Seal

A seal is a one-time locking device used in foreign trade logistics to secure the doors of containers, trucks, tankers, and other means of transport. It is typically made of metal or plastic and carries a unique number. Its core function is to ensure that goods have not been illegally opened or tampered with during transportation. It serves as an important basis for customs supervision, carrier liability allocation, and consignee acceptance inspection. Application scenarios include: customs sealing during export declaration, seals applied to containers by shipping lines or freight forwarders, and seals applied by shippers themselves to ensure cargo security. Precautions: The seal number must be consistent with the bill of lading, packing list, and other documents; if the seal is damaged or the number does not match, the consignee should refuse acceptance and record it, and promptly notify the relevant parties; customs seals must not be opened without authorization, otherwise penalties may be imposed. Differences from other terms: A seal is different from a "strip seal" (often referring to paper or simple seals), and also different from a "lock" (which is reusable). It is one-time use with a unique number. In addition, the seal number often appears alongside the container number and wagon number in documents, serving as a key voucher for cargo handover.