TITLE VIISPECIAL PROCEDURES

CHAPTER 2 Transit

Section 2 External and internal Union transit procedure

Subsection 2 Formalities at the customs office of departure

Article 301Characteristics of customs seals(Articles 226(3)(a) and 227(2)(a) of the Code)

1.

Customs seals shall have at least the following essential characteristics and comply with the following technical specifications:

(a)

essential characteristics of the seals:

  1. (i)

    remaining intact and securely fastened in normal use;

  2. (ii)

    being easily checkable and recognisable;

  3. (iii)

    being so manufactured that any breakage, tampering or removal leaves traces visible to the naked eye;

  4. (iv)

    being designed for single use or, if intended for multiple use, being so designed that they can be given a clear, individual identification mark each time they are re-used;

  5. (v)

    bearing of individual seal identifiers which are permanent, readily legible and uniquely numbered;

(b)

technical specifications:

  1. (i)

    the form and dimensions of seals may vary with the sealing method used but the dimensions shall be such as to ensure that identification marks are easy to read;

  2. (ii)

    the identification marks of seals shall be impossible to falsify and difficult to reproduce;

  3. (iii)

    the material used shall be resistant to accidental breakage and such as to prevent undetectable falsification or reuse.

2.

Where seals have been certified by a competent body in accordance with ISO International Standard No 17712:2013 ‘Freight containers - Mechanical Seals’, those seals shall be deemed to fulfil the requirements laid down in paragraph 1.

For containerised transports, seals with high-security features shall be used to the widest possible extent.

3.

The customs seal shall bear the following indications:

(a)

the word ‘Customs’ in one of the official languages of the Union or a corresponding abbreviation;

(b)

a country code, in the form of the ISO-alpha-2 country code, identifying the Member State in which the seal is affixed;

(c)

Member States may add the symbol of the European flag.

Member States may in agreement with each other decide to use common security features and technology.

4.

Each Member State shall notify the Commission about its customs seal types in use. The Commission shall make this information available to all Member States.

5.

Whenever a seal needs to be removed to allow customs inspection, the customs authority shall endeavour to reseal as necessary, with a custom seal of at least equivalent security features and note the particulars of the action, including the new seal number, on the cargo documentation.