CBP Advises C-TPAT Partners of March 1 ISO Seal Standard
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has advised C-TPAT partners that effective March 1, 2012, the current International Organization for Standardization mechanical seal standard (ISO/PAS 17712) will be replaced with a new ISO standard -- ISO 17712:2010. CBP states companies are not expected to discard seals currently in stock. However, after companies have exhausted their current stock of high security seals, the agency recommends that companies purchase seals which are compliant with the new ISO standard.
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New Standard Establishes Uniform Procedures for Classification, Etc.
ISO states that the new ISO 17712:2010 establishes uniform procedures for the classification, acceptance and withdrawal of acceptance of mechanical freight container seals. The new standard provides a single source of information on mechanical seals which are acceptable for securing freight containers in international commerce.
According to ISO, the purpose of mechanical seals is, as part of a security system, to determine whether a freight container has been tampered with (i.e. whether there has been unauthorized entry into the container through its doors). Seals can be effective only if seal users properly select, store, account for, apply, document, and attend to seals prior to use and in use. While these issues are not addressed in the new standard, ISO states they are relevant to successful use of the seals covered by the new standard.
Seals that Conform to New Standard Can Be Used for Bulk Railcars, Trucks, Etc.
ISO additionally states that users and regulatory agencies can apply ISO 17712:2010 to other applications as they deem appropriate. Therefore, seals that conform to ISO 17712:2010 can be suitable for other applications, such as bulk railcars or truck trailers used in cross-border and domestic operations.
New Seal Standard Compliance Requirements Include Testing, Auditing, Etc.
CBP states that the new seal standard compliance requirements include the following:
- Testing to determine a seal’s classification for physical strength (as a barrier of entry).
- Process auditing of the manufacturer’s security-related business practices.
- Testing (pass/fail) of a seal's ability to indicate evidence of tampering.
- A new 18mm minimum width diameter for bolt seals.
Benefits of Include Reduced Delays, Lower Possibility of Cargo Theft, Etc.
The benefits of the new seal standard include the following:
- Reduced possibility of cargo theft or tampering.
- Reduced possibility of unauthorized material being inserted into containers or other instruments of international traffic (IIT).
- Reducing shipping delays that result when seals are missing or broken.
- When inspecting seals for signs of tampering, tamper-evident seals should allow personnel, with the appropriate training, to detect compromised seals easier.
C-TPAT Companies Should Request Confirmation of Seal Compliance
CBP states that when Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) companies transition to the new ISO 17712:2010 compliant seals, they should request documentation (lab reports) to confirm that the purchased seals comply with the new standard.
(See ITT's Online Archives 09040810 for summary of CBP updating its C-TPAT minimum security criteria for rail carriers to include information on seal procedures.)
ISO 17712:2010 is available here.
Document is available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com.