Know more about Veggies From Mexico: Implementation of C-TPAT program
Veggies From Mexico contributing to C-TPAT
Due to the relevance of C-TPAT for farming companies, starting at the 2024-2025 farm cycle, Veggies From Mexico offers internal auditing and consulting services for the C-TPAT program implementation.
Companies that participate in this program generally have greater responsiveness to situations that compromise the security of their shipments.
During this season, the Veggies From Mexico team has worked with a couple of companies in our community, where we reviewed processes, interviewed staff, and observed implemented practices. Based on our knowledge from these processes, we contributed ideas and made recommendations to improve practices and streamline processes, resulting in a more efficient program.
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Additionally, during our annual training program, we had a talk to the staff responsible for its implementation, where we explained the criteria required by CBP.
If you are interested in getting these services, please contact us. If you are unfamiliar with C-TPAT program, let us explain what this program is about below.
Without a doubt, farming is one of the most important economic activities in Mexico. Various activities are required to ensure that a vegetable, seed, or fruit can be harvested. So, farming is responsible for generating hundreds of jobs each year and plays a vital role in meeting the nutritional needs of millions of people, which are increasingly growing over the years.
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Continuing with the subject of production, the main produce grown in Mexico are tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers, white onions, jalapeno peppers, green tomatoes, and squash. The states with the highest production are Baja California, Estado de Mexico, Jalisco, Sinaloa, Sonora, Michoacan, Morelos, and Oaxaca. Approximately over 90% of production is exported into the United States.
Relevance of Mexican produce:
• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mexico is among the top ten fruit and vegetable producing countries in the world.
• The share of Mexico is about 1.7% of global production, only behind China (40.9%), India (11.6%), United States (3.4%), Brazil (2.6%), Turkey (2.3%), and Iran (1.8%).
Based on the above Mexico has a significant responsibility, as products must not only need to be of good quality but also be safe for consumers. To achieve so, food safety programs, quality management systems, and management of suppliers and services are implemented, obtained through various certifications. Good production practices start from the soil selection where the vegetables will be produced, to the transportation used to deliver products to their destination.
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Other than certifications and food safety badges, there is an especially important program that helps supervising and securing shipments before they leave the company facilities until they reach their destination. Given that customs are critical points for global trade, countries have developed measures to protect trade exchanges from threats such as terrorism and transactions from smuggling. This program, which can help with compliance and securing shipments, is called C-TPAT.
What is C-TPAT program?
The C-TPAT program, or Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism in English, is a voluntary initiative led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to counter the increasing insecurity in customs areas in recent years.
The main purpose of this program is to strengthen the security of international supply chains located in border areas, through the cooperation between the private sector and the government, to reduce the risks associated with terrorism and smuggling. Other than contributing to global security, this program offers significant benefits and impacts for participating companies.
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In this context, C-TPAT offers a wide range of advantages both for companies and nations, contributing to more secure and swift international trade.
- Higher security in the supply chain. Companies that operate under the C-TPAT program generally implement tighter security practices during their trade exchanges, thereby reducing the risks of smuggling, terrorism, and other illicit activities that may occur in international trade. This improves the confidence between partners, governments, and other players in the supply chain.
- Effectiveness in international trade. Companies participating in the C-TPAT program enjoy smoother and more efficient cross-border trade, benefiting from less frequent inspections and significantly reduced customs processing times as it is understood that they have complied with the policies required to safely enter international trade.
- Competitive positioning. When certified companies and governments are perceived as dependable partners in international trade, their image improves significantly, and their productivity and income increase in the short and long term.
- Regulatory compliance. Under this program, businesses and companies are required to follow international safety and supervision standards, which facilitates compliance with regulations in other countries and avoids complications or misunderstandings that could affect their international relations.
C-TPAT benefits
- Operational benefits. Being part of C-TPAT program means companies face fewer customs inspections, which is reflected in fewer delays associated with physical and documentary revisions. Similarly, these companies benefit from preferential response times in the event of supply chain interruptions.
- Costs reduction. By making international trade and customs transactions more efficient, there are fewer delays and more predictable transit times, thereby reducing costs in logistics. This also reduces the risk of losses, as the implementation of security measures reduces merchandise theft and damage.
- Improvement in risk management. The program helps companies detect vulnerabilities by performing required audits and analyses that allow them to identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain. This also creates a greater recovery capacity for interruptions.
- Resources and training. An important aspect of C-TPAT program is the training of those involved in security matters, as companies receive tools and guidelines to strengthen their coordination and financial processes. Also, there is international collaboration with networking opportunities and participation in commercial security forums, which are publicly accessible.
It should be noted that C-TPAT has mutual recognition agreements with other countries, such as Canada (PIP), Mexico (OAS), and the European Union (EAA), facilitating global trade in all its forms.
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