DHS to Propose Putting RFID Seals on Containers

he Department of Homeland Security is expected to propose in the spring that all international freight containers entering the United States be equipped with “smart seals” to provide protection against possible terrorist attacks.

The DHS proposal would mark the first major attempt by the U.S. government to control movement of the 10 million containers that arrive at domestic ports every year, laden with products from around the world. There has been widespread concern that the containers — which are hard to trace and rarely inspected — could be used to launch an attack by concealing explosives or biological weapons when they arrive on U.S. shores.

“Eventually, every [international and domestic] container will be included and required to have a ‘smart seal,’ ” DHS spokesman Brian Doyle said.