UK Akkreditering Forum Limited

ISO Pas 17712:2010 Freight Containers

ISO 17712:2010 establishes uniform procedures for the classification, receipt and withdrawal of acceptance of mechanical freight container seals. It gives a single source of information on mechanical seals which are acceptable for securing freight containers in international commerce.

The reason of mechanical seals is, as part of a security system, to determine whether a freight container has been tampered with, i.e. whether there has been unofficial entry into the container through its doors. Seals can be efficient only if seal users appropriately select, store, account for, apply, document and attend to seals prior to use and in use; whilst these issues are not addressed in ISO 17712:2010, they are appropriate to successful use of the seals covered by ISO 17712:2010.

Safety seals can be split into two main groups: single use and reusable. Single use seals are normally made of plastic or metal, and the used material and production technology is the key to their security level. Reusable seals are frequently electronic or mechanical rather than just made from plastic, and if purely plastic, only one part is reusable. Electronic and mechanical seals are normally used for the transportation industry, with seal fixed to the back of trucks, trailers and shipping containers. A reusable mechanical or electronic seal can be fitted to the rear or loading doors, extending a wire from itself through fixing points on the doors, and when sealed create a exclusive number which is logged. When the door is next opened this number changes, so it offers tamper proof for the load.

Benefits of ISO Pas 17712:2010

  • Reducing shipping delays that result when seals are lost or broken.
  • When checking seals for signs of tampering, tamper-evident seals should permit personnel, with the suitable training, to detect compromised seals more simply.
  • Reduced possibility of cargo theft or tampering.
  • Reduced possibility of unofficial material being inserted into containers or other tools of global traffic (IIT).