Title 6, Domestic SecurityRelease 119-110

§965 Tier 2 Participants in C–tpat

Title 6 › CHAPTER 3 — SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY PORT › SUBCHAPTER II — SECURITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN › Part B — Customs–Trade Partnership Against Terrorism › § 965

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, through the Commissioner, must check and approve the security steps and supply-chain practices of a Tier 1 participant using updated guidelines. These checks must include on-site visits at relevant foreign locations and, when possible, be finished within 1 year after the participant is certified as Tier 1. If a C–TPAT participant is validated as Tier 2, the Secretary may give benefits such as lower Automated Targeting System scores, fewer cargo inspections, and priority cargo searches. Within 180 days after October 13, 2006, the Secretary must create a schedule and update the rules for these validations.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §965

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Validation

The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall validate the security measures and supply chain security practices of a Tier 1 participant in accordance with the guidelines referred to in subsection (c). Such validation shall include on-site assessments at appropriate foreign locations utilized by the Tier 1 participant in its supply chain and shall, to the extent practicable, be completed not later than 1 year after certification as a Tier 1 participant.

(b)Benefits

The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall extend benefits to each C–TPAT participant that has been validated as a Tier 2 participant under this section, which may include—

(1)reduced scores in the Automated Targeting System;

(2)reduced examinations of cargo; and

(3)priority searches of cargo.

(c)Guidelines

Not later than 180 days after October 13, 2006, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall develop a schedule and update the guidelines for validating a participant’s security measures and supply chain security practices under this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 965

Title 6, Domestic Security

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110