[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 19, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 19CFR24.13a]

[Page 336-337]
 
                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
  CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 24--CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 24.13a  Car, compartment, and package seals; and fastenings; standards; acceptance by Customs.

    (a) General standards. The seals and fastenings, together, shall
    (1) Be strong and durable;
    (2) Be capable of being affixed easily and quickly;
    (3) Be capable of being checked readily and identified by unique 
marks (such as a logotype) and numbers;
    (4) Not permit removal or undoing without breaking, or tampering 
without leaving traces;
    (5) Not permit use more than once; and
    (6) Be made as difficult as possible to copy or counterfeit.
    (b) Seal specifications. (1) The shape and size of the seal shall be 
such that any identifying marks are readily legible.
    (2) Each eyelet in a seal shall be of a size corresponding to that 
of the fastening used, and shall be positioned so that the fastening 
will be held firmly in place when the seal is closed.
    (3) The material used shall be sufficiently strong to prevent 
accidental breakage, early deterioration (due to weather conditions, 
chemical action, etc.) or undetectable tampering under normal usage.
    (4) The material used shall be selected with reference to the 
sealing system used.
    (c) Fastening specifications. (1) The fastening shall be strong and 
durable and resistant to weather and corrosion.
    (2) The length of the fastening used shall not enable a sealed 
aperture to be opened or partly opened without the seal or fastening 
being broken or otherwise showing obvious damage.
    (3) The material used shall be selected with reference to the 
sealing system used.
    (d) Identification marks. (1) If the seal is to be purchased and 
used by U.S. Customs, the seal or fastening, as appropriate, shall be 
marked to show that it is a U.S. Customs seal by application of the 
words ``U.S. Customs'' and a unique identification number on the seal.
    (2) If the seal is to be used by private industry (i.e., a shipper, 
manufacturer, or carrier), it must be clearly and legibly marked with a 
unique company name (or logotype) and identification number.
    (e) Customs acceptance. Seals will be considered as acceptable for 
use and/or purchase by U.S. Customs as soon as the manufacturer attests 
that the seals have been tested and meet or exceed the standards 
provided in paragraphs

[[Page 337]]

(a) through (d) of this section, and will continue to be considered 
acceptable until such time as it is demonstrated that they do not meet 
the standards. A manufacturer may attest to the qualification of a 
specific seal, or to an entire product line of seals as of a certain 
date. Any addition of a seal to a group of seals attested to as a group 
would require specific acceptance of that seal by Customs.
    (f) Testing. 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 to 
have tested, seals that have been accepted by Customs.
    (g) Records. The manufacturer's attestation that a seal meets or 
exceeds the standards specified in this section and, if deemed necessary 
by Customs, the seal test record shall be sent to the Assistant 
Commissioner, Field Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Customs Service, 
Washington DC 20229.

[T.D. 81-185, 46 FR 36842, July 16, 1981, as amended by T.D. 91-77, 56 
FR 46114, Sept. 10, 1991]