Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday announced the creation of the Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC). The center will serve as a new arm of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and will help streamline and improve federal efforts to fill the gaps in the import safety system.
“In addition to guarding against terrorism and crime, securing our borders and facilitating legitimate trade involve ensuring the safety of imported products,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This new targeting center will enhance the inspection of goods entering our country by centralizing and strengthening federal efforts to protect U.S. consumers.”
The import safety effort will integrate the resources of CBP and other federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
According to DHS, the new initiative will “protect the American public from harm caused by unsafe imported products by improving communication and information-sharing and reducing redundant inspection activities.”
