A bonded warehouse is under the supervision of the customs administration: entries and exits require permission and the area can be sealed. The seal is the physical counterpart of that supervision.
For the owner of the goods this regime is not a restriction but a guarantee; it documents that the area has not been opened without the administration's permission.
What the seal is for
The seal shows that the closed area or the means of transport has not been opened without permission. A broken or mismatched seal is the first finding that triggers an examination.
On container shipments the seal number is written on the transport document; on delivery it is checked that the number matches the document.
What is examined in an inspection
- Whether the inbound–outbound register matches the actual stock
- Whether the declarations and reports are complete
- Whether the seal and area security regime is working
- Whether handling operations were carried out within the permission
- Whether the rules on time limits have been followed
Why record discipline matters so much
The core of an inspection is the record. The difference between the quantity found in a count and the quantity in the records must be zero; every difference has to be explained.
That is why in a good warehouse the records are not something prepared when an inspection arrives but something kept every day.
What you should do as the owner of the goods
Ask for your stock reports regularly and compare them with your own records. If there is a difference, ask about it before it grows.
Get the balance reconciliation in writing on partial withdrawals; that document is the ground both you and your broker stand on.