Israel prepared to join CSI program

Israel prepared to join CSI program Israel will soon become the final nation to join Container Security Initiative to safeguard shipments to the United States, Jayson Ahern, an assistant commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, testified last week.
   The Middle East nation is expected to sign within three weeks a declaration of principles committing itself to participate in the overseas inspection program, Ahern said at a House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security hearing. He did not mention which ports would be involved.
   CBP plans to expand the CSI program from 50 to 58 ports this year. Through bilateral agreements, the agency stations small teams of inspectors at overseas ports to analyze shipping documents for risk factors and request host customs authorities to scan selected sea containers with large-scale detection equipment prior to loading on a vessel.
   Israel is the only remaining country to sign the CSI agreement. Some countries have multiple ports conducting outbound inspections under CSI.