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Assurance & Certifications

APEC CBPR and PRP Privacy Certifications

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) and Privacy Recognition for Processors (PRP) has evolved into the Global CBPR and PRP as of June 2, 2025. Certification provides a robust international method for data transfer recognized with participating economies including USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Philippines, Taipei, and Australia.

Participate in Global CBPR and PRP Certifications

Global CBPR and PRP certifications are now available, adhering to the same requirements and processes as APEC certifications. Both systems will run in parallel with program updates being provided as they become available. Find out more about the transition.

Vendor management
Part of CBPR verification overlaps with vendor management requirements across jurisdictions. CBPR implementation can help streamline the vendor onboarding process based on CBPR principles.

Cross border data transfer risk
CBPR verification includes understanding processing purposes of business records for data transfer risk and third party risk management.

Dispute resolution
Our Accountability Agent oversight helps provide best practices on privacy complaints.

Benefits of certification

A trusted trade partner that meets international standards for data protection

Certification demonstrates a commitment to data protection (reduce trade friction) and ensures protection across your entire supply chain (vendors). Demonstrating due diligence and reducing risk within your organization and your trade partners.

 

Organizational agility and business advantage

This certification meets the minimum requirements necessary to transfer data in participating economies, meaning you can save time and operational costs to enter any of the participating markets.

 

Streamline privacy and legal compliance efforts

CBPR certification requirements overlap with other key privacy regulations like GDPR and US State privacy laws.

Demonstrate data governance and risk mitigation

Show investors, board members, trade partners, vendors, regulators, suppliers, and customers with a certification that demonstrates good governance and risk mitigation around data privacy.

 

Long term value creation and sustainability for your business

Easily adapt to industry, regulatory, and market shifts with this internationally recognized standard.

Assurance process

  • Conduct privacy review

    Together, we work with you to conduct a privacy analysis to understand your data policies and practices.

  • Demonstrate compliance

    Purpose-built software guides you through the requirements to ensure you’re complying with the framework principles.

  • Customized action plan

    TrustArc team provides an Action Plan for how to meet CBPR and PRP principles. Action Plan includes a gap analysis, written guidance on compliance posture, and remediation recommendations to achieve compliance.

  • Remediation & verification

    Collect, compile, or generate documents or processes to demonstrate compliance.

  • Approved privacy notice & seal issuance

    A TRUSTe-reviewed Privacy Notice, a Letter of Attestation, and seals for public posting.

  • Ongoing oversight

    All assessment work and supporting documentation for an audit trail is available along with ongoing compliance monitoring. As your Accountability Agent, TRUSTe provides continued oversight including privacy protocol recommendations, guidance on implementation, and third party assurance for privacy complaints.

  • Dispute resolution

    Certification and participation in the CBPR system includes dispute resolution.

Why CBPR?

Internationally recognized

The CBPR system is one of the few privacy frameworks and certification processes recognized internationally. The intergovernmental forum that oversees CBPR is one of the largest to date meant to help promote free trade internationally and has enforcement requirements across its participating jurisdictions, making it a powerful means of demonstrating dedication to protecting customers’ data.

Robust certification & accountability

CBPR compliance standards include security safeguards, data protection access, and ethics. Additionally, it is the only framework with independent accountability oversight elements – meaning it requires a third party Accountability Agent (AA) to certify/verify and requires AA oversight as part of maintaining certification.

Leading accountability agent

We are proud to have been the first Accountability Agent (AA) in the U.S., and in the world. TRUSTe remains one of the few AA’s who have performed over hundreds of CBPR certifications, working in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other governments.

APEC CBPR and PRP Certification FAQs

  • What does the APEC CBPR System cover and who is it for?

    The APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules System is a government-backed privacy certification program that facilitates trusted, accountable data transfers among participating APEC economies. It is built on nine core APEC privacy principles, which are enforced by participating privacy authorities.

  • What is an Accountability Agent, and why does it matter?

    An Accountability Agent (like TRUSTe) is a government-recognized and neutral third-party organization that acts as a trustworthy certifier to certify and monitor a company’s privacy practices. Accountability Agents ensure that companies align with the stringent program requirements of APEC/Global CBPR and PRP. This third-party certification not only bolsters credibility but also guarantees an unbiased evaluation, fostering consistency among participants globally. TRUSTe was the first Accountability Agent in the world and has been certifying companies to the APEC systems since 2013.

  • Does APEC CBPR Certification include dispute resolution?

    Yes. Independent dispute resolution is a requirement of the CBPR program and is included in every TRUSTe APEC CBPR Certification. TRUSTe’s dispute resolution team handles between 3,000 and 9,000 privacy requests annually across programs and frameworks.

  • What do I receive upon completing my APEC CBPR Certification?

    Certified organizations receive a Letter of Attestation, a Final Report, the right to display the TRUSTe APEC Privacy seal, ongoing compliance monitoring with an annual review, and independent dispute resolution for consumer complaints.

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