IAN 2023-10: Changes to the appearance of Australia’s official marks – bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals

Date of issue: 6 September 2023

Date of effect: 6 September 2023

Attention

Registered egg exporters, manufacturers, agents, freight forwarders, approved export permit issuers and EDI users.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) - Central and Regional offices.

Purpose

To notify export registered establishments that require departmental sealing of air or sea freight containers of:

a change in the appearance of official marks, specifically bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals, and
the implementation date and ordering process for the new seals.

Key points

Following a recent tender process, a change in appearance of bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals will occur.

The implementation date for these changes is 1 October 2023.

The existing bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals must cease being applied on
30 September 2023.

The department will be notifying trading partners of the upcoming changes, including the appearance of the new seals to facilitate a smooth transition and prevent any disruptions to trade.

Establishments are advised to ensure adequate stock levels of current bolts and seals to see through exports until 30 September 2023. Please email VEMGPlanning&Coord@aff.gov.au should stock levels be inadequate to meet this timeframe.

Further information regarding the destruction procedure of current seals will be provided in due course.

Department seals are required where there is an importing country requirement for Australian government seals to be applied for air and sea containers prior to departure. In the event a department seal is not applied to a container where it is required, (for example eggs to Korea) there is risk the consignment may be detained on arrival and may jeopardise market access.

Please refer to the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) for clarification on markets which require an Australian government seal.

Where it is a requirement for the container system unit to be sealed with an official mark - bolt seal, the following colour seals must be used:

For prescribed goods, green bolt seals
For non-prescribed goods, blue bolt seals
Air freight consignments, flat metal seals.

Appearance of the new seals

Ordering new seals for initial rollout

The department has contracted Mega Fortris Pty Ltd to supply and deliver official seals directly to stakeholders.

An updated seal ordering form is available on the department’s website Ordering forms for Container and Tamper-indictive seals.

Seal consignments will be delivered by Direct Freight Express couriers.
The order form has been changed to include additional stakeholder delivery details to assist the courier, Direct Freight Express to find the nominated location.
The department will continue to receive all seal orders to vemgplanning&coord@aff.gov.au
It is preferred that the seal order form is typed for ease of review and to ensure correct delivery details are used.

Step by step instruction

Complete all fields of the seal order form.
Forward the completed seal order form to vemgplanning&coord@aff.gov.au.
Mega Fortris Pty Ltd will receive your seal order from the department and process the order – if received by Mega Fortris Pty Ltd prior to 11.00am EDST it will be despatched the same day.
Your order can be tracked using the email address provided in the seal order form.
Direct Freight Express will deliver your order, depending on your location in 1-10 business days Australia wide.

Definitions

The following table defines terms used in this notice.

Term	Definition
Official mark – tamper-indicative metal strap seal	As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021. For example, in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) 2021, Part 2: 8‑7 Official mark—tamper‑indicative metal strap seal A seal that: is a tamper‑indicative metal strap seal that can be secured in a loop by inserting one end of the seal into or through a protected locking mechanism on the other end; and complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and bears the words “Australian Government”; and bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department; is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.
Official mark – bolt seal	As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021. For example, in the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) 2021, Part 2: 8‑8 Official mark—bolt seal A seal that: is a high security bolt seal; and complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and bears the words “Australian Government”; and bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department; and is coated with green or blue plastic; is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.

Term

Definition

Official mark – tamper-indicative metal strap seal

As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021.

For example, in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) 2021, Part 2:

8‑7 Official mark—tamper‑indicative metal strap seal

A seal that:

is a tamper‑indicative metal strap seal that can be secured in a loop by inserting one end of the seal into or through a protected locking mechanism on the other end; and
complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and
bears the words “Australian Government”; and
bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department;

is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.

Official mark – bolt seal