of Nippon Express, was certified for participation in C-TPAT in April 2004. From the end of last year through November of this year, a series of on-site local inspections was conducted at multiple business locations in the US and Japan handling air and ocean cargo as part of the validation process.

The security standards comprising the C-TPAT certification conditions extend not only to security equipment and such security precautions within facilities as well as security management of these facilities, but also to cargo handling procedures, safety checks, education/training of employees and information security management. Should a company fail to satisfy these standards during on-site inspections, simplified import procedures and other preferential treatment offered to C-TPAT-certified companies could be suspended or its C-TPAT certification revoked.

The World Customs Organization and the EU are currently undertaking similar approaches to ensuring the security of supply chains, another indication that security has become a matter of global interest.

Nippon Express has long pursued active efforts to ensure security, evidenced by its acquisition of TAPA (Technology Asset Protection Association) certification at numerous locations in its overseas network. Completion of on-site C-TPAT validation serves as yet another positive appraisal of these ongoing efforts, and Nippon Express will continue to offer maximum cooperation in preventing terrorism as it pursues global expansion to earn even greater trust from its customers.