---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 965"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "965"
heading: "Tier 2 participants in C–TPAT"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/965"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port"
  - "Subchapter II — Security of the International Supply Chain"
  - "Part B — Customs–Trade Partnership Against Terrorism"
---

# §965. Tier 2 participants in C–TPAT

- (a) **Validation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), 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)](#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](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), 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](/usc/6/901.md?p=8) of cargo; and
  - (3) priority [searches](/usc/6/901.md?p=14) of cargo.
- (c) **Guidelines—** Not later than 180 days after October 13, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), shall develop a schedule and update the guidelines for validating a participant’s security measures and supply chain security practices under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–347, title II, § 215, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1910.)