Government Compliance

GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE

National Protective Strategies provides consultation and assistance to organizations with plans to participate, or improve their understanding of the following programs.

C-TPAT
FAST
DOT HM232
FDA Bio-Terrorism
PIP
HIPAA
BASC Certification
Sarbanes-Oxley

NPS professionals maintain expertise in various government initiatives and are prepared to assist your organization with compliance efforts. NPS can aid you with your internal program with development through implementation, and ultimately validation.

We have placed basic information regarding several of these programs below. For more information simply e-mail us at programs@natprostat.com or submit our contact form through this link: Contact NPS

ctpat

C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)

C-TPAT is a joint venture between the United States Bureau of Customs & Border Protection and business. It is designed to improve supply chain security beginning with the origin. To participate in C-TPAT you are asked to:

Meet business requirements, outlined by CBP.
Have a designated company officer that will be the primary security officer responsible for C-TPAT.
Commit to maintaining CBP’s C-TPAT supply chain security guidelines as outlined in the C-TPAT agreement.
Create a C-TPAT supply chain security profile, that identifies how the you will meet, maintain and enhance internal policy to meet security guidelines.
Complete an on-line application with CBP.
Complete and attach the Security Profile as outlined by CBP with your on-line application.

CBP will review the information and advise whether you have received certification or if other commitments need to be addressed to obtain certification. CBP may request additional improvement. You will be asked to respond to such requests in writing.

After certification, CBP will schedule a validation for a U.S. and non U.S. location. The validation includes a review of the security program to include the information provided to CBP as well as on site inspection of actual security preparedness and a review of the your supply chain security programs.

Link to C&BP Website

DOT HM-232

The Department of Transporation in response to terrorist concerns involving the use of hazardous materials in transport throughout the United States, developed security requirements for the movement of hazardous materials. This program requires:

The organization conduct and complete a written risk assessment.
The organization must have a written security policy.
Provide Security Awareness Training to personnel involved in the movement of haz-mat.
Provide "In-Depth" security training. This training is specific to the job functions of the particular individual being.

http://www.dot.gov/

FDA Bio-Terrorism

PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT OF 2002

This act is intended to help improve the ability of the United States to prepare for, respond to and prevent, bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. It includes information involving such issues as national preparedness, strategic national stockpile, enhancing controls of dangerous biological agents, safety and security of nation's food and drug supplies, and coordinating response activities.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html

HIPAA

HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996. Its purpose is to aid in the continuity of health care coverage for individuals changing jobs, and includes provisions that address the management of health care information.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has created a series of rules derived from HIPAA that impacts all health care organizations that create, store or distribute health care data electronically.

FAST (Free and Secure Trade)

Overview

The FAST program is a bilateral initiative between the United States and Canada designed to ensure security and safety while enhancing the economic prosperity of both countries. In developing this program, Canada and the United States have agreed to harmonize, to the maximum extent possible, their commercial processes for clearance of commercial shipments at the border. This will promote free and secure trade by using common risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry partnership, and advanced technology to improve the efficiency of screening and clearing commercial traffic at our shared border.

Objectives
FAST is an ambitious program both in terms of its scope and its implementation date. For the United States and Canada, the initiative’s objectives promise to revolutionize the processing of transborder trade:

1. The program aims to increase the integrity of supply chain security by offering expedited clearance to carriers and importers enrolled in Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) or Canada’s Partner’s in Protection (PIP).

2. It’s designed to streamline and to integrate registration processes for drivers, carriers, and importers; minimizing paperwork and ensuring only low risk participants are enrolled as members.

3. The initiative seeks to expedite the clearance of transborder shipments of compliant partners by reducing Customs information requirements, dedicating lanes at major crossings to FAST participants, using common technology, and physically examining cargo transported by these low-risk clients with minimal frequency.

4. The program is a catalyst for both Customs administrations to participate in the enhanced technologies by using transponders, which would make it easier to clear low risk shipments, and would mitigate the cost of program participation for FAST partners.

Benefits

FAST approved U.S./Canada highway carriers will benefit from:

1. Dedicated lanes (where available) for greater speed and efficiency in the clearance of FAST transborder shipments.

2. Reduced number of examinations for continued compliance with Customs FAST requirements.

3. A strong and ongoing partnership with the Canadian (PIP) and Customs (C-TPAT) administrations.

4. Enhanced supply chain security and safety while protecting the economic prosperity of both countries.

5. The knowledge that they are carrying shipments for a C-TPAT approved importer.

6. A head start for the upcoming modifications to FAST that will expand eligible electronic cargo release methods. The FAST processing of Pre Arrival Processing System (PAPS) is currently in use and will commence at expanded locations along the northern border during the year.

Link to C&BP Website

Sarbanes-Oxley

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), is a significant change to federal securities laws. As a federal response to corporate financial scandals with entities such as Enron, WorldCom, and Arthur Andersen, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was passed. Currently, publicly-traded companies must to submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an annual report of the impact of their internal accounting controls

The major provisions of SOX include certification of internal auditing by external auditors, criminal and civil penalties for noncompliance violations, and increased disclosure regarding financial statements.