New ISO 17712:2010 High Security Seal Standard
Effective March 1, 2012, the current International Organization for Standardization (ISO) mechanical seal standard (ISO/PAS 17712) will be replaced with a new ISO standard--ISO 17712:2010. According to C-TPAT, companies are not expected to discard seals currently in stock. However, after companies have exhausted their current stock of high security seals, it is recommended by CBP that companies purchase seals, which are compliant with the new ISO 17712:2010 standard.
The new standard compliance requirements:
Testing to determine a seal’s classification for physical strength (as a barrier of entry).
Process auditing of the manufacturer’s security-related business practices.
Testing (pass/fail) of a seal’s ability to indicate evidence of tampering.
A new 18mm minimum width diameter for bolt seals.
Reduced possibility of cargo theft or tampering.
Reduced possibility of unauthorized material being inserted into containers or other instruments of international traffic (IIT).
Reducing shipping delays that result when seals are missing or broken.
When inspecting seals for signs of tampering, tamper-evident seals should allow personnel, with the appropriate training, to detect compromised seals easier.
Prior to purchasing new high security seals, request documentation (a lab report) from the seal vendor confirming that the seals are ISO 17712:2010 compliant.
Third Generation of the ISO 17712
The ISO 17712:2010 standard was first published in September 2010 and included an 18-month transition period (to March 2012) to deal with technical issues. The new standard is the third generation of 17712. The first was a Publically Available Specification (PAS) published in 2003 and the second was a revision to PAS 17712 published in 2006. Each revision builds on previous requirements.
White House Unveils Global Supply Chain Security Plan
Today, with the announcement of the National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security, we take an important step to strengthen and protect this vital system. The Strategy, focused on the worldwide network of transportation, postal, and shipping assets and supporting infrastructures, articulates our national vision and approach, and encourages collaborative implementation with key State, local, tribal, territorial, private sector and international stakeholders.
This Strategy provides an integrated United States Government perspective on a complex and global issue. It recognizes that we can and must promote security and efficiency in the supply chain system rather than seek to “balance” them as mutually exclusive ends. It emphasizes our need to foster a resilient system that can absorb shocks and recover rapidly from disruptions. And it endorses an overall approach that involves integrating efforts to manage risk, leverage a layered defense, and identify and resolve threats as early as possible.
As much of the global supply chain is owned and operated by entities outside of the United States Government, the success of this strategy will depend upon our ability to work with other stakeholders. We are committed to working in coordination with industry partners, the international community, and others around the globe to translate this strategic vision into concrete action. Ata time when budgets are constrained, we will seek to develop smarter solutions and new efficiencies by enhancing our information sharing procedures and capabilities, synchronizing standards and procedures, prioritizing and aligning activities according to risk management principles, and leveraging the expertise and resources of industry and foreign partners in pursuit of our shared interests.