16 September 2002
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has informed the UNECE and TIR secretariats that they have been forced to modify the layout of the latest version of the TIR Carnet introduced in the autumn of 2001, the so-called "blue" TIR Carnet. The reason for this is that the grey-blue thermochromic ink used on the "blue" TIR Carnets has shown to vanish under high temperatures, for instance when being exposed to sun in the drivers cockpit of a truck, thus creating difficulties for drivers and Customs authorities to establish the proper validity of a TIR Carnet.
Therefore, the IRU has proposed to the UNECE and TIR secretariats to replace both the use of the grey-blue thermochromic ink and normal blue ink on the cover page and in box 3 of all internal pages of the TIR Carnet by black and red ink. This latest modified version of the TIR Carnet will informally be referred to as the "black" TIR Carnet.
The UNECE and TIR secretariats regret that it is once more necessary to modify the lay-out of the TIR Carnet. Due to the urgency to resolve the above-mentioned technical problem that could lead to the non-acceptance of TIR Carnets by Customs authorities as well as an increased risk of falsifications, the UNECE and the TIR secretariats recognized the need to introduce this new TIR Carnet as soon as possible. The proposed changes do not affect the relevant provisions of the TIR Convention.
The UNECE and TIR secretariats recognize that the introduction of this new TIR Carnet at rather short notice will require considerable efforts by Customs authorities to inform all concerned Customs posts and officers authorized to deal with TIR operations. Since distribution of the new version of the TIR Carnet by the IRU to its issuing associations is foreseen to start as of the end of October 2002, relevant information on this modified version of the TIR Carnet should in any case reach all Customs posts and officers before November 2002. It is hoped that, given the above compelling circumstances, the introduction of the new TIR Carnet can be effected without difficulties.
Apart from replacing the use of the grey-blue thermochromic ink the other security features incorporated in the TIR Carnet will remain the same. These security features should provide a maximum of security and at the same time preserve the ease with which a TIR Carnet can be used by operators and Customs authorities. As a consequence, the TIR Carnet should be easily recognisable and easy to process while the security features should be discreet and make it possible to verify the authenticity of the TIR Carnet in case of doubt.
The IRU will provide Customs authorities directly, or via national guaranteeing associations, with a number of specimens of the new version of the TIR Carnet and with a guide to the visual layout of the modified version of the TIR Carnet.
With the introduction of the new version of the TIR Carnet, the following TIR Carnet versions will be in circulation:
Click here for a guide to the visual security elements of the modified layout of the TIR Carnet, the so-called "black" TIR Carnet.
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has informed the UNECE and TIR secretariats that they have been forced to modify the layout of the latest version of the TIR Carnet introduced in the autumn of 2001, the so-called "blue" TIR Carnet. The reason for this is that the grey-blue thermochromic ink used on the "blue" TIR Carnets has shown to vanish under high temperatures, for instance when being exposed to sun in the drivers cockpit of a truck, thus creating difficulties for drivers and Customs authorities to establish the proper validity of a TIR Carnet.
Therefore, the IRU has proposed to the UNECE and TIR secretariats to replace both the use of the grey-blue thermochromic ink and normal blue ink on the cover page and in box 3 of all internal pages of the TIR Carnet by black and red ink. This latest modified version of the TIR Carnet will informally be referred to as the "black" TIR Carnet.
The UNECE and TIR secretariats regret that it is once more necessary to modify the lay-out of the TIR Carnet. Due to the urgency to resolve the above-mentioned technical problem that could lead to the non-acceptance of TIR Carnets by Customs authorities as well as an increased risk of falsifications, the UNECE and the TIR secretariats recognized the need to introduce this new TIR Carnet as soon as possible. The proposed changes do not affect the relevant provisions of the TIR Convention.
The UNECE and TIR secretariats recognize that the introduction of this new TIR Carnet at rather short notice will require considerable efforts by Customs authorities to inform all concerned Customs posts and officers authorized to deal with TIR operations. Since distribution of the new version of the TIR Carnet by the IRU to its issuing associations is foreseen to start as of the end of October 2002, relevant information on this modified version of the TIR Carnet should in any case reach all Customs posts and officers before November 2002. It is hoped that, given the above compelling circumstances, the introduction of the new TIR Carnet can be effected without difficulties.
Apart from replacing the use of the grey-blue thermochromic ink the other security features incorporated in the TIR Carnet will remain the same. These security features should provide a maximum of security and at the same time preserve the ease with which a TIR Carnet can be used by operators and Customs authorities. As a consequence, the TIR Carnet should be easily recognisable and easy to process while the security features should be discreet and make it possible to verify the authenticity of the TIR Carnet in case of doubt.
The IRU will provide Customs authorities directly, or via national guaranteeing associations, with a number of specimens of the new version of the TIR Carnet and with a guide to the visual layout of the modified version of the TIR Carnet.
With the introduction of the new version of the TIR Carnet, the following TIR Carnet versions will be in circulation:
- "Red" TIR Carnet with a number below 25,000,000: Already as of 1 June 2001 the IRU has instructed all issuing associations to stop the issuance of TIR Carnets, which only contain numeric numbers, i.e. TIR Carnets with numbers below 25,000,000. In principle this version of the TIR Carnet does not circulate anymore. However, this TIR Carnet version remains fully valid if presented in due form to Customs authorities.
- "Red" TIR Carnet with a number between 25,000,000 and 34,999,999: These TIR Carnets contain an alpha-numeric code, i.e. a code consisting of both letters and numbers. The IRU has requested its issuing associations not to issue this version of the TIR Carnet beyond a period of 18 months from the start of the issuance of the "blue" TIR Carnet, i.e. not to issue the "red" TIR Carnet beyond March 2003. Nevertheless, this carnet version also remains fully valid if presented in due form to Customs authorities
- "Blue" TIR Carnet with a number between 35,000,000 and 37,999,999: These TIR Carnets with a modified lay-out, also contain a an alpha-numeric code and has been issued by the IRU since September 2001. The IRU has requested its issuing associations not to issue this version of the TIR Carnet beyond a period of 18 months from the start of the issuance of the so-called "black" TIR Carnet, i.e. not to issue the "blue" TIR Carnet beyond April 2004. Nevertheless, this carnet version also remains fully valid if presented in due form to Customs authorities.
- "Black" TIR Carnet with a number from 38,000,000: This TIR Carnet with a modified lay-out using black and red print on the cover page and box 3 of all internal pages will reach Customs authorities as of November-December 2002.
Click here for a guide to the visual security elements of the modified layout of the TIR Carnet, the so-called "black" TIR Carnet.