Agricore United Earns C-TPAT Certification

WINNIPEG - Mar 23/04 - SNS -- Agricore United has been certified under the United State Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Department of Homeland Security Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.

By becoming C-TPAT certified, Agricore United will experience fewer cargo exams and become involved in best practices sharing and anti-terrorism training from the U.S. government.

"Agricore United is one of the few grain handling companies in the world to be C-TPAT certified," says Brad Vannan, Vice President, Merchandising, Transportation and Logistics. "We've always been a leader in the industry and given the global awareness of food safety, this commitment to security is more than just good business - it's an ethical requirement."

According to CBP, the guiding principle of the C-TPAT program is partnership. It is a voluntary program designed to share information that will protect the supply chain from being compromised by terrorists or terrorist organizations.

"We appreciate the sensitivity of importing goods, particularly food goods, into the United States," says Vannan. "We want to take all appropriate steps to assure our US customers that the grains we are shipping are safe and our grain handling is secure."

Requirements for certification include close attention to procedural security to protect against undocumented material being introduced into the supply chain. Facility physical security is also addressed with a requirement for all buildings to be constructed to protect against unauthorized entry and outside intrusion. Access controls, personnel security, education and training, manifest procedures and conveyance security must all meet CBP standards to ensure certification.

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