Press Releases

Published: October 24th, 2012

OneSeal Wins Patent Case

Denmark-based container security seal manufacturer OneSeal has won the patent infringement case it brought against Mega Fortris (Europe) Aps Ltd in respect of the latter’s Flexi Klick flexible container bolt seal.A court injunction has been issued against Mega Fortris (Europe) by the Bailiff’s Court in Elsinore, Denmark, to prohibit further selling and marketing of the Flexi Klick seal at and from its European head office.The injunction also authorises the sequestration of products on the premises of Mega Fortris (Europe) that were found to violate OneSeal’s European patent on its Type 79-T06 flexible bolt seal design.It is understood that Mega Fortris (Europe) has decided not to appeal against the court’s decision and has signed a cease and desist letter covering all European countries in which the patent is in force.OneSeal said Mega Fortris has agreed to pay compensation for sales of the Flexi Klick design in Europe and will also cover all legal costs, including OneSeal’s.A spokesman for Mega Fortris (Europe) said the case brought by OneSeal related to “a minor design issue on the locking pin only” and that “this will be rectified and improved by the Mega Fortris research and development team soon”He added that the settlement in Europe had no effect on the company’s ability to market and sell the existing Flexi Klick design outside the EU.OneSeal added, however, that it holds similar patent rights on its flexible bolt seal design in China, Malaysia and Vietnam, and has a patent pending in the USA, and would also defend its rights in those areas.

Published: July, 2012

OneSeal/Mega Fortris In Row Over Patents

Denmark-based container security seal manufacturer OneSeal is taking the European office of Malaysian seal manufacturer Mega Fortris to court over alleged violation of the patent rights on OneSeal’s flexible bolt seal design.Enforcement of OneSeal’s rights took place on 27 June 2012 when the Bailiff ’s Court in Elsinore, Denmark, took action against Mega Fortris (Europe)’s office in Espergaerde at the request of OneSeal ApS and others....

ISO 17712 And How It Affects Buyers

Buyers of 17712-compliant seals cannot simply accept "Yes, we comply" as an answer from a supplier. You must be able to ensure that you bought a fully compliant product. For example, if you purchase seals that cannot be proven to be ISO 17712 compliant, then you risk shipment delays under C-TPAT procedures.For information on how buyers can be sure that they are receiving genuinely compliant seals, see How can buyers be sure?

What Is ISO 17712?

ISO 17712 establishes “uniform procedures for the classification, acceptance, and withdrawal of acceptance of mechanical freight container seals”. The standard defines the various types of security seals and describes the performance requirements for each product type as well as details of testing specifications. International Standard ISO 17712 replaced ISO's Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) 17712 in September 2010. The Standard refined test procedures and added a technical specification for bolt seals. More importantly, the Standard added new test requirements for tamper evidence that apply to all seals that claim ISO compliance, regardless of type. Tamper evidence test certificatation goes into effect 1 March 2012, after an 18 month transition period. For more information, click here.

Container seals: What does PAS ISO 17712 mean to you?

Container Seal Guidelines

In recent years, there have been few security issues as contentious as the ongoing debate over container seals and container security. The recent container seal guidelines issued by US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) for Customs- Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) importers may have established new container seal standards, but they did little to end the debate. Seal manufacturers, customs brokers, security professionals, US importers, government regulators, and other members of the international trade community continue to argue about the ‘ideal’ container seal and related best practices and regulatory schemes.

ISO 17712:2013(en)

3.1.1seal

mechanical device marked with a unique identifier and usually designed for a single use, which is externally affixed to the container doors and designed to evidence tampering or intrusion through the doors of a container and to secure closed doors of a container Note 1 to entry: Depending on its design and construction, the seal provides varying degrees of resistance to an intentional or unintentional attempt to open it or to enter the freight container through the container doors. Note 2 to entry: Seals need to be designed and constructed so that tamper attempts create and leave evidence of that tampering. Note 3 to entry: All grades and types of seals require inspection to indicate whether tampering has occurred or entry has been attempted.

Compliance With ISO’s 17712 Standards for High Security Seals

The Customs-Trade Partnership AgainstTerrorism (C-TPAT) program is one layer in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) multi-layered cargo enforcement strategy. Through this program, CBP works with the trade community to strengthen international supply chains and improve United States border security.To enhance communication with its Partners, C-TPAT routinely highlights matters of interest to the membership; this C-TPAT bulletin addresses the new ISO 17712:2013 standards for security seals that will go into effect May 15, 2014.