The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) held an extra-ordinary session in Geneva on 27 August 2013 to discuss the decision announced by the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation (RFCS) on 5 July 2013 to require additional guarantees for goods carried under cover of a TIR Carnet, announced to be introduced on 14 September 2013.

The TIRExB – which is normally held in closed session – was exceptionally attended by  the Chair of the Administrative Committee of the TIR Convention (AC.2), the Chair of the UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30), the TAXUD Director  of the European Commission, representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in Geneva, the Director General of the Association of International Road Transport Carriers (ASMAP) and the Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU).

The Board stressed that it was not at all informed about the intention of the RFCS to introduce this measure as stipulated in the TIR Convention, and concluded that the planned measure is not in line with key provisions of the TIR Convention. The Board called for the withdrawal of the measure or at least its postponement until the end of the year, as to allow time for the competent bodies to examine the issues at stake and reach a mutually acceptable solution.

In view of the urgency of the situation, TIRExB decided to make its conclusions and recommendations public.  Click on the documents in English and Russian.