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Export Health Certificates

As part of the post-Brexit trade agreement concluded between the UK and EU, export health certificates (EHC’s) are required for the export of products of animal origin from Great Britain to EU member states. An Export Health Certificate is a document confirming that an export consignment has been checked and certified by an Official Veterinarian (OV) or Certification Support Officer (CSO) to be compliant with relevant sanitary regulations, so that live animals and/or products of animal origin can be exported. Each export consignment must be accompanied with an EHC demonstrating certification.

Security Seals

Instructions issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) recommends sealing each consignment or group of consignments with a security seal, and to record the seal on the corresponding EHC.

Security seals are tamper-proof and uniquely numbered security devices used to provide evidence of chain of custody, or otherwise show evidence of tampering in the event that they are opened whilst in transit.

The APHA Instructions recommends that security seals are used to seal the consignment under the supervision of the certifying officer, who can then record the unique seal number on the EHC. Seal numbers cannot be added or amended on an EHC once signed and stamped by the certifying officer. Border control staff can then use a seal check as an ‘identity check’ without having to open up each individual consignment – although more detailed physical checks will sometimes be undertaken. The type of enclosure onto which the seal is applied will depend on the precise scenario in question, but can range from the sealing of individual cartons and palletised cargo, to the sealing of a road trailer containing multiple consignments of products of animal origin.

Universeal UK offers different types of security seals to suit the type of enclosure being sealed, as below:

1)      Pallet and Carton Security

Our StrapSecure Pallet Security seal is a unique security device used to seal pallets and large cartons by protecting the pallet strapping which is commonly used to secure cargo onto pallets or within cardboard packaging.

Each StrapSecure consists of an aluminium cross-plate and Flexigrip cable seal with matching identity / security number, which can be used to the seal the intersection of pallet banding placed around each side of a pallet or large cardboard carton. Once sealed in place, the StrapSecure prevents the pallet strapping from being slid off the pallet and replaced, ensuring that the cargo arrives without being tampered with, or its contents removed / replaced.

Each pallet security seal is uniquely numbered and barcoded, and once the cargo is secured under the supervision of the certifying office, the corresponding security number can be recorded on the Export Health Certificate as evidence of the integrity of the export consignment. As discussed above, this can assist border control officers by enabling them to make a faster ‘identity check’ of a sealed consignment. This can help you as a food business by assisting in the smooth processing of export consignments, helping to deliver fragile, often perishable cargo more quickly and without unnecessary disturbance or delay.

In addition, we also supply a range of security labels and tape for the sealing of cartons. Security carton / box tape is tamper-evident, leaving a void message on the carton upon removal, providing secure chain of custody for even small consignments. Security tape can be supplied in pre-printed, sequentially numbered or custom formats. Sequential numbers can be printed at regular intervals along each reel of security tape, providing security identification numbers which could also be recorded on Export Health Certificates by the certifying officer, subject to approval of relevant agencies.

2)      Trailer and Container Security Seals

For the sealing of larger multiple consignments whilst in the transport network, we supply indicative and high-security metal seals. These types of seals provide security to the mode of transport itself, in particular road trailers and rail cars, shipping containers and air cargo containers. Our Globe metal strip seals, Flexigrip 150M cable seals, and Locktainer 2020 bolt seals are all accepted by HMRC / customs officials as an accepted trader seal, meaning that they have been tested and found to be sufficiently tamper-evident across border points. Further information can be found in Government Notice 205

Please contact us to discuss how our security seals can help you in delivering your cargo smoothly and without delay.

Universeal UK supplies a wide range of specialist tamper-evident carton, crate and pallet security products which can give you an edge in the protection of your supply chain and delivery of product to your customers. Our new Snap 'N' Secure product provides an ingenious and innovative method of securely encasing and protecting pallet crimps used to secure pallet straps. Our range of standard security tape and customised security tapes (from 36 rolls+) can be used on a range of cartons, crates and pallet as a cost-effective and easily applied security measure to inhibit attempts at tampering. Branded packaging tape can also give you an indication as to whether cartons have been opened and accessed, and can also provide an effective way of raising your company profile. Finally, security plug seals offer a simple and effective sealing option for packing creates or ALC's ("attached lid containers"). 

Below is an overview of the main categories of product which may assist those looking for additional methods to ensure products, assets and equipment arrived at destination free from interference or damage:-

	Snap 'N' Secure Pallet Seal	The Snap-N-Secure pallet seal is the only pallet seal on the market which addresses the most vulnerable point of pallet straps – the metal crimps. Application could not be easier; the seal simply clips around the banding with hand application. Any tampering attempts will cause the high-strength polycarbonate to crack at predetermined indication points, or shatter completely, ensuring tampering is obvious. The Snap-N-Secure can be applied to most standard steel or poly banding.
	Stock & custom-printed Security Tape & Labels	Our security tape is available in residue & non-residue options, with/without security marking, as well as optional security numbering and perforations, for high degree of tamper-evidence. As well as our stock items (available quickly and in many standard sizes), we are also able to offer completely bespoke security labels, stickers or security tape, produced to your size, specification, marking
	Bespoke and branded Packaging Tape	Our custom printed packaging tapes are manufactured using high-quality PVC, hot melt or polypropylene materials, and available in a range of widths, lengths, colours and print options. Branded packaging tapes are suitable for sealing all kinds of parcels, cartons and boxes. We can also offer specialist bespoke tape suitable for use in outdoor environments, such as for pipeline ID applications. We can custom-print with customised repeating artwork, including logos, text print and simple illustration.
	Plug seals for ALC crates	We supply a number of security plug seal products which are suitable for most types of ALC crates on the market from major manufacturers, including Linpac, Paxton, Alibert, ARCA and Buckhorn models. We can supply plug seals in plain, numbered, customised and paired seal options, to suit your particular needs.

If you have any queries on any of the above security seals or have a particular security issue you are looking to address, please call us on 01829 760000 or email us: [email protected]