Atlantic Canada Food Export Partnership to Help Food Exporters with C-TPAT

To help food export oriented companies in the Atlantic Provinces, the Atlantic Canada Food Export Partnership, in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has initiated a project to assist Atlantic Canadian companies to apply for C-TPAT [Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism] certification.

(PRWEB) August 11, 2004 -- The Bio-Terrorism Act is continuing to plug holes in the security of items being exported into the USA. To help food export oriented companies in the Atlantic Provinces, the Atlantic Canada Food Export Partnership, in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has initiated a project to assist Atlantic Canadian companies to apply for C-TPAT [Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism] certification. AN Deringer, the chosen consulting partner within the project has been retained by the Atlantic Canada Food Export Partnership to provide expertise to food companies in submitting application to US Customs for C-TPAT Certification.

"Through the funding assistance provided by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the costs to the company to prepare their C-TPAT Certification application will be significantly reduced,” says Ann Worth, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Food Export Partnership. Project partnerships like this continue to demonstrate the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has an important, key role to play in trade development within the food industry in Atlantic Canada.

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism [C-TPAT] is a joint government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security. This initiative was in response to the 9/11/01 terrorist attack, and is currently a voluntary program.

Robert DeCamp, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Consulting for Deringer Logistics Consulting Group, explains, To become involved entails a self assessment of your supply chain security, and in some cases identification and enhancement may be recommended, communicating C-TPAT guidelines to your supply chain partners, ultimately making a formal request to Customs to become certified by submitting a supply chain security profile, and being reviewed and approved.”

Asked what this means to companies DeCamp, responded, Becoming certified suggests less frequent inspections, fewer Customs verifications, when using C-TPAT carriers with FAST drivers, dedicated express clearance lanes at the border. Given the current state of alert in the US - Should another terrorist attack take place, long lines will begin immediately; with only those secure” importers being granted quick release.”

DeCamp also noted that, because C-TPAT is voluntary, the requirements are minimal, but as ACE becomes operational (Automated Commercial Environment), C-TPAT may become mandatory and the requirements may become far more stringent, meaning more cost to those wishing at that point to become certified.”

If you are a food exporter who currently exports into the US or plans to export to the US and would like to participate in the funding program please go to http://www.tallenassociates.com/c-tpatacfep.htm and click the registration link or call Toll Free 1-866-628-1140 to request a registration form or receive more information. There are only a few funding spots left of the 25 available.