How long are Customs Access Seals valid?

• A. Most are valid for two (2) years but some airports issue them for one year only
• B. Five years
• C. One year for all airports
• D. Indefinitely

Answer: (A)

Customs Access Seals are tamper-evident devices placed on cargo containers, and their validity is set by local policy and risk assessment rather than a single universal rule. In most cases, seals are valid for two years, which strikes a balance between security and manageable renewal intervals. Some airports, due to higher security requirements or stricter maintenance practices, issue seals that must be renewed after one year. This approach reduces the window where a compromised seal could go unnoticed while keeping operations efficient. Longer durations would raise security risk, while a one-size-fits-all annual or indefinite policy wouldn’t fit varying risk levels across airports. So the pattern of most having a two-year validity, with some airports issuing one-year seals, reflects common practice.