[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 153 (Thursday, August 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46029-46030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18174]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Customs and Border Protection

[CBP Dec. 08-30]


Container Seals on Maritime Cargo

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document brings attention to the existing statutory 
requirement by which all maritime containers in transit to the United 
States are required to be sealed with a seal meeting the ISO/PAS 17712 
standard and specifies the date on which the requirement shall take 
effect.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 15, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Fleming Luczkowski, Cargo and 
Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations, (202) 344-1927.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 944, as amended by Section 1701 of Title XVII 
(``Maritime Cargo'') of the Implementing Recommendations of the 911 
Commission Act of 2007 (911 Act), the Secretary of Homeland Security is 
authorized to establish by regulation minimum standards and procedures 
for securing containers in transit to the United States. The 911 Act 
provides that if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not 
issue an interim final rule for establishing such minimum standards and 
procedures by April 1, 2008, effective no later than October 15, 2008, 
all containers in transit to the United States shall be required to be 
sealed with a seal meeting the International Organization for 
Standardization Publicly Available Specification 17712 (ISO/PAS 17712) 
standard for sealing containers. As DHS has not issued regulations 
establishing minimum standards and procedures for securing such 
containers at this time, pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 944, all maritime 
containers in transit to the U.S. by vessel shall be required to be 
sealed with a seal meeting the ISO/PAS 17712 standard for sealing 
containers no later than October 15, 2008.
    As 6 U.S.C. 944 imposes a self-executing legal requirement, DHS is 
not required to issue regulations for this requirement to be 
implemented. This document does not impose additional requirements 
beyond those found in 6 U.S.C. 944. This document simply serves to 
bring attention to the existing statutory requirement that all maritime 
containers in transit to the United States by vessel are required to be 
sealed with a seal meeting the ISO/PAS 17712 standard and specifies the 
date on which the requirement takes effect.

The ISO/PAS 17712 Standard

    Generally, ISO/PAS 17712 requires that container freight seals meet 
or exceed certain standards for strength and durability so as to 
prevent accidental breakage, early deterioration (due to weather 
conditions, chemical action, etc.) or undetectable tampering under 
normal usage. ISO/PAS 17712 also requires that each seal be clearly and 
legibly marked with a unique identification number.
    Copies of ISO/PAS 17712 may be purchased from the International 
Organization for Standardization, 1, rue de Varemb[eacute], CH-1211 
Geneva 20, Switzerland or the American National Standards Institute, 25 
West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

[[Page 46030]]

Containers Subject to the 6 U.S.C. 944 Sealing Requirement

    All loaded containers, including foreign cargo remaining on board 
(FROB), arriving by vessel at a port of entry in the United States on 
or after October 15, 2008, are required to be sealed with a seal 
meeting the ISO/PAS 17712 standard.
    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recognizes that there are 
types of containers that cannot be readily secured by use of a 
container freight seal meeting the ISO/PAS 17712 standard. These 
include tanks, non-standard containers (such as open top containers), 
or containers that simply cannot accommodate a seal meeting the ISO/PAS 
17712 standard (such as custom built containers). These types of 
containers are not subject to the statutory requirement.

Enforcement of the 6 U.S.C. 944 Sealing Requirement

    CBP will consider 6 U.S.C. 944 to be violated if a loaded container 
that is subject to the sealing requirements arrives by vessel at a port 
of entry in the United States on or after October 15, 2008, either (i) 
with no seal or (ii) with a seal that does not meet the ISO/PAS 17712 
standard. These violations derive from a failure to properly seal the 
container.
    CBP may assess a civil penalty against the party responsible for 
the violation of 6 U.S.C. 944 under 19 U.S.C. 1595a(b) for the 
attempted introduction of merchandise into the United States contrary 
to law.
    CBP will phase in penalty assessments for violation of the 
container sealing requirements.

Trade Act Requirements

    CBP also takes this opportunity to remind vessel carriers that 
pursuant to 19 CFR 4.7(b)(2) and 4.7a(c)(4)(xiv), they must transmit 
all seal numbers to CBP 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel 
at a foreign port via the Vessel Automated Manifest System (AMS).

    Dated: August 4, 2008.
Thomas S. Winkowski,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. E8-18174 Filed 8-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P