New Security Seal Standards Effective Next Month, CBP Reminds C-TPAT Members

New International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications for security seals are set to go into effect May 15, CBP reminded Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members in a notice. ISO published the new standard, ISO 17712:2013, last year. C-TPAT criteria requires that "all seals must meet or exceed the current ISO 17712 standards for high security seals," though C-TPAT members "may continue to use the remaining ISO 17712:2010 high security seals they have in stock and then look to purchase ISO 17712:2013 high security seals in the future," the agency said. CBP also reminded C-TPAT participants to be careful when buying the seals and that they should get independent written certification from the supplier to make sure the seals meet the required standard.