Here is a description of the provisions of the provided text:
These amendments update the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention 1975). The TIR Convention is a key international agreement that simplifies and secures international road transport by allowing goods to move across borders under customs seal with a single international guarantee. These specific changes introduce a formal process for resolving disputes within the TIR guarantee chain, clarify the relationship between the international organization and its national members, and extend the validity period for the approval certificates of road vehicles used for TIR transports.
The provided text outlines four specific amendments to the TIR Convention 1975, which enter into force on 1 June 2025. It does not present the full convention but only the modifications. The structure is a list of the points being amended:
1. **Explanatory Note 8.10 (e):** A new explanatory note is inserted. This provision establishes a procedure for parties involved in the guarantee chain (international organization, national associations, customs administrations) to handle disputes that could affect the guarantee system’s functioning. It requires parties to inform each other without delay, initiate negotiations, and allows any party to request assistance from the TIR Executive Board to facilitate settlement.
2. **Explanatory Note 0.6.2 bis-1:** This existing explanatory note is modified. It clarifies that the relationship between the international organization and its member associations regarding the guarantee system must be defined in written agreements. It also specifies that these agreements can be terminated with at least six months’ prior notice, unless authorizations under Article 6 are revoked earlier.
3. **Prolongation of the validity of the certificate of approval:** This amendment makes changes in two places (Annex 3, paragraph 4 and Annex 4, Model Certificate of Approval, page 4, paragraph 3). In both instances, the validity period for the certificate of approval of a road vehicle used for TIR transport is extended from two years to three years.
4. **Acceptance of the certificate of approval until the last date of validity:** A new paragraph 6 is added to Annex 4 (Model Certificate of Approval, page 4). This provision states that if a TIR transport begins on or before the final date of validity of the vehicle’s certificate of approval, the certificate will remain valid specifically for that transport until it is completed at the customs office of final destination.
For practical use, the most important provisions are likely the changes regarding the certificate of approval for road vehicles. Extending the validity from two to three years (point 3) reduces the frequency with which vehicles need to be inspected and certified, potentially lowering administrative burden and costs for transport operators. Furthermore, the new rule allowing the certificate to remain valid until the end of a transport that started before its expiry date (point 4) provides crucial flexibility and avoids potential issues for journeys that span across the certificate’s expiry date. The new dispute resolution mechanism (point 1) is also significant as it aims to ensure the stability and continuity of the TIR guarantee system, which is fundamental for the smooth operation of TIR transports.
: These amendments to the TIR Convention are relevant for all Contracting Parties, including Ukraine, and will impact international road transport operations involving Ukrainian carriers and territories.
