The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) have highlighted the existing statutory requirement, pursuant to the '911 Commission Act 2007', that all laden maritime containers in transit to the USA are required to be sealed with a seal meeting the ISO standard: ISO/PAS 17712 ( ISO/PAS 17712 ) effective from midnight on 14th October 2008.

In general terms the above standard requires that the seal should meet, or exceed, certain standards for strength and durability and be clearly marked with a unique identification number. Tanker and non-standard containers e.g. open topped, are reportedly not subject to this requirement.

Most importantly, the requirement also appears to cover laden maritime containers transiting or trans-shipping at U.S. ports en route to a final destination in a third country.

Laden maritime containers subject to the requirement, entering U.S. ports by vessel on or after 15th October, will be deemed to have violated the regulation, if a seal meeting the above standard has not been applied. The party responsible for such containers would risk being assessed for a civil penalty for: "failure to properly seal the container".

Finally, carriers are obliged to transmit all seal numbers to CBP 24 hrs before cargo is laden aboard a vessel at a foreign port, via the Vessel Automated Manifest System (AMS).

Please click here to view the official document CBP Dec. 08-30.

Please advise all concerned.

Thanks and regards

Brian Lovell
Chief Executive Officer

Australian Federation of International Forwarders Ltd (AFIF)
Suite 403, Level 3
152 Bunnerong Road
Eastgardens NSW 2036
Tel: (61 2) 9314 3055
Fax: (61 2) 9314 3116