CBP Won't Shift CTPAT MSC Implementation Deadline but Will Allow More Validation Discretion

CBP won't be delaying dates around implementation of the updated Minimum Security Criteria for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, but it will allow for more discretion in the validations, said Thomas Overacker, CBP executive director, Cargo and Conveyance Security. Overacker addressed concerns about the requirements during the April 15 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting.

Compliance with the MSC was required as of Jan. 1, 2020 (see 1912180011) and “I understand the desire to have that deadline moved,” Overacker said. But, “instead of officially moving the deadline,” as CBP “begins to go out and work with our membership to validate what work has been done, we will convey to our supply chain security specialists to exercise discretion, to be flexible and to take into account the totality of the circumstances regarding how much of the MSC any individual member has been able to input,” he said. “That is my commitment to you.”