Seal Broken

"Seal Broken" is an important term in international trade transportation and documentation, referring to the condition where the seal of a container, cargo box, or packaging has been damaged or opened. It is typically used to describe situations where the original seal identification has been opened without authorization or with authorization during transportation, loading/unloading, warehousing, or customs inspection. Usage scenarios include: shipping companies or freight forwarders annotating "Seal Broken" on handover documents to clarify liability; consignees filing claims against carriers upon discovering damaged seals; customs re-sealing after inspection and noting that the original seal was broken. Precautions: Once a seal is broken, immediately take photos, record the seal number, and notify relevant parties to distinguish liability; if it is the carrier's responsibility, it may affect claims; if it is a customs or inspection agency operation, official proof must be retained. It is the opposite of "Seal Intact" and differs from "Tampered Seal": a broken seal does not necessarily mean theft or shortage, but it is an abnormal situation requiring further investigation. International trade practitioners should clearly stipulate seal handover and exception handling clauses in contracts to avoid disputes.