[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 19, Volume 1]

[Revised as of April 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 19CFR24.13a]



[Page 381-382]

 

                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES

 

   CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 

              HOMELAND SECURITY; 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 (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



[[Page 382]]



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]