28 February 2002
On 12 June 2001 new provisions governing the approval of lorries and containers with sliding sheets under the TIR Customs transit procedure had came into force in all 64 Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention. These technical provisions had been adopted by the TIR Administrative Committee (Geneva, 19 and 20 October 2000) and are contained in document ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.20.
At the recently concluded 100th session of the UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) (11-15 February 2002) delegations were informed that in some countries competent authorities might have approved road vehicles with sliding sheets (curtain sided vehicles) which are not in conformity with the above new provisions of the Convention.
The UNECE and the TIR secretariats wish to point out that, in accordance with the TIR Convention, road vehicles and containers approved by one of the Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention will generally be recognized by other Contracting Parties. However, each Contracting Party has the right to refuse the validity of the TIR approval certificate, if the lorry or container does not meet the specific technical requirements of the Convention. Therefore if, in connection with the start of a TIR transport or during TIR transit operations, Customs authorities feel, that a lorry or a container clearly is not in conformity with the provisions of the TIR Convention, they may delay or interrupt the TIR transport.
In order to prevent such occurrences, TIR transport operators who utilize in particular road vehicles or containers with sliding sheets (curtain sided vehicles) approved for TIR transport operations are encouraged to verify, if appropriate, that their road vehicles or containers are in conformity with the above new provisions of the TIR Convention. Detailed information in this respect may be provided by the vehicle or container manufacturers, competent Customs authorities or the TIR secretariat
On 12 June 2001 new provisions governing the approval of lorries and containers with sliding sheets under the TIR Customs transit procedure had came into force in all 64 Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention. These technical provisions had been adopted by the TIR Administrative Committee (Geneva, 19 and 20 October 2000) and are contained in document ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.20.
At the recently concluded 100th session of the UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) (11-15 February 2002) delegations were informed that in some countries competent authorities might have approved road vehicles with sliding sheets (curtain sided vehicles) which are not in conformity with the above new provisions of the Convention.
The UNECE and the TIR secretariats wish to point out that, in accordance with the TIR Convention, road vehicles and containers approved by one of the Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention will generally be recognized by other Contracting Parties. However, each Contracting Party has the right to refuse the validity of the TIR approval certificate, if the lorry or container does not meet the specific technical requirements of the Convention. Therefore if, in connection with the start of a TIR transport or during TIR transit operations, Customs authorities feel, that a lorry or a container clearly is not in conformity with the provisions of the TIR Convention, they may delay or interrupt the TIR transport.
In order to prevent such occurrences, TIR transport operators who utilize in particular road vehicles or containers with sliding sheets (curtain sided vehicles) approved for TIR transport operations are encouraged to verify, if appropriate, that their road vehicles or containers are in conformity with the above new provisions of the TIR Convention. Detailed information in this respect may be provided by the vehicle or container manufacturers, competent Customs authorities or the TIR secretariat