[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR330.110]

[Page 381-382]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
 CHAPTER III--ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 330--FEDERAL PLANT PEST REGULATIONS; GENERAL; PLANT PESTS; SOIL, STONE, AND QUARRY PRODUCTS; GARBAGE--Table of Contents
 
                       Subpart--General Provisions
 
Sec. 330.110  Seals.

    (a) Use authorized; form. Whenever, in the opinion of the inspector, 
it is necessary, as a safeguard in order to prevent the dissemination of 
plant pests into the United States, or interstate, seals may be applied 
to openings, packages, or articles requiring the security provided by 
such seals. The words ``openings, packages, or articles'' shall include 
any form of container, shelf, bin, compartment, or other opening, 
package, or article which the inspector may have occasion to seal in 
lieu of more drastic action or otherwise, as a safeguard against plant 
pest dissemination. The seals may be automatic metal seals or labels or 
tags and will be provided by the Plant Protection and Quarantine 
Programs. When they consist of a label or tag, they will be printed in 
black ink on yellow paper and read substantially as follows: ``Warning! 
The opening, package, or article to which this seal is affixed is sealed 
under authority of law. This seal is not to be broken while within the 
territorial limits of the United States except by, or under instructions 
of, an inspector.''
    (b) Breaking of seals. Seals may be broken: (1) By an inspector; (2) 
by a Customs officer for Customs purposes, in which case the opening, 
package, or article will be resealed with Customs seals; (3) by the 
owner or his agent when the means of conveyance, product, or article has 
left the territorial limits of the United States; (4) by any person 
authorized by the inspector or the Deputy Administrator under conditions 
specified by the inspector or Deputy Administrator. No person shall 
break seals applied under authority of this section except as provided 
in this paragraph. The movement into or

[[Page 382]]

through the United States, or interstate, of any means of conveyance or 
product or article on which a seal, applied under this paragraph, has 
been broken in violation of this paragraph is hereby prohibited, except 
as authorized by an inspector.
    (c) Notice of sealing. When an inspector seals any opening, product 
or article, he shall explain the purpose of such action to the owner or 
his representative and shall present him with a written notice of the 
conditions under which the seal may be broken, if requested to do so.

[25 FR 8990, Sept. 20, 1960, as amended at 36 FR 24917, Dec. 24, 1971]