V.4.3.9.1. Introduction

Article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention
Articles 36 to 39 of Appendix I to the Convention
Article 192 of the CAU
Article 299 of the AE

It is very important to be able to identify the goods transported in transit. As a general rule, identification is guaranteed by sealing the goods.

All documents used to identify the goods must be attached to the SAD or DAT and sealed so that their replacement is impossible.

Article 39 of Appendix I to the Convention
Article 302 of the AE

However, the customs office of departure may waive the seal if the description of the goods in the declaration or in the supporting documents is sufficiently precise to allow their easy identification and identifies the quantity and nature of the goods and their particular characteristics (for example, by indicating the engine and chassis number when transporting cars in transit or the serial numbers of the goods). This description will be entered in box 31 of the SAD or DAT.

As an exception, sealing will not be necessary (unless the customs office of departure decides otherwise) when:

• the goods are transported by air, and each consignment is affixed with labels showing the number of the accompanying air waybill or the consignment constitutes a cargo unit on which the number of the accompanying air waybill is indicated;
• The goods are transported by rail and the railway companies themselves apply the identification measures.

Generally, when goods not subject to the transit regime and goods subject to the transit regime are transported by the same means and the seal on each of the packages or the detailed description of the goods allows their identification, the vehicle will not be sealed.
Note: Goods shall be separated and clearly labeled to enable easy identification of those transported under the transit regime and those not.

Article 38, paragraph 5, of Appendix I to the Convention
Article 301, paragraph 5, of the AE

If the seal or precise description of the goods cannot identify the shipment, the customs office of departure will prohibit the goods from being placed in the transit procedure.

Seals shall not be removed without the approval of the competent customs authorities.

When a vehicle or container sealed at the customs office of departure transports goods to different customs offices of destination, under several transit declarations, and successive unloadings take place at several customs offices of destination located in different countries, the authorities of the intermediate customs offices of destination where the seals have been removed to unload a part of the cargo must affix new seals and indicate this in box F of copies Nos. 4 and 5 of the SAD or in both copies of the DAT.

In this case, the customs authorities will ensure that the goods are resealed with a seal that meets at least equivalent security characteristics.