UK Customs Acceptance is determined by the Security Seal Testing Authority (SSTA), which arranges independent testing of seals under criteria laid down by the European Commission Regulation 2454/93 article 386 annex 46A, together with the Security Seal Specification SSIA-98-A.
Seals, which are found to be acceptable, are thereafter placed in one of the three following groups and place on the HM Customs Acceptance List, which is maintained by the SSTA. A copy of this list can be found on the H M Customs & Excise website, or supplied by the SSTA on request:
Group 1
Those which can withstand a tensile test of 1000kgs and which have a unique reference number marked on each component (ie two-piece seals).
Group 2
Those which can withstand a tensile test of 250kgs, together with those two-piece seals which, although capable of meeting the physical criteria laid down under Group 1, only have the unique number on one part.
Group 3
Indicative seals, where strength is not considered a major factor.
US Customs Acceptance does not exist for security seals. However following the events of 9/11 the US has taken a number of steps to increase the level of security of items being transported across its borders. This includes the creation of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
Specifications for C-TPAT compliance are stipulated in document ISO/PAS 17712:2003 Publicly Available Specification for Freight Containers - Mechanical Seals, which states that:
3.5.1
"Seals shall be manufactured under a controlled process, as evidenced by a suitable externally audited manufacturing and testing processes and quality control process, for example ISO 9000 series certification."Since 1993 the manufacture of security seals at ITW Envopak has been covered by ISO 9000 certification.
The ISO/PAS 17712 document also states:
3.5.2
"Seals will be considered as acceptable for use and/or purchase as soon as the manufacturer attests that the seals have been tested and meet or exceed the standards provided in (ISO/PAS 177120) clause 4 and that they also meet the other requirements of the Publicly Available Specification. They will continue to be considered acceptable until such time as it is demonstrated that they do not meet the standards or they are withdrawn form the marketplace by the manufacturer."3.5.4
"All testing of seals deemed necessary before customs acceptance will be done by the manufacturer or by a private laboratory, and not by customs. However, customs reserves the right to test, or have tested, seals that have been accepted by customs."3.5.5
"Only seals classed as high security or security seals based on the test protocols set fourth in clause 4 shall be acceptable for use as customs seals."C-TPAT / ISO/PAS 17712 tests for security seals include a tensile (pull) test, a shear (cutting) test, a bending test and an impact (sudden pull) test. According to performance, seals fall into one of three categories:
- High security seals
- Security seals
- Indicative seals
We have carried out tests on the Snapper bolt seal and it can be classed as a high security seal. All of our plastic seals fall into the Indicative seal category
For further information on C-TPAT compliance, please visit the US Customs website here.