Compliance
C-TPAT warehouse requirements in Mexico
C-TPAT (US Customs and Border Protection) and AEO (Mexico's Operador Económico Autorizado, run by the SAT) require verifiable physical security at facilities handling export cargo: a complete lit perimeter fence, controlled access with logging of people and vehicles, CCTV coverage with retained footage, and parking separated from cargo areas. Certification belongs to the company, not the building, but the building either enables it or blocks it. In Logistik II, the Europa 100 complex was built to these standards: 2.50 m perimeter fence, 16 cameras with 30+ days of DVR retention, and parking separated from operations.
Who certifies what
C-TPAT is the voluntary supply-chain security program of US Customs and Border Protection; AEO is Mexico's equivalent, administered by the SAT and aligned with the WCO SAFE framework. The two recognize each other under a US–Mexico mutual recognition arrangement. Both certify companies and their processes, not buildings, but both audit the physical facility where export cargo is handled.
What C-TPAT warehouse requirements look like on the ground
- Perimeter: complete, well-maintained, lit fencing that also protects critical infrastructure such as transformers.
- Access: guarded control of people and vehicles, with the truck gate separated from pedestrian entry.
- CCTV: coverage of accesses, yards, and perimeter, with retained footage (30 days is the common audit reference).
- Area separation: employee and visitor parking apart from receiving, storage, and shipping.
- Cargo integrity: a controlled, lit truck court where trailers and seals can be inspected.
How to verify it during a visit
Walk the full perimeter, count the cameras and ask how many days the DVR retains, check whether parking shares space with the docks, and ask to see the visitor log. A compliant facility shows you without friction. The Europa 100 spec sheet publishes these features: 2.50 m lit fence, 16 zoom cameras on fiber, 30+ day DVR, and a 32-space parking lot separated from operations. Add these points to your general selection checklist.
FAQ
Does leasing a "C-TPAT warehouse" certify my company?
No. Certification covers your company and processes. The building provides the physical security the audit reviews: if it cannot separate areas or retain footage, your certification stalls even with clean processes.
Do I need AEO if I already have C-TPAT?
They are separate programs that recognize each other. Many exporters in Mexico hold both: AEO speeds Mexican customs treatment while C-TPAT eases entry on the US side. The physical security baseline is essentially shared.
Which suppliers actually need this?
Any Tier 1 or Tier 2 exporting to the US, and in practice any supplier feeding BMW or GM export chains: OEMs audit security down the chain.