Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) Certification

The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), a non-profit organization, is a unique forum that unites global manufacturers, logistics providers, freight carriers, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders with the common aim of reducing losses from international supply chain. The TAPA scheme provides general industry best practices principles for the implementation, establishment and improvement of the security practices to minimize cargo losses from international supply chain. The scheme owner of the TAPA certification is the TAPA Worldwide Council; while overseeing the audits activities and certification approval is by individual region thru elected Board of Directors, Audit Committees and Secretariat.

The main players and TAPA members that involved on the certification scheme includes freight forwarders, logistic parks, cargo transporters, air, sea and road transporters, cargo storage and warehousing facilities, clearing and forwarding services, supply chain management, air cargo handlers, manufacturers and retailers.

TAPA has developed five certifications standards:

1. Facility Security Requirements (FSR) for the Supply Chain, which includes warehouse security
2. Truck Security Requirements (TSR) for road transportation
3. Guarding Security Requirements (GSR)
4. Parking Security Requirements (PSR)
5. Cyber Security Requirements (CSR)

BSI currently offer Facility Security Requirements (FSR) and Truck Security Requirements (TSR). 

Facility Security Requirements (FSR) is the certification standard for secure warehousing and storage. It is a common global standard that can be used in business / security agreements between buyers and Logistics service providers (LSPs) and/or other applicants seeking certification. The FSR may apply to the following:

• Buyers
• LSPs/applicants
• Law enforcement or other government organizations
• Professional supply chain
• Organizations
• Insurers

Facilities are classified into one of three security levels, based on the level of protection needed:
a) Level A = Elevated security protection
b) Level B = Moderate security protection
c) Level C = Standard security protection

Trucking Security Requirements (TSR) focuses exclusively on transport by truck and represents minimum standards specifically for transporting products via road within a supply chain. This TAPA TSR certification standard is for secure trucking services. It is a common global standard that can be used in business/security agreements between buyers and LSPs and/or other applicants seeking certification. TSR may apply to all or part of the services provided by an LSP/applicant. Depending on the complexity and size of the supply chain, certification with TAPA standards may be achieved through a single LSP/applicant or multiple LSPs/applicants and qualified subcontractors.

The TSR may apply to the following:

• All cargo required to be transported in accordance with the TAPA TSR
• Leased or owned vehicles, trailers or containers utilized for the transportation of cargo by one or more road segments.
• LSP/applicant operated, or subcontracted vehicles, trailers or containers utilized for the transportation of cargo by one or more road segments.

Three classification levels (for vehicles reported in the Vehicle Register) are specified in the TSR:
• Level 1 = Elevated security protection
• Level 2 = Moderate security protection
• Level 3 = Basic security protection

A combination of classification levels may be used in the certification process. Where buyers require a minimum classification level for their operations, it is the responsibility of the buyer to negotiate the classification level required directly with the LSP/applicant.