This International Standard establishes uniform procedures for the classification, acceptance, and withdrawal of mechanical freight container seals. It provides a single source of information on mechanical seals which are acceptable for securing freight containers in international commerce. NOTE The purpose of mechanical seals is, as part of a security system, to determine whether a freight container has been tampered with, i.e. whether there has been unauthorized entry into the container through its doors. Seals can be effective only if seal users properly select, store, account for, apply, document, and attend to seals prior to use and in use; while these issues are not addressed in this International Standard, they are relevant to successful use of the seals covered by this International Standard. Seals that conform to this International Standard are suitable for other applications, such as bulk railcars or truck trailers used in cross-border and domestic operations. Users and regulatory agencies can apply this International Standard to other applications as they deem appropriate.