12 June 2001
The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) has recently been informed that competent authorities of some Contracting Parties to the Convention seem to issue certificates of approval for road vehicles without load compartments, e.g. tractor units and open semi-trailers for transport of containers.
The TIRExB recalles that already in 1996 the UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) and the TIR Administrative Committee expressed the opinion that certificates of approval issued for road vehicles without load compartments are not in line with the provisions of the Convention (TRANS/WP.30/166, paras. 40-42; TRANS/WP.30/168, para. 38; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/39, para. 17; see also comment "Provision of approval certificate and approval plate", 1999 TIR Handbook, page 43). Thus, these certificates should be regarded as invalid from the date of issue.