A tamper sensing element is provided which can be applied to a product having a housing or casing with a critical area where the housing or casing can be opened or separated at or along a critical area. The tamper sensing element is operable to determine if the housing or casing has been opened or separated at or along the critical area. The tamper sensing element comprises a sensor for detecting a change in a monitored parameter indicative of the housing or casing having been opened or separated at or along the critical area, a memory for storing product data and tag data; a circuit for updating the memory upon detection of a change in the parameter monitored by the sensor; and means for transmitting information contained in the memory upon being queried by a scanning device. Also disclosed is a system and method for use at security check points for scanning/screening products provided with the tamper sensing element so that a security official/screener can readily determine if a product has potentially been tampered with.