TIR Handbook - en

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
TIR Handbook
CUSTOMS CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT OF GOODS

UNDER COVER OF TIR CARNETS
(TIR CONVENTION, 1975)
Tenth Revised Edition
UNITED NATIONS
ECE/TRANS/TIR/6/REV.10
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
TIR HANDBOOK
CUSTOMS CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT OF GOODS

UNDER COVER OF TIR CARNETS
Tenth Revised Edition
UNITED NATIONS
New York and Geneva, 2013
NOTE
Only the text which is kept in custody by the Secretary General of the United
Nations in his capacity as depositary of the TIR Convention constitutes the authoritative
text of the TIR Convention. Therefore, the Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention
are advised to base their national legislation on the authoritative legal text of the TIR
Convention and not on this publication.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this

publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the
secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory,
city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or
boundaries.
The previous revised editions of the TIR Handbook have the following symbols:
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/1 – First revised edition, 1989;

-ECE/TRANS/TIR/2 – Second revised edition, 1991;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/3 – Third revised edition, 1993;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/4 – Fourth revised edition, 1995;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/5 – Fifth revised edition, 1999;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/6 – Sixth revised edition, 2002;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/6/Rev.1 – Seventh revised edition, 2005;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/6/Rev.8 – Eighth revised edition, 2007;
-ECE/TRANS/TIR/6/Rev.9 – Ninth revised edition, 2010
ECE/TRANS/TIR/6/Rev.10
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TIR HANDBOOK */
The present publication has been prepared by the secretariat of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in cooperation with the TIR
secretariat in accordance with a request made by the Administrative Committee of the
TIR Convention, 1975 at its sixth session held in October 1983. The Committee had
decided that a TIR Handbook should be issued containing the text of the TIR
Convention, 1975, relevant comments made on specific provisions and other useful
information for Customs authorities and transport operators.
This edition of the TIR Handbook, which replaces the previous edition
published in 2010, contains three major sections:
The first section describes the TIR Customs transit system, its coverage,
objective and functioning and analyses possible future developments.
The second section contains the complete text of the TIR Convention, 1975, as
of 10 October 2013. The lay-out of this section basically follows the structure of the
TIR Convention, 1975. However, Explanatory Notes contained in Annex 6 and
Annex 7, Part III of the Convention have been placed with the provisions in the
Convention to which they relate (with the exception of the sketches contained in
Annex 6).
Comments are also placed with the provisions of the Convention to which they
refer. Comments contained in the TIR Handbook are not legally binding for Contracting
Parties of the TIR Convention, 1975. They are, however, important for the
interpretation, harmonization and application of the Convention as they reflect the
opinion of the Administrative Committee for the TIR Convention, 1975 and of the
Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), as is indicated in connection with each
comment.
The third section provides information on the application of the TIR

Convention, 1975, the text of adopted resolutions and recommendations related to the
Convention and gives examples of best practices together with an example authorization
and agreement, to be drawn up between competent authorities and national guaranteeing
associations. At the end of this section an example of a duly filled-in TIR Carnet and
best practices with regard to the use of the TIR Carnet are provided.
*/
"TIR" stands for: "Transports Internationaux Routiers".
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CONTENTS
Page
1. The TIR Customs Transit System ....................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 Background ............................................................................................. 1

1.1.2 Geographical coverage............................................................................ 2
1.1.3 Development of the TIR Convention ...................................................... 3
1.1.4 Objective and advantages ....................................................................... 4
1.2 Principles.......................................................................................................... 6
1.2.1 Approval of road vehicles and containers ............................................... 7

1.2.2 International guarantee system ............................................................... 8
1.2.3 The TIR carnet ........................................................................................ 9
1.2.4 International recognition of Customs control measures ......................... 10
1.2.5 Controlled access to the TIR system ....................................................... 10
1.3. Administrative structure................................................................................... 11
1.3.1 The TIR Administrative Committee ....................................................... 14

1.3.2 The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) ...................................................... 14
1.3.3 The UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting
Transport (WP.30) .................................................................................. 14
1.4 The TIR system in operation ............................................................................. 15
1.5 Future development of the TIR System ........................................................... 18
1.5.1 World-wide application of the TIR system ............................................. 18

1.5.2 The TIR system and electronic data processing ..................................... 18
1.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 20

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1.7 Information about the TIR system ................................................................... 22
1.8 TIR carnets distributed by the IRU to national associations............................ 23
1.9. Roles and responsibilities of different parties involved in the TIR system ..... 25
1.9.1 Responsibility of the Government (non-exhaustive list) ........................ 25

1.9.2 Roles and responsibilities of the national guaranteeing association (non-
exhaustive list) ................................................................................................. 27
1.9.3 Responsibility of the transport operator (non-exhaustive list) ................ 29
1.9.4 Roles and responsibilities of the international organization (at
present, IRU) (non-exhaustive list) .................................................................. 29
1.9.5 Roles and responsibilities of the TIR Executive Board and the TIR
Secretary, in accordance with Annex 8, Article 10 of the TIR
Convention (non-exhaustive list) ............................................................ 32
2. The TIR Convention, 1975 ................................................................................... 35
2.1 Body of the TIR Convention, 1975 (including Explanatory Notes and
comments thereto) ............................................................................................ 37
2.2 Annexes to the TIR Convention, 1975 (including Explanatory Notes and
comments thereto) ............................................................................................ 99
Annex 1 Model of the TIR carnet .............................................................. 101

Annex 2 Regulations on technical conditions applicable to road
vehicles which may be accepted for International Transport Under
customs seals............................................................................... 125
Sketches to Annex 2.................................................................... 164
Annex 3 Procedure for the approval of road vehicles complying with the
technical conditions set forth in the regulations contained in Annex 2 .... 175
Annex 4 Model certificate of approval of a road vehicle ............................... 181
Annex 5 TIR plate ........................................................................................... 187
Annex 6 Explanatory notes ............................................................................. 189
Annex 7 Regarding approval of containers .................................................... 197
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Part I and sketches ........................................................................ 197

Part II and appendices ................................................................... 221
Part III: Explanatory notes and sketches ....................................... 233
Annex 8 Composition, functions and rules of procedures of the
Administrative Committee and the TIR Executive Board ......... 235
Annex 9 Access to the TIR procedure ...................................................... 241
Part I: Authorization for associations to issue TIR carnets and to
act as guarantor ............................................................................. 241
Part II: Authorization for natural and legal persons to
utilize TIR Carnets ........................................................................ 245
Part III: Authorization of an international organization, as referred
to in Article 6, to take on the responsibility for the effective
organization and functioning of an international guarantee system
and to print and distribute TIR Carnets......................................... 251
Annex 10 Information to be provided by Contracting Parties to authorized
associations (under Article 42 ter) and an international organization (under
Article 6.2 bis) .......................................................................................... 255
3. Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, 1975 ............................................. 259
4. Resolutions and recommendations related to the TIR Convention, 1975 ....... 261
Resolution No. 49 ................................................................................................... 261
Recommendation: Introduction of the HS Code of goods in the TIR Carnet ......... 265
5. Examples of best practices ................................................................................... 267

5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 267
5.2 Procedure for the termination of a TIR operation ............................................ 267
5.3 Procedure for the discharge of a TIR operation ............................................... 268
5.4 Inquiry procedure ............................................................................................. 270
5.5 List of documents to substantiate claims for non-discharge ............................ 279
5.6 Information and documentation, other than the TIR Carnet, that may be
required by Customs offices en route in connection with a TIR transport ...... 280
5.7 Recommendations for improvement of communication between national
competent authorities and national guaranteeing associations ........................ 280
5.8 Example of best practice with regard to the application of Article 38 ............ 286
5.9 Example of best practices with regard to the application of Articles 39 and 40 291
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5.10 Example of best practice with regard to the application of Annex 9, Part II .. 298
5.11 Example of best practice with regard to the application of Annex 10 ............ 302
5.12 Procedure prior to suspension of the guarantee coverage ............................... 306
6. Example authorization of associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act

as guarantors and example agreement................................................................ 309
6.1 Example authorization of associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act as

guarantors ......................................................................................................... 309
6.2 Example agreement .......................................................................................... 311
7. TIR Carnet............................................................................................................. 315

7.1 Example of a TIR Carnet duly filled-in ........................................................... 315
7.2 Best practices with regard to the use of the TIR Carnet .................................. 331
-1- TIR TRANSIT SYSTEM
1 THE TIR CUSTOMS TRANSIT SYSTEM
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.1.1 BACKGROUND
A Review Conference convened in November 1975 under the auspices of the

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) produced the TIR
Convention of 1975 that came into force in 1978. Since that time the TIR Convention
has proved that it is one of the most successful international transport conventions and
is in fact so far the only universal Customs transit system in existence. The idea behind
the TIR Convention and its transit regime has formed the basis for many regional transit
systems and has thus, directly and indirectly, contributed to the facilitation of
international transport, especially international road transport, not only in Europe and
the Middle East, but also in other parts of the world, such as Africa and Latin America.
Anyone who has ever travelled on European roads will recognize the familiar
blue and white TIR plate borne by thousands of lorries and semi-trailers using the TIR
Customs transit system. For the driver, the transport operator and the shipper, this plate
stands for fast and efficient international transportation by road.
Work on the TIR transit system started soon after the Second World War under
the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The
first TIR Agreement was concluded in 1949 between a small number of European
countries. The success of this limited scheme led to the negotiation of a TIR Convention
which was adopted in 1959 by the UNECE Inland Transport Committee and entered
into force in 1960. This first TIR Convention was revised in 1975 to take account of
practical experience in operating the system and to give effect to technical advances and
changing Customs and transportation requirements.
The experience gained in the first 10 to 15 years of operating the system was
thus used to make the TIR system more efficient, less complex and at the same time
more Customs secure. Another reason why the original TIR system had to be modified
was that in the early 1960's a new transport technique emerged: the maritime container.
That was followed a little later by the inland container used by the European railways
and by the swap-body introduced for improving the efficiency of road/rail transport.
TIR TRANSIT SYSTEM -2-
These new combined or multimodal transport techniques necessitated the

acceptance of the container, under certain conditions, as a Customs secure loading unit.
It meant also that the TIR regime no longer only covered road transport, but was
extended to rail, inland waterways and even maritime transport, although at least one
part of the total transport operation still has to be made by road.
Upon its entry into force, the new Convention terminated and replaced the old
Convention of 1959. However, the former Convention is still in force for various
reasons, one of which is that one of the Contracting Parties to the old Convention
(Japan) has not yet acceded to the TIR Convention of 1975.
1.1.2 GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE
The TIR Convention has proved to be one of the most effective international
instruments prepared under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE). To date, it has 68 Contracting Parties, including the European
Union. It covers the whole of Europe and reaches out to North Africa and the Near and
Middle East. Countries in Asia have been informed about the facilities of this global
Customs transit system and their interest has shown that they may well join the TIR
Convention in the not too distant future. Already today, the United States of America
and Canada are Contracting Parties as well as Chile and Uruguay in South America (see
Chapter 3 of the TIR Handbook).
The success of the TIR system may also be attested by the number of TIR
Carnets distributed and issued every year. Whilst in 1952 only a little over 3,000 TIR
Carnets were issued, this number increased steadily reaching 100,000 in 1960, then
800,000 in 1970. During the seventies and eighties the demand for TIR Carnets floated
between around 500,000 and 900,000. This can be explained by the enlargement of the
European Union which utilizes its own Community Transit System within its territory.
Thus, TIR Carnets are not used for Customs transit operations within its member
countries.
As a result of the expanding East-West European trade, particularly since 1989,

and the corresponding tremendous increase in international road transport, the number
of TIR Carnets issued, exceeded one million in 1992 and now exceeds
3 million1 (2012), which represents the start of nearly 10,000 TIR transports every day
in 57 countries and well over 50,000 TIR border crossing procedures daily. The number
of transport companies authorized by national Customs authorities to utilize TIR
Carnets amounts to more than 3,000 (2012) (for details see Chapter 1.8 of the TIR
Handbook).
1
The number of TIR Carnets issued in 2012 was 3,158,300
It should be noted that the EU enlargement in 2004 with ten countries and in 2007
with two more has not substantially affected the number of TIR transport operations in
this part of Europe.
The financial and economic crisis which became apparent in the last quarter of
2008 and which deeply affected the road transport industry, led to a severe decrease in
road transport activity. As a result and after decades of growth, the number of TIR
Carnets distributed by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) over 2009
dropped by 30 percent. However, modest improvement and signs of recovery were
already evident by the end of 2010 with an overall increase of twenty per cent compared
to 2009 and further increase in 2011-2012.
The continued success of the TIR Customs transit system can be explained by
the special features of the TIR regime which offer transport operators and Customs
authorities a simple, flexible, cost-effective and secure Customs regime for the
international transport of goods across frontiers.
1.1.3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TIR CONVENTION
Since 1975 the TIR Convention has been amended thirty one times. In 1995 the
UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30), supported
by several ad hoc expert groups, began work on a major overhaul of the TIR system.
Phase I of the TIR revision process was successfully concluded in 1997 and its
amendment came into force in all Contracting States to the TIR Convention on
17 February 1999. It included controlled access to the TIR system for transport
operators, national TIR Carnet issuing and guaranteeing associations as well as for the
international organization responsible for the centralized printing and distribution of
TIR Carnets. Phase I also provided for transparency in the functioning of the
international guarantee system and established an inter-governmental supervisory organ,
the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB).
A second package of amendments to the TIR Convention (Phase II) came into
force on 12 May 2002. It clearly and unequivocally stipulates the legal and
administrative responsibilities of Customs authorities, transport operators and the
international organization which, since that date, has also become responsible for the
effective organization and functioning of the international guarantee system.
In the year 2000 work started on Phase III of the TIR revision process with a
view to allowing, inter alia, for the use of modern electronic data processing
mechanisms in the TIR system without changing its basic philosophy nor its recently
modernized legal and administrative structure.
One such amendment, which came into force on 12 August 2006, established an
international control system for TIR Carnets to hold data, transmitted by Customs
authorities and accessible by the associations and Customs administrations, about the
termination of TIR operations at offices of destination. The objective of the
international control system is to provide the transport industry and the international
guarantee chain with an important tool in the application of risk management in the
commercial operation of the TIR system and to facilitate the inquiry procedures by
Customs following the termination of national TIR.
With the conclusion of the TIR revision process, the TIR regime will be well
positioned to cope with the future requirements of efficient international transport and
trade as well as Customs procedures. At the same time, the revised TIR Convention will
provide Governmental control, security and, if necessary, intervention in order to ensure
an efficient Customs transit procedure indispensable for modern transport and trade.
1.1.4 OBJECTIVE AND ADVANTAGES
Customs transit systems are devised to facilitate to the greatest possible extent
the movement of goods under Customs seals in international trade and to provide the
required Customs security and guarantees. For such a system to function satisfactorily,
it is essential that any formalities involved are neither too burdensome for the Customs
officials nor too complex for the transport operators and their agents. Therefore, a
balance needs to be struck between the requirements of the Customs authorities on the
one hand and those of the transport operators on the other.
Traditionally when goods crossed the territory of one or more States in the
course of an international transport of goods by road, the Customs authorities in each
State applied national controls and procedures. These varied from State to State, but
frequently involved the inspection of the load at each national frontier and the
imposition of national security requirements (guarantee, bond, deposit of duty, etc.) to
cover the potential duties and taxes at risk while the goods were in transit through each
territory. These measures, applied in each country of transit, led to considerable
expenses, delays and interferences with international transport.
The TIR system was devised in order to reduce these difficulties experienced by
transport operators and, at the same time, to offer Customs administrations an
international system of control replacing traditional national procedures, whilst
effectively protecting the revenue of each State through which goods were carried.
(a) Advantages for Customs administrations
As regards Customs control measures at frontiers, the TIR system undoubtedly

has advantages for Customs administrations, as it reduces the normal requirements of
national transit procedures. At the same time the system avoids the need - expensive in
manpower and facilities - for physical inspection in countries of transit other than
checking seals and the external conditions of the load compartment or container. It also
dispenses with the need to operate national guarantees and national systems of
documentation.
In addition, advantages arise from the fact that the international transit operation
is covered by a single transit document, the TIR Carnet, which reduces the risk of
presenting inaccurate information to Customs administrations.
In cases where irregularities are suspected, Customs authorities have the right to
inspect the goods under Customs seal at any time and, if necessary, to interrupt the TIR
transport and/or to take adequate measures in accordance with national legislation. In
view of the strict provisions of the TIR Convention and the interest of all Customs
authorities and transport operators to apply these provisions, such interventions should
remain exceptional. Customs authorities can therefore reduce routine administrative
Customs procedures to a minimum and devote their limited resources to specific control
measures based on risk assessment and intelligence.
The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB), as an inter-governmental organ, ensures

that each of the actors in the TIR procedure adequately applies the provisions of the
Convention. In case of difficulties in the application of the TIR Convention at the
international level, Customs authorities may wish to address the TIRExB for guidance
and support. The TIRExB is also at the disposal of all Contracting Parties to coordinate
and foster the exchange of intelligence and other information.
(b) Advantages for the transport industry
The advantages of the TIR Convention for commerce and for transport interests
are also obvious. Goods may travel across national frontiers with minimum interference
from Customs administrations. By removing traditional impediments to the
international movement of goods, the TIR system encourages the development of
international trade. By reducing delays in transit, it enables significant savings to be
made in transport costs.
The TIR Convention also provides, through its international guarantee chain,
relatively simple access to the required guarantees which are a sine qua non for the
transport and trade industry to benefit from the facilities of Customs transit systems.
Finally, reducing the impediments to international traffic by road caused by

Customs controls enables exporters and importers to select more easily the mode of
transport that is most suitable for their needs.
1.2 PRINCIPLES
A short description of the principles of the TIR Customs transit regime as

stipulated in the TIR Convention of 1975 is given below. It demonstrates why the
simplicity and effectiveness of the system is attractive to transport operators and
Customs authorities.
In order to ensure that goods may travel with a minimum interference "en route"
and yet offer maximum safeguards to Customs administrations, the TIR regime contains
five basic requirements – the five pillars of the TIR Customs transit system (see
Figure 1):
(1) Goods should travel in Customs secure vehicles or containers;
(2) Throughout the journey, duties and taxes at risk should be covered by an
internationally valid guarantee;
(3) Goods should be accompanied by an internationally accepted Customs

document (TIR Carnet), opened in the country of departure and serving as a Customs
control document in the countries of departure, transit and destination;
(4) Customs control measures taken in the country of departure should be accepted
by all countries of transit and destination;
(5) Access to the TIR procedure for
- national associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act as guarantor;

- natural and legal persons to utilize TIR Carnets; and
- international organizations to take on the responsibility for the effective

organization and functioning of an international guarantee system
shall be authorised by competent national authorities or the TIR Administrative

Committee.
Figure 1: Principles of the TIR System
TIR CONVENTION
UNECE UNECE
The five pillars of the TIR Customs transit system
Secure vehicles International TIR Carnet Mutual Controlled

or containers guarantee recognition of access
Customs controls
1.2.1 APPROVAL OF ROAD VEHICLES AND CONTAINERS
Concerning the requirement of security, the TIR Convention stipulates that

goods shall be carried in containers or road vehicles the load compartments of which are
so constructed that there shall be no access to the interior when secured by a Customs
seal and that any tampering will be clearly visible.
Towards this aim, the Convention sets out standards of construction and
approval procedures, and goods may only be carried under cover of a TIR Carnet if the
load compartment of the road vehicle or the container is approved in accordance with
such requirements. If a container or a load compartment fulfils the requirements of the
Convention, relevant national approval or inspection authorities issue so-called approval
certificates for road vehicles or containers. In principle, these certificates shall be
recognized in all Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention.
If national approval or inspection authorities are in doubt as to whether new

constructions proposed by manufacturers are in line with the technical provisions of the
TIR Convention, they may address their query through their respective governmental
authorities to the TIR Executive Board and the TIR secretariat, to the TIR
Administrative Committee or to the UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions
affecting Transport (WP.30) for an opinion on this matter. The UNECE Working Party
and the TIR Administrative Committee may issue a comment or, if it is a major and
generally applicable new construction not yet covered by the TIR Convention, prepare,
if necessary, an amendment proposal for modification of the Convention.
1.2.2 INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEE SYSTEM
The second basic element of the TIR transit regime is its international guarantee
system. This system was designed to ensure that Customs duties and taxes at risk during
transit operations are covered at any moment by a national guaranteeing association, if
the TIR transport operator cannot be held responsible.
The operation of the TIR guarantee system is straightforward. Every national

association representing the interests of the transport sector in a particular country and
authorized by the Customs administration of that country, guarantees payment within
that country of any duties and taxes which may become due in the event of any
irregularity occurring in the course of the TIR transport operation. This national
guaranteeing association thus guarantees the payment of duties and taxes of national
and foreign carriers under TIR Carnets which have been issued by this national
guaranteeing association itself or by an association in some other country.
Every country therefore has the benefit, for all TIR transport operations within
its territory, of a guarantee provided in its territory. There is, so to speak, always a
national partner from which the Customs authorities can seek payment in cases of
irregularity, irrespective of whether this irregularity was caused by a national or foreign
transport operator. The TIR transit system may therefore be considered as a succession
of national transit movements relying on international rather than national guarantees.
However, the arrangements governing the establishment of the guarantee are based on
national law and are usually contained in an agreement between the national Customs
authorities and the national associations (an example agreement is contained in
Chapter 6 of the TIR Handbook).
All national guaranteeing associations constitute a guarantee chain linking all

TIR countries. Today the only existing and well-functioning guarantee chain is
administered by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) in Geneva (Switzerland),
a non-governmental organization representing the interests of road transport operators
world-wide. The guarantee chain is supported by several large international insurance
companies and is supervised by the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB).
In the event of any irregularity, before approaching the guaranteeing association,

the Customs authorities should, where possible, seek payment from the person(s)
directly liable. If the guarantee has to be applied (for instance because of the bankruptcy
of the person(s) directly liable), it is always the guaranteeing association of the country
where the irregularity has been found which is called upon by the Customs authorities
of that country, so that the matter can be settled within the country on the basis of
national law. This guaranteeing association will however apply, through the
international guarantee chain, for reimbursement of their expenses.
The monetary limits to the guarantee are determined for each country separately.
The maximum recommended amount to be claimed from each national association is at
present limited to $US 50,000 or Euro 60.000 for each TIR Carnet depending on the
country.
1.2.3 THE TIR CARNET
The TIR Carnet is an international Customs document and constitutes the

administrative backbone of the TIR system. It also provides proof of the existence of an
international guarantee for the goods transported under the TIR system.
Under the supervision of the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB), the IRU is, at
present, the only international organization authorized to centrally print and distribute
TIR Carnets to its national guaranteeing associations under conditions set out in the
Convention. Each national association in turn issues the TIR Carnets to transport
operators in its country in accordance with the conditions set out in the declaration of
commitment concluded between each transport operator and the association.
The cover page of the TIR Carnet and the series of vouchers and counterfoils, in
sets of two inside, represent the essential function of the TIR Carnet as regards the
controls to be carried out by Customs authorities and for the operation of the guarantee
system. A set of two vouchers and two counterfoils is used in each country where a TIR
operation is carried out.
The presentation of a valid TIR Carnet bearing the names, stamps and signatures
of the international organization and those of the issuing association and duly filled-in
by the transport operator is in itself proof of the existence and validity of the guarantee.
The TIR Carnet remains valid until the completion of the TIR transport at the Customs
TIR TRANSIT SYSTEM - 10 -
office of final destination, provided it has been brought into operation at the Customs
office of departure within the time limit prescribed by the issuing association.
1.2.4 INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMS CONTROL

MEASURES
The fourth constituent element of the TIR transit system is the principle that
Customs control measures taken in the country of departure should be accepted by the
countries of transit and destination.
Pursuant to this principle, goods carried under the TIR procedure in sealed load
compartments of road vehicles or in containers will not, as a general rule, be examined
at Customs offices en route, and that is where the main advantages of the TIR system
for the transport operator come into play. This does not exclude the right of Customs
offices to carry out spot checks in cases where they suspect irregularities, but it is
understood and even stipulated in the Convention, that such checks should be
exceptional.
This procedure, which is very attractive for the transport operator, essentially
means that the checks performed by the Customs office of departure are acceptable to
all other Customs offices during the TIR transit operation. As a consequence, and in
order to have trust in the effective functioning of the TIR system by all Customs
authorities involved, the Customs office of departure plays a crucial role.
It is therefore pivotal that the Customs inspection at the office of departure

should be stringent and complete, since the functioning of the whole TIR procedure
depends on it. The Customs office of departure must also, before affixing seals, check
the condition of the load compartment of the road vehicle or the container and, in the
case of sheeted load compartment or containers, the condition of the sheets and sheet
fastenings, as this equipment is not included in the certificate of approval.
1.2.5 CONTROLLED ACCESS TO THE TIR SYSTEM
In 1999, Phase I of the on-going TIR revision process, brought a number of

modifications to the TIR Convention establishing further requirements and obligations
for the transport industry to utilize the TIR system. These measures have been
introduced to safeguard the system against fraudulent activities, committed in particular
by internationally organized crime.
Annex 9 to the Convention stipulates conditions and requirements for the

authorization by national competent authorities (usually Customs authorities) of
national associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act as guarantor (details of such
authorization can be provided by the conclusion of a written contract or by a State
- 11 - TIR TRANSIT SYSTEM
Decree). In addition to commercial requirements which may be imposed by the

international organization (i.e. the IRU), the revised Convention specifies that national
associations are only allowed to be authorized if they have been in existence for at least
one year, are financially sound and have not committed any serious or repeated offences
against Customs or tax legislation. Furthermore, these associations must establish a
written agreement with the competent authorities of the country in which they are
established and must inter alia provide proof of guarantee coverage for all of their
possible liabilities vis-à-vis national Customs authorities (an example authorization and
agreement are contained in Chapter 6 of the TIR Handbook).
Annex 9 to the Convention also stipulates conditions and requirements for

transport operators to obtain access to the TIR system These include sound financial
standing, absence of serious or repeated offences against Customs or tax legislation and
the deposit of a written declaration with the national association issuing TIR Carnets
specifying the responsibilities of the transport operator.
In February 2012, the Administrative Committee of the TIR Convention adopted

amendments to Article 6 and introduced a new Part III in Annex 9 to the TIR
Convention, establishing the conditions and requirements to be complied with by an
international organisation which is authorised to take on the responsibility for the
effective organisation and functioning of an international guarantee system and to print
and distribute TIR Carnets. These amendments establish the definition of the
international organisation and clearly outline its authorisation process. These
amendments entered into force on 10 October 2013.
Information on all transport operators authorized to use TIR Carnets is centrally

stored in the International TIR Data Bank (ITDB) by the TIR Executive Board
(TIRExB) in Geneva using a unique identification (ID) code system. Any withdrawal of
authorization by Customs authorities as well as exclusion from the system under
Article 38 of the Convention is also recorded.
1.3 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The TIR Convention, 1975, is one of the most modern and up-to-date
international Customs Conventions. It is working efficiently with only a limited number
of incidences of litigation, resulting mainly from unclear and vague provisions and
differing interpretations.
The smooth functioning of the Convention can be attributed to several reasons,

one of which is the interest of all parties concerned, be it transport operators or Customs
authorities, to keep the system in operation as it saves time and money for all
concerned.
Another reason lies in the fact that the authors of the TIR Convention have
already provided some interpretation of the legal text through the introduction of
Explanatory Notes into the Convention. These Explanatory Notes, contained in Annex 6
of the Convention, form an integral part of the Convention. They interpret certain
provisions of the Convention and its Annexes and describe recommended practices for
the everyday functioning of the TIR system. These Explanatory Notes do not modify
the provisions of the Convention, but make their contents, meaning and scope more
precise.
Technological changes occur very rapidly today, and what was "state of the art"
in 1975 when the Convention was created, is not necessarily valid today. This affects
not only Customs techniques, but also vehicle and container manufacturing and
smuggling techniques. In addition, as smuggled goods - particularly drugs - become
more and more expensive, profits for smugglers soar, resulting in the evolution of more
elaborate smuggling techniques. In view of these developments, the TIR system and the
TIR Convention as its legal base, have to be constantly kept up-to-date. This task has
been entrusted to the TIR Administrative Committee, the TIR Executive Board
(TIRExB) and to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in
Geneva.
An overview of the administrative structure of the TIR Convention is provided

in Figure 2 below.
An overview of the roles and responsibilities of the different parties involved in

the TIR system is given in Chapter 1.9 of the Handbook.
Figure 2: Administrative Structure of the TIR System
TIR Administrative Committee

Governmental Organization
All Contracting Parties to the TIR
Convention
TIR Secretary TIR Executive Board

(TIRExB)
TIR secretariat Governmental Organization
9 elected members
Economic Commission for

Europe (UNECE)
Inland Transport Committee
Governmental Organization
United Nations Member States
UNECE Working Party International Organization

WP.30 (Article 6 of Convention)
(on Customs Questions Non-Governmental
Affecting Transport) Organization
Governmental Organization Transport Operators, etc.
United Nations Member States
International Insurance
or Financial Guarantee
System
Country A Country B Country C

Customs Authorities Customs Authorities Customs Authorities
National Association National Association National Association
TIR Carnet User TIR Carnet User TIR Carnet User
Decision or Approval
Advice or Consultation
International Insurance or Financial Guarantee System
Part of intergovernmental structure
1.3.1 THE TIR ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
The Administrative Committee, composed of all Contracting Parties to the

Convention, is the highest organ under the Convention. It usually meets twice a year in
spring and autumn under the auspices of the UNECE in Geneva to approve amendments
to the Convention and to give all countries, competent authorities and concerned
international organizations an opportunity to exchange views on the functioning of the
system. Until today thirty one amendments to the TIR Convention have been adopted
and numerous resolutions, recommendations and comments have been approved by the
Committee.
1.3.2 TIR EXECUTIVE BOARD (TIREXB)
The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) was established by the Contracting Parties
to the Convention in 1999. Its objective is to enhance international cooperation among
Customs authorities in the application of the TIR Convention and to supervise and to
provide support in the application of the TIR system and the international guarantee
system. The TIRExB is composed of 9 members who are elected in their personal
capacity by the Governments which are Contracting Parties to the Convention for two
year terms of office.
The TIRExB is inter alia mandated to supervise the centralized printing and
distribution of TIR Carnets, to oversee the operation of the international guarantee and
insurance system and to coordinate and foster exchange of intelligence among Customs
and other Governmental authorities.
The decisions of the TIRExB are executed by the TIR Secretary who is assisted
by the TIR secretariat. The TIR Secretary is a member of the UNECE secretariat.
The operation of the TIRExB is financed, for the time being, through an amount
on each TIR Carnet issued.
1.3.3 THE UNECE WORKING PARTY ON CUSTOMS QUESTIONS

AFFECTING TRANSPORT (WP.30)
The work of the TIR Administrative Committee is supported by the UNECE

Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) which holds
between two and three sessions a year in Geneva, usually in conjunction with the
sessions of the TIR Administrative Committee. Participation in the Working Party is
open to all member States of the United Nations and to interested international
organizations.
The Working Party also regularly adopts comments on certain provisions of the
Convention. These comments are not legally binding for the Contracting Parties to the
Convention, such as are the Articles and the Explanatory Notes of the Convention.
However, they are important for the interpretation, harmonization and application of the
TIR Convention because they reflect a consensus opinion of the Working Party in
which the majority of the Contracting Parties and the major users of the TIR system are
represented (comments adopted by the Working Party are usually transmitted to the TIR
Administrative Committee for consideration and endorsement).
1.4 THE TIR SYSTEM IN OPERATION
The procedures described below show in a schematic way the operation of the
TIR system in practice, with particular reference to the Customs control procedures (see
Figure 3 below).
Figure 3: The TIR System in Operation
TIR Carnet
distributed to
International
Organization
TIR Carnet
returned to
National
Guaranteeing
Association
TIR Carnet TIR Carnet

issued to returned to
TIR Carnet
Holder
TIR Carnet Country of Checks Checks Checks Checks Country of

presented to departure seals seals seals seals destination
Discharge Discharge Discharge

procedure procedure procedure
CUSTOMS CUSTOMS CUSTOMS CUSTOMS CUSTOMS
CUSTOMS OF
OF DEPARTURE OF EXIT OF ENTRY OF EXIT OF ENTRY DESTINATION
(en route) (en route) (en route)
A (en route)
C E
Checks goods 2nd transit Removes seals

Affixes seals Country
Discharge Discharge
procedure procedure
CUSTOMS CUSTOMS CUSTOMS CUSTOMS
OF ENTRY OF EXIT OF ENTRY OF EXIT
(en route) (en route) (en route) (en route)
B D
Checks 1st Transit Checks Checks 3rd Transit Checks

seals Country seals seals Country seals
TIR transport
At the Customs office of departure, which usually is the one where export
formalities are performed, the Customs authorities check the load on the basis of
information contained in the TIR Carnet (goods manifest) completed by the transport
operator. Customs authorities seal the load compartment, report it in the TIR Carnet,
keep one sheet (white voucher) and fill-in the corresponding counterfoil. The TIR
Carnet is handed back to the transport operator, who starts the transport operation.
When crossing the outgoing border of that country, Customs authorities check the seals,
detach a second sheet (green voucher) from the TIR Carnet and fill-in the corresponding
counterfoil. The vehicle may leave the country. The filled-in counterfoils by Customs
provide evidence to the transport operator that the TIR operation in that country has
been terminated.
Customs authorities will then proceed with the discharge of the TIR operation;
i.e. the recognition by Customs that the TIR operation has been terminated correctly
according to the required procedure as described below (although other procedures,
including the use of electronic means or central offices, may also be applied): the
outgoing Customs office (i.e. that at the border) sends the detached sheet (green
voucher) to the office of departure. The latter compares the received sheet with the one
it initially retained. If there are no objections and no reservations by the outgoing office,
the TIR operation can be discharged by the Customs authorities.
If the sheet, detached by the outgoing office, contains reservations, if it does not
reach the Customs office of departure or if Customs authorities have any other reason to
question the proper application of the TIR operation, an internal inquiry will be
launched. Also the transport operator and the national guaranteeing association
concerned will be informed that the termination of the TIR operation has been certified
with reservations, or has not taken place at all or that other reasons have led to doubts
about the proper application of the TIR operation and that they are requested to provide
explanations. If these explanations do not satisfy the Customs authorities, they apply the
provisions of the TIR Convention and national legislation to determine the taxes and
duties due to Customs. If it appears impossible to collect these from the person(s)
directly liable, Customs authorities advise the guaranteeing association that it will have
to pay the claimed amount in accordance with the deadlines stipulated in the
Convention.
In every traversed country, the system is similar to the one implemented in the
country of departure. The incoming Customs office of transit checks the seals and
withdraws one sheet from the TIR Carnet, and the outgoing office proceeds likewise.
Both sheets are compared for a final control and the TIR operation can be discharged or,
in the case of irregularities, submitted to the procedure outlined above. In the country of
destination, if the incoming border office also is the office of destination, it fills-in the
TIR Carnet, retains two sheets and becomes responsible for the goods to be transferred
to another Customs procedure (warehousing, import clearance, etc.). If the load has to
be carried to another Customs office in the same country, the incoming office acts like
an incoming border office, and the next office inside the country becomes that of final
destination.
The system normally is implemented as explained above, but the national

administrative procedures and control prerogatives of every Customs office involved
remain unaffected. If an office suspects fraud, finds seals faulty or has reason to believe
the TIR Carnet has been tampered with, it will check the goods and it may, if
appropriate, interrupt the TIR operation.
To provide more efficient controls, Customs may prescribe a transport route

along which vehicles are easily spotted with the TIR plate they must bear. The journey
should also be performed within a reasonable time limit. Transport operators who
cannot abide by travel times or routes for any reason (flood, snow, breakdown of the
vehicle, etc.) should be able to justify such derogations or delays. In more serious cases
(broken seals, need for the transhipment of goods onto another vehicle, total or partial
destruction of the load, etc.) the transport operator should obtain an official statement
from any available local authority utilising the Certified Report contained in the TIR
Carnet. On the basis of such a report, Customs authorities may start any inquiry needed.
Examples of best practices for the termination, discharge and inquiry procedure
are contained in Chapter 5 of the TIR Handbook.
1.5 FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TIR SYSTEM
1.5.1 WORLD-WIDE APPLICATION OF THE TIR SYSTEM
The TIR system is promoted under the auspices of the United Nations to make it
as widely available as possible for all countries wishing to make use of it. In 1984, the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) adopted a Resolution
(1984/79) which recommends that countries world-wide examine the possibility of
acceding to the Convention and introducing the TIR system. Furthermore, it
recommends that international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations,
and in particular the Regional Commissions of the United Nations, promote the
introduction of the TIR system as a universal Customs transit system.
In accordance with this ECOSOC Resolution, activities have been undertaken to

promote the application of the TIR Convention beyond the present 68 Contracting
Parties. Several regional and sub-regional seminars and workshops are regularly
organized in Europe, Asia and the Middle East to familiarize Governments, trade and
the transport industry with the facilities of the Convention.
Work is continuously under way to extend the scope of the TIR system to more
countries in Asia, North Africa or the Middle East. This work is undertaken in particular
by the secretariats of the UNECE and the United Nations Economic and Social
Commissions for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Western Asia (ESCWA) which
promote the TIR system as one of the cornerstones for efficient international land
transport in Asia and the Middle East. These efforts are supported by various
international bodies and financial institutions, such as the European Commission, the
World Bank, the Asian Development Bank or the Economic Cooperation Organization
which see the TIR system as an important element in facilitating road transport in their
areas of interest.
1.5.2 THE TIR SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING
World-wide, the replacement of paper documents by electronic data processing

is an on-going process of great importance both for Customs administrations and
transport operators. This trend towards computerization is increasingly affecting
Customs procedures and the documents used by Customs authorities.
Customs administrations are confronted with an enormous dilemma. On the one

hand they are governed by laws which oblige them to collect and account for revenues
in an effective and efficient manner and to prevent fraud and smuggling of contraband.
On the other hand they are increasingly criticized by trading parties (importers,
exporters, transport operators, freight forwarders) for not facilitating the speedy
throughput of cargo.
Taking into account the limitations of Customs manpower and the increasingly
sophisticated methods of Customs fraud and smuggling, there seems to be no other way
than to increase productivity and Customs control by adapting national and international
administrative procedures, making use of the latest technologies and electronic data
processing.
The Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention have included the

computerization of the TIR procedure into Phase III of the TIR revision process. They
recognize that computerization of the TIR procedure is inevitable in the light of:
- today’s extremely rapid technological developments, based on Internet and

Smart Card technologies, particularly affecting international transport and
trade;
- the ever increasing need for improved efficiency of Customs procedures and
trade practices; and
- the fight against fraudulent activities which must be conducted with the most
appropriate and effective means.
Given the large number and the diversified administrative structure of the 68
Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, any computerized system must be able to
function in a very decentralized and flexible manner on the basis of only a few
internationally accepted standard features, such as the establishment of an international
centralized database under Customs control and the management by Customs of data on
guarantees. This is a difficult, but challenging task which will have to be realized with
an appropriate level of connectivity with the existing TIR related IT systems. But
undoubtedly the TIR system must be kept in line with the latest developments in
electronic data processing techniques which have already and increasingly will change
all related Customs, transport and trade activities. If not, the TIR system, particularly
the paper-based TIR Carnet, will become an obstacle to efficient international transport
and trade and will jeopardize effective national Customs procedures and controls.
Under the supervision of the Working Party on Customs Questions affecting

Transport (WP.30), Contracting Parties launched in 2003 the “eTIR Project”. The aim
of the eTIR Project, and in particular the eTIR international system, is to ensure the
secure exchange of data between national Customs systems for the international transit
of goods, vehicles or containers according to the provisions of the TIR Convention and
to allow Customs to manage the data on guarantees, issued by guarantee chains to
authorized users of the TIR system. The eTIR system will offer benefits to all actors
involved in the TIR system. First, it will bring additional security and risk management
opportunities, thus reducing the risk of fraud. Second, advanced international
cooperation will allow all actors to significantly reduce their administrative burden and
to maximize the benefits of integrated supply chain management. Finally, the provision
of advance cargo information and the exchange of information in real time will speed
up the TIR procedure.
1.6 CONCLUSION
The TIR system, created 60 years ago and the TIR Convention, have proved to
be a very effective international Customs transit system and have played an important
role in facilitating international trade and transport, primarily within Europe, but more
recently also between Europe and neighbouring areas.
With the rapid increase of East-West European traffic, the TIR system is today
faced with new and, to this extent, unprecedented challenges. At the same time Customs
authorities are faced with cases of Customs fraud and smuggling as a result of changing
political, economic and social situations in many countries in the region and due to
often heavily increasing Customs duties and taxes. Furthermore, the management and
the control of the TIR system pose problems for national Customs authorities which,
sometimes still have to acquire the necessary experience and often do not have
sufficient and adequately trained personnel.
To counter some of these unwanted developments, Governments and other

actors in the TIR system sometimes impose unilateral measures, such as the requirement
of additional guarantees for TIR transit operations or the exclusion of certain categories
of goods which are not in line with the provisions and the spirit of the TIR Convention.
While such measures may provide some temporary relief, they will induce in the
long run not only other countries to introduce similar measures, but they will also make
international trade and transport more expensive and, eventually, may lead to a total
collapse of the TIR transit system - with no viable alternative in sight.
The TIR Convention itself provides already a number of measures to safeguard

the legitimate interests of Customs authorities, such as the requirement for escort
services, prescription of transit routes and reduced transit times. Other measures may be
prepared at the request of Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention.
Stable and long-term solutions can only be found in the TIR Administrative
Committee by all concerned Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention. The TIR
Executive Board (TIRExB) as well as the UNECE and its Working Party on Customs
Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) provide a forum for such cooperation and
coordination. Experience has shown that solutions to many recently emerged problems
in the application of the TIR Convention have been found within the organs and bodies
established in the framework of the TIR Convention and the UNECE.
It is the aim of the UNECE and the TIR secretariat to continue to work in this
direction and to provide a well-functioning international machinery to further improve
cooperation and coordination among Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention and the
transport industry. It is essential to continuously improve the legal framework within
which the TIR transit system operates and to streamline its operation so that the TIR
transit system is always in line with the requirements of the transport industry and of the
The United Nations, as a universal organization, is the depositary of the TIR

Convention and provides the framework and the services to administer and, where
necessary, adapt the TIR Convention to changing requirements. Past experience has
shown that the TIR Convention, as part of the transport facilitation work undertaken
within the UNECE, has served the interests of all concerned, Customs authorities and
transport operators alike, and there is every reason to believe that it will continue to do
so in the future.
1.7 INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIR SYSTEM
Apart from the present TIR Handbook which exists in hard copy and electronic
version in numerous languages, several other sources of information about the TIR
Convention and its application in its Contracting Parties exist.
The most complete and permanently updated source of information is the

UNECE TIR web site, jointly administered by the UNECE and TIR secretariat
(http://tir.unece.org). This web site provides, in addition to the numerous language
versions of the TIR Handbook, up-to-date information on the administration and
application of the TIR Convention in all Contracting Parties. It contains the latest
information on legal interpretations of the TIR Convention, on depositary notifications
and on national and international control measures introduced by Customs authorities
and the TIR Administrative Committee. The TIR web site also contains all documents
and reports issued in connection with the sessions of the TIR Administrative
Committee, the TIRExB and the UNECE Working Party (WP.30) and its ad hoc expert
groups (in English, French and Russian).
Furthermore, the UNECE secretariat maintains an international directory of

national TIR Focal Points in all countries applying the TIR system. These experts from
national Customs authorities and national associations may be contacted on the
application of the Convention at the national level. Information on TIR Focal Points is
also available on UNECE’s Border Crossing Facilitation web site
(http://www.unece.org/trans/bcf/welcome.html). The UNECE and TIR secretariat also
maintains an international register of Customs sealing devices and Customs stamps used
under the TIR Convention which is available on-line for restricted use by concerned
The UNECE secretariat, the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) and the TIR
secretariat can be reached as follows:
TIR secretariat, Office 401-3,

Palais des Nations
CH-1210 Geneva, Switzerland
Fax: + 41-22-917-0039 or +41-22-917-0614,
E-mail: tirexb@unece.org.
1.8 TIR CARNETS DISTRIBUTED BY THE IRU TO NATIONAL

ASSOCIATIONS
Countries 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Albania 400 800 800 800 950 950 500 500 600
Armenia 200 300 550 300 500 350 800 2000 3,800
Austria 19,850 21,700 14,150 9,850 11,150 8,550 7,500 8,400 6,650
Azerbaijan 3,950 5,000 5,500 9,000 9,500 7,600 7,800 9,100 11,400
Belarus 187,000 182,200 197,500 194,300 213,600 161,400 158,100 173,200 215,000
Belgium 1,200 800 500 300 500 500 550 350 250
Bosnia and 0 600 900 900
Herzegovina (1) 0 0 0 0 0
Bulgaria 313,000 349,000 394,500 140,000 148,200 124,200 137,600 150,000 131,000
Croatia 9,700 9,500 9,300 6,300 5,300 2,900 4,250 6,250 6,8000
Cyprus 1,000 450 750 400 - - - - 0
Czech Republic 39,700 37,850 42,500 17,800 22,200 14,250 15,000 23,250 23,850
Denmark 2,600 300 1,000 1,000 800 300 600 600 850
Estonia 56,000 43,000 47,000 51,000 39,000 24,500 40,000 38,500 52,200
Finland 16,300 17,200 13,300 20,100 17,600 10,700 11,600 14,350 11,400
France 12,300 10,000 8,200 5’000 4,700 2,700 3,650 3,700 2,300
Georgia 1,050 3,600 4,300 4,100 4,000 4,000 4,200 7,000 8,200
Germany 42,050 35,200 32,300 40,450 31,400 7,650 18,950 24,900 16,450
Greece 40,500 33,200 30,700 19,800 21,900 9,550 16,000 16,600 5,000
Hungary 44,900 34,300 35,800 16,000 26,100 14,500 17,800 19,400 28,500
Iran (Islamic 48,000 54,000 78,000 85,000
Republic of) 33,000 33,000 48,000 52,000 58,000
Israel - - - - - - - - -
Italy 37,000 25,000 19,500 0 3,550 4,050 4,000 2,550 2000
Jordan 0 100 50 0 50 50 500 300 50
Kazakhstan 17,000 19,600 32,650 39,050 32,150 31,000 30,050 24,500 19,000
Kuwait 50 300 0 50 0 0 0 0 0
Kyrgyzstan 4,900 6,250 11,450 18,100 17,050 15,050 14,050 20,700 17,100
Latvia 91,000 90,000 105,500 90,600 108,900 57,000 86,200 100,100 97,800
Lebanon 0 0 50 100 0 50 0 50 50
Lithuania 148,700 151,600 165,000 174,500 218,500 111,500 157,500 185,200 191,600
Mongolia 150 0 0 50 0 0 0 50 100
Montenegro (1) - - - 0 150 150 50 100 300
Morocco 100 0 100 0 100 100 150 200 100
Netherlands 22,200 15,600 21,000 7,250 8,200 8,700 9,600 5,900 9,650
Norway 0 100 100 50 200 500 150 0 50
Countries 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Poland 273,500 188,000 291,500 185,100 286,050 205,100 283,100 310,050 296,000
Portugal 700 3,000 1,300 150 0 50 0 0 0
Republic of Moldova 46,900 58,500 61,050 77,100 77,850 65,950 68,000 79,100 81,550
Romania 486,300 514,700 397,200 17,800 27,300 25,900 43,500 62,000 53,300
Russian Federation 375,650 424,000 499,900 660,900 696,600 404,800 521,500 568,200 598,000
Serbia (1) - - 8,800 12,100 15,300 12,400 20,000 21,100 27,900
Serbia and - - - -
Montenegro 5,350 5,000 - - -
Slovakia 18,450 20,900 23,050 22,550 21,850 12,550 17,400 19,900 20,100
Slovenia 22,000 6,550 16,400 12,000 14,350 5,750 10,100 10,400 12,650
Spain 3,000 2,000 3,000 3,100 3,000 3,500 2,500 2,700 4,300
Sweden 1,500 1,550 1,200 850 900 300 800 400 650
Switzerland 1,600 1,450 1,600 550 550 800 600 600 400
Syrian Arab Republic 900 1,500 800 2,150 2,400 2,400 5,050 4,650 1,150
Tajikistan 0 50 300 500 400 900 700 1500 2,950
The former Yugoslav

Republic of
Macedonia 27,400 27,700 31,550 20,300 23,900 18,200 23,500 21,800 25,400
Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Turkey 544,000 589,000 689,000 788,500 765,000 490,000 701,500 672,000 685,000
Turkmenistan 200 400 1,000 1,000 1,000 2,000 3,200 4,700 6,000
Ukraine 251,000 266,000 324,000 345,000 317,000 292,000 309,500 363,600 376,800
United Kingdom 4,400 2,600 1,650 1,350 1,100 550 500 1,050 700
Uzbekistan 2,400 1,800 4,500 7,000 5,000 6,500 9,000 14,100 17,500
Yugoslavia - - - - - - - - -
Total 3,211,050 3,240,650 3,599,850 3,076,250 3,253,800 2,230,400 2,822,200 3,074,500 3,158,300
Note (1) Serbia and Montenegro was one country until 2006. As from 2006 figures for Montenegro and
Serbia are separated The IRU started issuing TIR Carnets to Serbia in 2006 and to Montenegro in 2008.
Issuance of TIR Carnets to Bosnia and Herzegovina started in 2010.
1.9 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIFFERENT PARTIES

INVOLVED IN THE TIR SYSTEM
The TIR system is a well-balanced mechanism based on cooperation among the

Contracting Parties and the transport industry. With a view to ensuring its smooth
functioning, it is essential that all parties involved - Governments, the TIR Executive
Board, national guaranteeing associations, transport operators, international
organizations – meet their obligations in accordance with the provisions of the TIR
Convention. An overview of the roles and responsibilities of the main players in the TIR
system is given below.
1.9.1 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT (NON-EXHAUSTIVE

LIST)
- Acceptance of the TIR Convention in accordance with national law (i.e.

publication in the national public law journal);
- Deposit of an instrument of accession at the Legal Office of the United Nations

in New York (depositary) (Article 52);
- Authorization of (a) national guaranteeing organization(s) (Article 6 and

Annex 9, Part I);
- Authorization of persons to utilize TIR Carnets (Article 6, Annex 9, Part II);
- Publication of a list of Customs offices approved for accomplishing TIR

operations (Article 45);
- Training of Customs officials in the operation of TIR Customs procedures;
- Establishment or designation of an authority responsible for the approval of road

vehicles and containers (Article 12);
- Transmission to an international organization or to the national guaranteeing

associations of information about the termination of TIR operations at Customs offices
of destination in their country (Article 42 ter and Annex 10, para. 1)
- Deposit of the following documentation and information with the TIR Executive
Board (TIRExB):
International guarantee system
- A certified copy of the written agreement or any other legal document

between the competent authorities (Customs) and the national guaranteeing
association as well as any modifications thereto (Annex 9, Part I, para. 1

(d));
- A certified copy of the insurance or financial guarantee contract as well as

any modifications thereto (Annex 9, Part I, para. 3 (v));
- A copy of the (to be renewed annually) insurance certificate (Annex 9, Part

I, para. 3 (v)).
Controlled access to the TIR procedure
- The particulars of each person authorized by the competent authorities to use

TIR Carnets or whose authorization has been withdrawn (Annex 9, Part II,
para. 4);
- Yearly a complete and updated list of all persons authorized by the

competent authorities to use TIR Carnets or whose authorization has been
withdrawn (Annex 9, Part II, para. 5);
- The particulars of each person excluded from the operation of the

Convention in accordance with Article 38.
National control measures
- The details of any national control measures that competent national

authorities intend to introduce in accordance with Article 42 bis.
Customs sealing devices and Customs stamps
- The particulars of Customs sealing devices and stamps approved and used in
the TIR Customs transit procedure (TRANS/WP.30/157, para. 93).
1.9.2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL

GUARANTEEING ASSOCIATION (NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST)
- Undertake to pay up to the maximum of the guaranteed amount of the import

and export duties and taxes, together with any default interest, due under the
Customs laws and regulations of the Contracting Party in which an irregularity
leading up to a claim against the guaranteeing association has been established
in connection with a TIR operation. The association is liable, jointly and
severally with the persons from whom the sums mentioned above are due, for
payment of such sums (Article 8, para. 1);
- Conclude a written agreement on the functioning of the international guarantee

system with an international organization (at present the International Road
Transport Union (IRU) is managing the only existing international guarantee
system) (Explanatory Note 0.6.2 bis);
- Act as guarantor (Article 6, paragraph 1). This guarantee should also cover the
liabilities incurred in connection with operations under cover of TIR Carnets
issued by foreign associations affiliated to the same international organization as
that to which it is itself affiliated (Article 6, para. 2);
- Issue TIR Carnets only to persons who fulfil the minimum conditions and
requirements (Article 6, paragraph 4 and Annex 9, part II) and whose access to
the TIR Procedure has not been refused by the competent authorities of
Contracting Parties in which the person is resident or established (Article 6,
para. 3);
- Cover its liabilities to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of the

Contracting Parties in which it is established with an insurance company, pool of
insurers or financial institution. The insurance or financial guarantee contract(s)
shall cover the totality of its liabilities in connection with operations under cover
of TIR Carnets issued by itself and by foreign associations affiliated to the same
international organization as that to which it is itself affiliated. (Annex 9, Part I,
para. 3 (v));
- Conclude a declaration of commitment with the transport operator requesting

TIR Carnets (Annex 9, Part II, para. 1(e));
- Issue TIR Carnets on the basis of a risk management approach (Annex 9, Part I,
para. 3 (iii));
- Take, in close cooperation with the competent authorities, all necessary

measures to ensure the proper use of TIR Carnets (Article 42 bis);
- Train its staff and TIR carnet holders for the proper implementation of TIR
transports;
- Provide the TIR Executive Board, annually, before 1 March, with the price of
each of TIR carnets it issues (Annex 9, Part I, para. 3 (vi)).
- Transmit to the competent national authority the following documentation and

information:
International guarantee system
- A certified copy of the insurance or financial guarantee contract as well as

any modifications thereto (Annex 9, Part I, para. 3 (v));
- A copy of the (annually to be renewed) insurance certificate (Annex 9, Part

I, para. 3 (v)).
Controlled access to the TIR procedure
- Yearly, a complete and updated list of all persons authorized by the

competent authorities to use TIR Carnets or whose authorization has been
withdrawn (Annex 9, Part II, para. 5).
1.9.3 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRANSPORT OPERATOR (NON-

EXHAUSTIVE LIST)
- Conclusion of a declaration of commitment with the national guaranteeing

association stipulating the conditions for use of TIR Carnets (Annex 9, Part II,
para. 1 (e));
- Presentation of the road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the container

together with the load and the TIR Carnet relating thereto at the Customs office
of departure, the Customs office en route and the Customs office of destination.
He shall also be responsible for due observance of the other relevant provisions
of the Convention (Article 1 (o));
- Payment of the sums due, mentioned in Article 8, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the

Convention, if requested to do so by the competent authorities in line with
Article 11, para. 2 (Annex 9, Part II, para. 1 (e) (ii));
- Placement of the TIR plate on road vehicles (Article 16);
- Training of its staff, in particular drivers, for the proper implementation of TIR
transports.
1.9.4 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL

ORGANIZATION (AT PRESENT: IRU) (NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST)
- Obtain the authorization to take on responsibility for the effective organization

and functioning of an international guarantee system, granted by the TIR
Administrative Committee (Article 6, paragraph 2bis and Annex 9, Part III,
para.2);
- Conclude written agreements on the functioning of the international guarantee

system with national guaranteeing associations (Explanatory Note 0.6.2 bis-1);
- Possibly obtain the authorization to print and distribute TIR Carnets, granted by
the TIR Administrative Committee (Annex 8, Article 10 (b));
- Conclude a written Agreement with UNECE, reflecting the authorizations

granted in accordance with Article 6.2 bis and/or Annex 8, Article 10 (b) and
stipulating that the international organization shall fulfil the relevant provisions
of the Convention, shall respect the competences of the Contracting Parties to
the Convention and shall comply with the decisions of the Administrative
Committee and the requests of the TIRExB. By signing the Agreement, the
international organization confirms that it accepts the responsibilities imposed
by the authorization (Explanatory Notes 0.6.2 bis-2 and 8.10 (b)).
- Pursuant to the authorization in accordance with Annex 9, Part III, para. 2, the
international organization shall:
- provide the Contracting Parties of the TIR Convention via the

national associations affiliated to the international organization
with certified copies of the global guarantee contract and proof
of guarantee coverage;
- provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention with
information on the rules and procedures set out for the issue of
TIR Carnets by national associations;
- provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention, on a
yearly basis, with data on claims lodged, pending, paid or settled
without payment;
- provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention with full
and complete information on the functioning of the TIR system,
in particular, but not limited to, timely and well founded
information on trends in the number of non-terminated TIR
operations, claims lodged, pending, paid or settled without
payment that might give rise to concerns with regard to the
proper functioning of the TIR system or that could lead to
difficulties for the continued operation of its international
guarantee system;
statistical data on the number of TIR Carnets distributed to each
Contracting Party, broken down by type;
- provide the TIR Executive Board with details of the distribution
price by the international organization of each type of TIR
Carnet;
- take all possible steps to reduce the risk of counterfeiting TIR
Carnets;
- take the appropriate corrective action in cases where faults or
deficiencies with the TIR Carnet have been detected and report
these to the TIR Executive Board;
- fully participate in cases where the TIR Executive Board is
called upon to facilitate the settlement of disputes;
- ensure that any problem involving fraudulent activities or other
difficulties with regard to the application of the TIR Convention
is immediately brought to the attention of the TIR Executive
Board;
- manage the control system for TIR Carnets, provided for in

Annex 10 of the Convention, together with national
guaranteeing associations affiliated to the international
organization and the Customs authorities and inform the
Contracting Parties and the competent bodies of the Convention
of problems encountered in the system;
statistics and data on the performance of Contracting Parties
with regard to the control system provided for in Annex 10;
- conclude, not less than two months before the provisional date
of entry into force or renewal of the authorization granted in
accordance with Article 6.2bis of the Convention, a written
agreement with the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe secretariat, mandated by and acting on behalf of the
Administrative Committee, which shall include the acceptance
by the international organization of its duties set out in Annex 9,
Part III, para.2;
- Attend as observer the sessions of the TIR Administrative
Committee (Annex 8, Article 1 (ii)), TIRExB (Annex 8, Article
11, para. 5), UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions
affecting Transport (WP.30).
1.9.5 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TIR EXECUTIVE BOARD

AND TIR SECRETARY (NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST)
- supervise the application of the Convention, including the operation of the

guarantee system, and fulfil the functions entrusted to it by the Administrative
Committee; (Annex 8, Article 10 (a));
- supervise the centralized printing and distribution to the associations of TIR

Carnets which may be performed by an agreed international organization as
referred to in Article 6; (Annex 8, Article 10 (b));
- coordinate and foster the exchange of intelligence and other information

among competent authorities of Contracting Parties; (Annex 8, Article 10 (c));
- coordinate and foster the exchange of information between competent

authorities of Contracting Parties, associations and international organizations;
(Article 10 (d) Annex 8);
- facilitate the settlement of disputes between Contracting Parties, associations,

insurance companies and international organizations without prejudice to
Article 57 on the settlement of disputes; (Annex 8, Article 10 (e));
- support the training of personnel of Customs authorities and other interested

parties concerned with the TIR procedure; (Annex Article 10 (f));
- maintain a central record for the dissemination to Contracting Parties of

information to be provided by the international organizations as referred to in
Article 6, on all rules and procedures prescribed for the issue of TIR Carnets
by associations, as far as they relate to the minimum conditions and
requirements laid down in Annex 9; (annex 8, Article 10 (g));
- monitor the price of TIR Carnets. (Annex 8, Article 10 (h)).

- 35 - TIR CONVENTION
2. THE TIR CONVENTION, 1975

This Chapter contains the complete text of the TIR Convention, 1975, as of
10 October 2013. The lay-out of this Chapter follows the structure of the TIR
Convention, 1975.
Explanatory Notes contained in Annex 6 and Annex 7, Part III of the

Convention have been placed, however, with the provisions in the Convention to which
they relate (with the exception of the sketches contained in Annex 6). In accordance
with Article 43 of the Convention, the Explanatory Notes interpret certain provisions of
the Convention and of its Annexes. They also describe certain recommended practices.
The Explanatory Notes do not modify the provisions of this Convention or of its
Annexes but merely make their contents, meaning and scope more precise. In particular,
having regard to the provisions of Article 12 of this Convention and of Annex 2 relating
to the technical conditions for the approval of road vehicles for transport under Customs
seal, the Explanatory Notes specify, where appropriate, the construction techniques to
be accepted by the Contracting Parties as complying with those provisions. The
Explanatory Notes also specify, where appropriate, which construction techniques do
not comply with those provisions.
Thus, the Explanatory Notes provide a means of applying the provisions of this
Convention and of its Annexes so as to take into account the development of technology
and economic requirements.
Comments are also placed with the provisions of the Convention to which they
refer. The comments contained in the TIR Handbook are not legally binding for
Contracting Parties of the TIR Convention, 1975. They are, however, important for the
interpretation, harmonization and application of the Convention as they reflect the
opinion of the Administrative Committee for the TIR Convention, 1975 and of the
Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), as is indicated in connection with each
comment.
{TRANS/GE.30/55, paragraph 40}
2.1 BODY OF THE TIR CONVENTION, 1975

(INCLUDING EXPLANATORY NOTES
AND COMMENTS THERETO)
CUSTOMS CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL

TRANSPORT OF GOODS UNDER COVER OF TIR CARNETS
THE CONTRACTING PARTIES,
DESIRING to facilitate the international carriage of goods by road vehicle,
CONSIDERING that the improvement of the conditions of transport

constitutes one of the factors essential to the development of co-operation among
them,
DECLARING themselves in favour of a simplification and a harmonization

of administrative formalities in the field of international transport, in particular at
frontiers,
HAVE AGREED as follows:
Chapter I
GENERAL
(a) DEFINITIONS
Article 1
For the purposes of this Convention:
(a) The term "TIR transport" shall mean the transport of goods from a Customs
office of departure to a Customs office of destination under the procedure,
called the TIR procedure, laid down in this Convention;
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21; entered into force on 12 May 2002}
TIR CONVENTION - 38 -
(b) the term “TIR operation” shall mean the part of a TIR transport that is
carried out in a Contracting Party from a Customs office of departure or
entry (en route) to a Customs office of destination or exit (en route);
Explanatory Note to Article 1 (b)
0.1 (b) Article 1 (b) implies that, where several Customs offices of departure or
destination are located in one or several countries, there may be more
than one TIR operation in a Contracting Party. Under these
circumstances the national leg of a TIR transport carried out between two
successive Customs offices, regardless of whether they are offices of
departure, destination or en route, can be considered as a TIR operation.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.25; entered into force on 1 October 2005}
(c) the term “start of a TIR operation” shall mean that the road vehicle, the
combination of vehicles or the container have been presented for purposes of
control to the Customs office of departure or entry (en route) together with
the load and the TIR Carnet relating thereto and that the TIR Carnet has
been accepted by the Customs office;
(d) the term “termination of a TIR operation” shall mean that the road vehicle,
the combination of vehicles or the container have been presented for
purposes of control to the Customs office of destination or of exit (en route)
together with the load and the TIR Carnet relating thereto;
(e) the term “discharge of a TIR operation” shall mean the recognition by
Customs authorities that the TIR operation has been terminated correctly in
a Contracting Party. This is established by the Customs authorities on the
basis of a comparison of the data or information available at the Customs
office of destination or exit (en route) and that available at the Customs office
of departure or entry (en route);
(f) the term "import or export duties and taxes" shall mean Customs duties and
all other duties, taxes, fees and other charges which are collected on, or in
connection with, the import or export of goods, but not including fees and
charges limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered;
Explanatory Note to Article 1 (f)
0.1 (f) The fees and charges excepted in Article 1, subparagraph (f) mean all
sums, other than import or export duties and taxes, levied by Contracting
Parties on or in connection with importation or exportation. These sums
shall be limited in amount to the approximate cost of the services
rendered and shall not represent an indirect protection to domestic
products or a tax on imports or exports for fiscal purposes. Such fees and
charges include inter alia payments relating to:
- certificates of origin if they are required for transit,
- analyses carried out by Customs laboratories for control purposes,
- Customs inspections and other clearance operations carried out

outside normal working hours or away from Customs offices,
- inspections for sanitary, veterinary or phytopathological reasons.

{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21, entered into force on 12 May 2002}
(g) the term "road vehicle" shall mean not only any power-driven road vehicle
but also any trailer or semi-trailer designed to be coupled thereto;
(h) the term "combination of vehicles" shall mean coupled vehicles which travel
on the road as a unit;
(j) the term "container" shall mean an article of transport equipment (lift-van,
movable tank or other similar structure):
(i) fully or partially enclosed to constitute a compartment intended for

containing goods,
(ii) of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable

for repeated use,
(iii) specially designed to facilitate the transport of goods by one or more

modes of transport without intermediate reloading,
(iv) designed for ready handling, particularly when being transferred from
one mode of transport to another,
(v) designed to be easy to fill and to empty, and
(vi) having an internal volume of one cubic metre or more,
"demountable bodies" are to be treated as containers;
Explanatory Note to Article 1 (j)
0.1 (j) The term "demountable body" means a load compartment which has no
means of locomotion and which is designed in particular to be
transported upon a road vehicle, the chassis of which, together with the
under-framing of the body, is especially adapted for this purpose. It
covers also a swap-body which is a load compartment designed
especially for combined road and rail transport.
Explanatory Note to Article 1 (j) (i)
0.1 (j) (i) The term "partially enclosed", as applied to equipment in Article 1,
subparagraph (j) (i), relates to equipment generally consisting of a floor
and a superstructure marking off a loading space equivalent to that of a
closed container. The superstructure is generally made up of metal
members forming the frame of a container. Containers of this type may
also comprise one or more lateral or frontal walls. In some cases there is
only a roof attached to the floor by uprights. This type of container is
used in particular for the transport of bulky goods (motor cars, for
example).
(k) the term "Customs office of departure" shall mean any Customs office of a
Contracting Party where the TIR transport of a load or part load of goods
begins;
(l) the term "Customs office of destination" shall mean any Customs office of a
Contracting Party where the TIR transport of a load or part load of goods
ends;
(m) the term "Customs office en route" shall mean any Customs office of a
Contracting Party through which a road vehicle, combination of vehicles or
container enters or leaves this Contracting Party in the course of a TIR
transport;
(n) the term "person" shall mean both natural and legal persons;
(o) the term “holder” of a TIR Carnet shall mean the person to whom a TIR
Carnet has been issued in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Convention and on whose behalf a Customs declaration has been made in the
form of a TIR Carnet indicating a wish to place goods under the TIR
procedure at the Customs office of departure. He shall be responsible for
presentation of the road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the container
together with the load and the TIR Carnet relating thereto at the Customs
office of departure, the Customs office en route and the Customs office of
destination and for due observance of the other relevant provisions of the
Convention;
(p) the term "heavy or bulky goods" shall mean any heavy or bulky object which
because of its weight, size or nature is not normally carried in a closed road
vehicle or closed container;
(q) the term "guaranteeing association" shall mean an association

authorized by the Customs authorities of a Contracting Party to act as
guarantor for persons using the TIR procedure.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.30; entered into force on 13 September 2012}
(r) the term “international organization” shall mean an organization authorized

by the Administrative Committee to take on responsibility for the effective
organization and functioning of an international guarantee system.
(b) SCOPE
Article 2
This Convention shall apply to the transport of goods without intermediate

reloading, in road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or in containers, across one or
more frontiers between a Customs office of departure of one Contracting Party
and a Customs office of destination of another or of the same Contracting Party,
provided that some portion of the journey between the beginning and the end of
the TIR transport is made by road.
Explanatory Notes to Article 2
0.2-1 Article 2 provides that a transport operation under cover of a TIR Carnet
may begin and end in the same country on condition that part of the
journey is performed in foreign territory. In such cases there is nothing to
prevent the Customs authorities of the country of departure from
requiring, in addition to the TIR Carnet, a national document, intended to
ensure duty-free reimportation of the goods. It is nevertheless
recommended that Customs authorities should not insist on the use of
such a document but accept instead an appropriate endorsement on the
TIR Carnet.
0.2-2 The provisions of this Article allow goods to be carried under cover of a
TIR Carnet when only part of the journey is made by road. They do not
specify what part of the journey has to be made by road and it is
sufficient that this should occur at some point between the beginning and
the end of the TIR transport. However, it may happen that, for
unforeseen reasons of a commercial or accidental nature, no part of the
journey can be made by road, despite the intentions of the sender at the
start of the journey. In these exceptional cases the Contracting Parties
shall nevertheless accept the TIR Carnet and the liability of the
guaranteeing associations shall remain in force.
Comments to Article 2
Use of TIR Carnets
On some occasions TIR Carnets have been used for journeys entirely
within a country (for instance from an office in the interior of the
country to the frontier exit office, without presentation of the Carnet on
entry to the following country) for the purpose of obtaining Customs
seals for fraudulent purposes.
IRU undertakes to inform the national Customs authorities of such
cases.
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/12, paragraph 34; TRANS/GE.30/35,
paragraphs 64 and 65}
Use of the TIR procedure in case a part of the journey is not made by
road
According to Article 2 of the Convention, as long as some portion of the

journey between the beginning and the end of a TIR transport is made
by road, other modes of transport (railways, inland waterways, etc.) can
be used. During a non-road leg, the holder of a TIR Carnet may either:
- ask the Customs authorities to suspend the TIR transport in

accordance with the provisions of Article 26, paragraph 2 of the
Convention. In order to resume the suspended TIR transport,
Customs treatment and Customs control should be available at the
end of the non-road leg. If the whole part of the journey in the
country of departure is not made by road, the TIR operation may
start and be immediately certified as terminated at the Customs office
of departure by tearing off both vouchers No. 1 and No. 2 of the TIR
Carnet. Under these circumstances, no TIR guarantee is provided for
the remainder of the journey inside this country. However, the TIR
transport could be easily resumed at the Customs office situated at
the end of the non-road leg in another Contracting Party in
accordance with the provisions of Article 26 of the Convention; or
- use the TIR procedure. However, in this case the holder should take
into account that a TIR operation in a given country may apply only
in case the national Customs authorities are in a position to ensure
the proper treatment of the TIR Carnet at the following points (as
applicable): entry (en route), exit (en route) and destination.
{TRANS/WP.30.AC.2/67, paragraph 64 and Annex 4}
Article 3
For the provisions of this Convention to become applicable:
(a) the transport operation must be performed
(i) by means of road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or containers

previously approved under the conditions set forth in
Chapter III (a), or
(ii) by means of other road vehicles, other combinations of vehicles or

other containers under the conditions set forth in Chapter III (c),
or
(iii) by road vehicles or special vehicles such as buses, cranes,

sweepers, concrete-laying machines, etc. exported and therefore
themselves considered as goods travelling by their own means
from a Customs office of departure to a Customs office of
destination under the conditions set forth in Chapter III (c). In
case such vehicles are carrying other goods, the conditions as
referred to under (i) or (ii) above shall apply accordingly;
Explanatory note to Article 3 (a)
0.3 (a) (iii) The provisions of Article 3(a) (iii) do not cover passenger cars (HS-code
8703) travelling by their own means. However, passenger cars may be
carried under the TIR procedure if transported by means of other
vehicles as referred to in subparagraphs (a) (i) and (a) (ii) of Article 3.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.28bis; entered into force on 1 October 2009}
(b) the transport operations must be guaranteed by associations approved in

accordance with the provisions of Article 6 and must be performed under
cover of a TIR Carnet, which shall conform to the model reproduced in
Annex 1 to this Convention.
Road vehicles considered as heavy or bulky goods
If road vehicles or special vehicles regarded themselves as heavy or

bulky goods are carrying other heavy or bulky goods so that both
vehicle and goods at the same time fulfil the conditions set forth in
Chapter III (c) of the Convention, only one TIR Carnet is needed
bearing at the cover and all vouchers of the TIR Carnet the endorsement
set forth in Article 32 of the Convention. If such vehicles are carrying
normal goods in the load compartment or in containers, the vehicle or
the containers must be previously approved under the conditions set
forth in Chapter III (a) and the load compartment or the containers have
to be sealed.
The provisions of Article 3 (a) (iii) of the Convention apply in the case of
road vehicles or special vehicles being exported from the country where
the Customs office of departure is located and being imported into
another country where the Customs office of destination is located. In
this case, the provisions of Article 15 of the Convention referring to the
temporary importation of a road vehicle are not applicable. Thus, the
Customs documents in respect of temporary importation of such vehicles
are not required.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/65, paragraphs 39 and 40 and Annex 2;
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59, paragraphs 61 and 62 and Annex 6;
TRANS/WP.30/200, paragraph 72}
TIR procedure and postal items
According to Chapter 2 of Specific Annex J to the International

Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs
procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention), postal items are not subject to
Customs formalities whilst they are being conveyed in transit. Therefore,
the TIR procedure should not apply to postal items which are defined as
letter-post and parcels, as described in the Acts of the Universal Postal
Union currently in force, when carried by or for postal services.
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2008/3, paragraph 17;
ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/95, paragraph 28;
ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/95/ Corr. 2}
(c) PRINCIPLES
Article 4
Goods carried under the TIR procedure shall not be subjected to the
payment or deposit of import or export duties and taxes at Customs offices en
route.
Please refer to the comments to Explanatory Note 0.8.3 (Duties and

taxes at risk) and to Article 23 (Escort of road vehicles).
Relief from the payment or additional security of import or export duties

and taxes.
The basic principle of Customs transit is relief from the payment of

import or export duties and taxes for goods in transit, provided that any
security required has been furnished. As the goods carried under the TIR
procedure are at any moment covered by the guarantee, as referred to in
Article 3 (b), in the course of a TIR transport neither payment of import
or export duties and taxes nor security in any other form shall be
required in any Contracting Party involved in the TIR transport.
(ECE/TRANS/WP.30/240, paragraph 28; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/97,
paragraph 28)
Article 5
1. Goods carried under the TIR procedure in sealed road vehicles,

combinations of vehicles or containers shall not as a general rule be subjected to
examination at Customs offices en route.
2. However, to prevent abuses, Customs authorities may in exceptional cases,

and particularly when irregularity is suspected, carry out an examination of the
goods at such offices.
Explanatory Note to Article 5
0.5 This Article does not exclude the right to carry out spot checks on the
goods but stresses that these checks should be very limited in number.
The international TIR Carnet procedure, in fact, provides protection
greater than that given by national procedures. Firstly the particulars on
the TIR Carnet relating to the goods must agree with the particulars
given on the Customs documents which may be required in the country
of departure. In addition the countries of transit and destination are given
protection by the controls which are carried out at departure and which
are certified by the Customs authorities at the office of departure (see
Explanatory Note to Article 19).
Comment to Article 5, paragraph 2
Examinations at Customs offices en route or spot checks at the request of

transport operators
The exceptional cases, mentioned in Article 5, paragraph 2 include

those where Customs authorities carry out examinations either at
Customs offices en route or in the course of the journey on particular
request from transport operators, who have suspicion that any
irregularity has occurred in the course of the TIR transport. In such a
situation Customs authorities should not refuse to carry out the
examination unless they deem the request not to be justified.
In cases where the Customs authorities carry out an examination on
request by the transport operator, the charges involved will be borne by
the latter, in accordance with the provisions of Article 46, paragraph 1
and its comment, together with all other costs that may arise as a
consequence of the examination.
{TRANS/WP.30/196, paragraphs 66 and 67 and Annex 3;
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/63, paragraph 63 and Annex 3}
Chapter II
ISSUE OF TIR CARNETS
LIABILITY OF GUARANTEEING ASSOCIATIONS
Article 6
1. Each Contracting Party may authorize associations to issue TIR Carnets,

either directly or through corresponding associations, and to act as guarantors, as
long as the minimum conditions and requirements, as laid down in Annex 9, Part I,
are complied with. The authorization shall be revoked if the minimum conditions
and requirements contained in Annex 9, Part I are no longer fulfilled.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.19; entered into force on 17 February 1999}
2. An association shall not be approved in any country unless its guarantee

also covers the liabilities incurred in that country in connection with operations
under cover of TIR Carnets issued by foreign associations affiliated to the same
international organization as that to which it is itself affiliated.
Explanatory Note to Article 6, paragraph 2
0.6.2 Under the provisions of this paragraph, the Customs authorities of a

country may approve more than one association, each of which may
incur liability arising from the operations undertaken under cover of the
Carnets issued by it or by its corresponding associations.
2 bis An international organization shall be authorized by the Administrative

Committee to take on responsibility for the effective organization and functioning
of an international guarantee system. The authorization shall be granted as long as
the organization fulfils the conditions and requirements laid down in Annex 9, Part
III. The Administrative Committee may revoke the authorization if these
conditions and requirements are no longer fulfilled.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21; entered into force on 12 May 2002;
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.31; entered into force on 10 October 2013}
Explanatory Notes to Article 6, paragraph 2 bis
0.6.2 bis-1 The relationship between an international organization and its member
associations shall be defined in written agreements on the functioning of
the international guarantee system.
0.6.2 bis-2 The authorization granted in accordance with Article 6.2 bis shall be
reflected in a written agreement between the UNECE and the
international organization. The agreement shall stipulate that the
international organization shall fulfil the relevant provisions of the
Convention, shall respect the competences of the Contracting Parties to
the Convention and shall comply with the decisions of the
Administrative Committee and the requests of the TIR Executive Board.
By signing the agreement, the international organization confirms that it
accepts the responsibilities imposed by the authorization. The agreement
shall also apply to the responsibilities of the international organization
set out in Annex 8, Article 10 (b), in case the centralized printing and
distribution of TIR Carnets is performed by the above-mentioned
international organization. The agreement shall be adopted by the
Administrative Committee.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.27; entered into force on 12 August 2006}
3. An association shall issue TIR Carnets only to persons, whose access to the
TIR procedure has not been refused by the competent authorities of Contracting
Parties in which the person is resident or established.
4. Authorization for access to the TIR procedure shall be granted only to

persons who fulfil the minimum conditions and requirements laid down in
Annex 9, Part II to this Convention. Without prejudice to Article 38, the
authorization shall be revoked if the fulfilment of these criteria is no longer
ensured.
5. Authorization for access to the TIR procedure shall be granted according to

the procedure laid down in Annex 9, Part II to this Convention.
Article 7
TIR Carnet forms sent to the guaranteeing associations by the

corresponding foreign associations or by international organizations shall not be
liable to import and export duties and taxes and shall be free of import and export
prohibitions and restrictions.
Article 8
1. The guaranteeing association shall undertake to pay up to the maximum of

the guaranteed amount of the import and export duties and taxes together with
any default interest due under the Customs laws and regulations of the
Contracting Party in which an irregularity leading up to a claim against the
guaranteeing association has been established in connection with a TIR operation.
It shall be liable, jointly and severally with the persons from whom the sums
mentioned above are due, for payment of such sums. {ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.30;
entered into force on 13 September 2012}
Comments to Article 8, paragraph 1
Administrative fines
The liability of the guaranteeing associations as provided for in

Article 8, paragraph 1 does not include administrative fines or other
pecuniary sanctions.
{TRANS/WP.30/137,paragraphs 68-70;TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/29,
Annex 3}
Collection of additional sums
Article 8, paragraphs 1 and 2 allow Customs authorities to collect

additional sums such as liquidated damages or other penalties from the
holder of the Carnet should they deem that to be necessary.
{TRANS/WP.30/135, paragraphs 52-55; TRANS/WP.30/137,

paragraph 69}
2. In cases where the laws and regulations of a Contracting Party do not

provide for payment of import or export duties and taxes as provided for in
paragraph 1 above, the guaranteeing association shall undertake to pay, under the
same conditions, a sum equal to the amount of the import or export duties and
taxes and any default interest.
0.8.2 The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable where, in case of

irregularities of the type covered in Article 8, paragraph 1, the laws and
regulations of a Contracting Party provide for the payment of sums other
than import or export duties and taxes, such as administrative fines or
other pecuniary sanctions. However, the sum to be paid shall not exceed
the amount of import or export duties and taxes which would have been
due if the goods had been imported or exported in accordance with the
relevant Customs provisions, this amount being increased by any default
interests.
3. Each Contracting Party shall determine the maximum sum per TIR
Carnet, which may be claimed from the guaranteeing association on the basis of
the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 above.
0.8.3 Contracting Parties are recommended to limit to a sum equal to $US

50,000 per TIR Carnet the maximum amount which may be claimed
from the guaranteeing association. In the case of transport of alcohol and
tobacco, details of which are given below, and which exceed the
threshold levels provided further below, Customs authorities are
recommended to increase the maximum amount which may be claimed
from the guaranteeing associations to a sum equal to $US 200,000:
(1) Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of

80% vol or higher (HS code: 22.07.10)
(2) Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of

less than 80% vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous
beverages; compound alcoholic preparations of a kind used for
the manufacture of beverages (HS code 22.08)
(3) Cigars, cheroots and cigarillos, containing tobacco (HS code

24.02.10)
(4) Cigarettes containing tobacco (HS code: 24.02.20)
(5) Smoking tobacco, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes

in any proportion (HS code: 24.03.10).
The maximum amount which may be claimed from guaranteeing

associations is recommended to be limited to a sum equal to $US 50,000,
if the following quantities are not exceeded for the above tobacco and
alcohol categories:
(1) 300 litres
(2) 500 litres
(3) 40,000 pieces
(4) 70,000 pieces
(5) 100 kilograms.
The exact quantities (litres, pieces, kilograms) of the above categories of

tobacco and alcohol must be inscribed into the goods manifest of the TIR
Carnet.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.17; entered into force on 1 October 1994;
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.18; entered into force on 1 August 1995;
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.30; entered into force on 13 September 2012}
Comment to Explanatory Note 0.8.3
Duties and taxes at risk
In accordance with Article 4 of the Convention, goods carried under the

TIR procedure shall not be subjected to the payment or deposit of any
import or export duties and taxes whatsoever, even if the duties and
taxes at risk exceed the amount of $US 50,000 for consignments
transported under the normal TIR Carnet and $US 200,000 for
consignments transported under the "Tobacco/ Alcohol" TIR Carnet or
a similar sum fixed by the national Customs authorities.
{TRANS/GE.30/59, paragraphs 34 and 35; TRANS/WP.30/137,
paragraphs 75 and 76; TRANS/WP.30/159,
paragraph 25;ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2010/3/Rev.1, Annex 2;
ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/105, paragraph 31}
4. The liability of the guaranteeing association to the authorities of the country

where the Customs office of departure is situated shall commence at the time when
the TIR Carnet is accepted by the Customs office. In the succeeding countries
through which goods are transported under the TIR procedure, this liability shall
commence at the time when the goods enter these countries or, where the TIR
transport has been suspended under Article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, at the time
when the TIR Carnet is accepted by the Customs office where the TIR transport is
resumed.
5. The liability of the guaranteeing association shall cover not only the goods
which are enumerated in the TIR Carnet but also any goods which, though not
enumerated therein, may be contained in the sealed section of the road vehicle or
in the sealed container. It shall not extend to any other goods.
0.8.5 If a payment request is made against the guaranteeing association for

goods not listed in the TIR Carnet, the administration concerned should
indicate the facts on which it based its opinion that the goods were
contained in the sealed section of the road vehicle or the sealed
container.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.6; entered into force on 1 August 1985,
6. For the purpose of determining the duties and taxes mentioned in

paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the particulars of the goods as entered in the
TIR Carnet shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be assumed to be
correct.
0.8.6 1. In the absence in the TIR Carnet of particulars detailed enough to

enable charges on the goods to be determined, the parties concerned may
produce evidence of their precise nature.
2. If no evidence is furnished, duties and taxes will be charged, not

at a flat rate unrelated to the nature of the goods, but at the highest rate
applicable to the kind of goods covered by the particulars in the TIR
Carnet.
Article 8, paragraph 7 has been deleted.

Explanatory note to Article 8, paragraph 7
0.8.7 Explanatory note has been deleted.

Article 9
1. The guaranteeing association shall fix the period of validity of the TIR
Carnet by specifying a final date of validity after which the Carnet may not be
presented for acceptance at the Customs office of departure.
2. Provided that it has been accepted by the Customs office of departure on or

before the final date of validity, as provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article, the
Carnet shall remain valid until the termination of the TIR operation at the
Customs office of destination.
Article 10
1. Discharge of a TIR operation has to take place without delay.

2. When the Customs authorities of a Contracting Party have discharged a

TIR operation they can no longer claim from the guaranteeing association
payment of the sums mentioned in Article 8, paragraphs 1 and 2, unless the
certificate of termination of the TIR operation was obtained in an improper or
fraudulent manner or no termination has taken place.
0.10-1 The certificate of termination of the TIR operation shall be regarded as

having been obtained in an improper or fraudulent manner when the TIR
operation has been carried out by means of load compartments or
containers adapted for fraudulent purposes, or when such malpractice as
the use of false or inaccurate documents, the substitution of goods,
tampering with Customs seals, etc., have been discovered, or when the
certificate has been obtained by other illicit means.
0.10-2 The phrase “or no termination has taken place” includes those situations
where the certificate of termination has been falsified.
Article 11
1. Where a TIR operation has not been discharged, the competent

authorities shall:
(a) notify the TIR Carnet holder at his address indicated in the TIR
Carnet of the non-discharge;
(b) notify the guaranteeing association of the non-discharge.
The competent authorities shall notify the guaranteeing association with

a maximum period of one year from the date of acceptance of the TIR
Carnet by those authorities or two years when the certificate of
termination of the TIR operation was falsified or obtained in an
improper or fraudulent manner.
0.11-1 The method of notification in writing is left to national legislation.

Comment to Article 11, paragraph 1“Payment of duties and taxes” has

been deleted.
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2010/3/Rev.1, Annex 2;
ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/105, para.31}
Time limit for notifications
As regards the time limit for the notification to the national

guaranteeing association of the non-discharge of TIR Carnets the date
of receipt but not the date of dispatch is the decisive one. However, the
method of proof of notification is left to the Customs administration
concerned (registered mail, for example being one example of proof of
reception). If the time limit is exceeded the national guaranteeing
association is not liable any more.
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/12, paragraph 28; TRANS/GE.30/35,
paragraphs 47 and 48; TRANS/GE.30/GRCC/11, paragraphs 14 and
15}
Notification to (a) guaranteeing association(s)
Customs authorities should notify their respective national guaranteeing

association(s) as soon as possible of cases covered by Article 11,
paragraph 1, that is when a TIR operation has not been discharged.
{TRANS/WP.30/192, paragraph 26; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59,
paragraph 46 and Annex 5}
Notification to the TIR Carnet holder
The requirement of notification to the TIR Carnet holder referred to in

Explanatory Notes 0.11-1 and 0.11-2 could be fulfilled by transmission
of a registered letter.
2. Where the payment of the sums mentioned in Article 8, paragraphs 1 and 2

becomes due, the competent authorities shall, so far as possible, require payment
from the person or persons directly liable for such payment before making a claim
against the guaranteeing association.
0.11-2 The efforts to be made by the competent authorities to require payment

from the person or persons liable shall include, at least, the sending of
the claim for payment to the TIR Carnet holder, at his address indicated
in the TIR Carnet, or the person of persons liable, if different, established
in accordance with national legislation. The claim for payment to the
TIR Carnet holder may be combined with the notification referred to in
paragraph 1 (a) of this Article.
3. The claim for payment of the sums referred to in Article 8, paragraphs 1

and 2 shall be made against the guaranteeing association at the earliest three
months after the date on which the association was notified that the operation had
not been discharged or that the certificate of termination of the TIR operation had
been falsified or obtained in an improper or fraudulent manner and not more than
two years after that date. However, in cases of TIR operations which, during the
above-mentioned period of two years, become the subject of administrative or legal
proceedings concerning the payment obligation of the person or persons referred
to in paragraph 2 of this Article, any claim for payment shall be made within one
year of the date on which the decision of the court becomes enforceable.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.30; entered into force on 13 September 2012)
Explanatory Notes to Article 11, paragraph 3
0.11-3-1 In deciding whether or not to release the goods or vehicle, competent

authorities should not, when they have other means in law of protecting
the interests for which they are responsible, be influenced by the fact that
the guaranteeing association is liable for the payment of duties, taxes and
default interest payable by the holder of the Carnet.
0.11-3-2 The competent authorities may inform the guaranteeing association that
administrative or legal proceedings concerning the payment obligation
were initiated. In any event, the competent authorities shall inform the
guaranteeing association of such proceedings that may be terminated
after the two year time limit before that time limit has expired.
Claim of payment of duties and taxes
The claim for payment should be supported by copies of the relevant

documentation. In cases where part of the goods has been subject to an
irregularity, the competent authorities should apportion the claim for
payment of the evaded duties and taxes referred to in Article 8,
paragraphs 1 and 2 accordingly. Without prejudice to any national
provisions concerning the right of appeal, should the guaranteeing
association obtain alternative proof of the termination of the TIR
operation, it should submit the proof to the competent authorities who
notified the non-discharge of the TIR operation.
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2010/3/Rev.1, Annex2}
4. The guaranteeing association shall pay the amounts claimed within a period
of three months from the date when a claim for payment is made against it.
0.11.4 If a guaranteeing association is asked, in accordance with the procedure

set out in this article, to pay the sums referred to in Article 8,
paragraphs 1 and 2, and fails to do so within the time-limit of three
months prescribed by the Convention, the competent authorities may rely
on national regulations in requiring payment of the sums in question
because what is involved in such cases is a failure to carry out a contract
of guarantee entered into by the guaranteeing association under national
law. The time limit also applies in the event that the guaranteeing
association, on receipt of the claim, consults the international
organization referred to in Article 6, paragraph 2 over its position
concerning the claim.
5. The sums paid shall be reimbursed to the guaranteeing association if,

within a two year period following the date on which the claim for payment was
made against it, it has been established to the satisfaction of the competent
authorities that no irregularity was committed in connection with the TIR
operation in question. The two year time limit may be extended in accordance with
national legislation. {ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.30; entered into force on 13
September 2012
Chapter III
TRANSPORT OF GOODS UNDER TIR CARNET
(a) APPROVAL OF VEHICLES AND CONTAINERS
Article 12
In order to fall within the provisions of sections (a) and (b) of this Chapter,
every road vehicle must as regards its construction and equipment fulfil the
conditions set out in Annex 2 to this Convention and must have been approved
according to the procedure laid down in Annex 3 to this Convention. The
Certificate of Approval shall conform to the specimen reproduced in Annex 4.
Approval Certificate
To conform to the model in Annex 4, the Approval Certificate should be

of format A3, folded in two.
{TRANS/GE.30/10, paragraph 33;TRANS/WP.30/157, paragraphs 27-
30; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/35, Annex 6}
Provision of Approval Certificate and Approval Plate
A certificate of approval, as provided for in Annex 4 of the Convention,

is required to be kept on the vehicle only for the load compartment of a
road vehicle as described in Annex 2, Article 1 of the Convention. In
case of transport of a demountable body, as defined in Annex 6,
Explanatory note 0.1(j), or a container, an approval plate, as provided
for in Annex 7, Part II of the Convention, is required to be affixed to the
approved demountable body or the approved container.
paragraph 17}
Article 13
1. To fall within the provisions of sections (a) and (b) of this Chapter,
containers must be constructed in conformity with the conditions laid down in
Part I of Annex 7 and must have been approved according to the procedure laid
down in Part II of that Annex.
2. Containers approved for the transport of goods under Customs seal in

accordance with the Customs Convention on Containers, 1956, the agreements
arising there from concluded under the auspices of the United Nations, the
Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 or any international instruments that
may supersede or modify the latter Convention, shall be considered as complying
with the provisions of paragraph 1 above and must be accepted for transport
under the TIR procedure without further approval.
Article 14
1. Each Contracting Party reserves the right to refuse to recognize the validity
of the approval of road vehicles or containers which do not meet the conditions set
forth in Articles 12 and 13 above. Nevertheless, Contracting Parties shall avoid
delaying traffic when the defects found are of minor importance and do not involve
any risk of smuggling.
2. Before it is used again for the transport of goods under Customs seal, any
road vehicle or container which no longer meets the conditions which justified its
approval, shall be either restored to its original state, or presented for re-approval.
(b) PROCEDURE FOR TRANSPORT UNDER COVER OF A TIR CARNET
Article 15
1. No special Customs documents shall be required in respect of the

temporary importation of a road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container
carrying goods under cover of the TIR procedure. No guarantee shall be required
for the road vehicle or combination of vehicles or container.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not prevent a

Contracting Party from requiring the fulfilment at the Customs office of
destination of the formalities laid down by its national regulations to ensure that,
once the TIR operation has been completed, the road vehicle, the combination of
vehicles or the container will be re-exported.
0.15 Certain difficulties may arise in the case of vehicles not subject to
registration, such as in some countries trailers or semi-trailers, when
Customs documents are not required for temporary admission. In that
case, the provisions of Article 15 may be observed, while assuring
adequate protection for the Customs authorities, by recording particulars
of these vehicles (make and numbers) on vouchers No. 1 and No. 2 of
the TIR Carnet used by the countries concerned and on the
corresponding counterfoils.
Customs documents
Since no document or guarantee is required for the vehicle, the vouchers

detached at the point of entry and point of departure are used for
checking. Should destruction of the vehicle occur, it raises no problem,
in the light of Article 41 of the Convention. If the vehicle should simply
disappear, proceedings should be taken under the national law to claim
compensation from the carrier whose address is given on the TIR
Carnet.
{TRANS/GE.30/10, paragraphs 26 and 27}
Customs procedures
European Economic Community (EEC) Regulation 4151/88 of

21 November 1988 (O.J. L 367, 31.12.1988, page 1) on the conduct of
Customs procedures for goods imported in the territory of the
Community and EEC Regulation 1855/89 of 14 June 1989 (O.J. L 186,
30.06.1989, page 8) on the temporary importation of means of transport,
do not alter Customs procedures as stipulated under the TIR
Convention, 1975 and do not conflict with Article 15 of the TIR
Convention, 1975.
{TRANS/WP.30/131, paragraphs 37 and 38}
Customs treatment of tractor units carrying out TIR transports
With a view to avoiding separate treatment for temporary admission of a

foreign registered tractor unit, the holder of a TIR Carnet should
indicate the tractor unit registration numbers on the cover page and
vouchers of the TIR Carnet. Without prejudice to the application of
other provisions of the TIR Convention, when the tractor unit is replaced
in the course of a TIR transport, the holder should make the proper
corrections in the TIR Carnet and, within the deadlines and according to
the procedures established by national regulations, have them endorsed
by Customs authorities. The replaced tractor unit which no longer
carries out a TIR transport should be treated according to national
legislation.
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2007/6, paragraph 12;
Article 16
When a road vehicle or combination of vehicles is carrying out a TIR

transport, one rectangular plate bearing the inscription "TIR" and conforming to
the specifications given in Annex 5 to this Convention, shall be affixed to the front
and another to the rear of the road vehicle or combination of vehicles. These plates
shall be so placed as to be clearly visible. They shall be removable or be fitted or
designed in such a way that these plates can be reversed, covered, folded or
indicate in any other manner that a TIR transport is not carried out.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.16; entered into force on 24 June 1994;
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21; entered into force on 12 May 2002}
Comment to Article 16
Technical characteristics of TIR plates
TIR plates must be solid plates conforming to the technical requirements

of Article 16 and Annex 5 to the Convention. Self-adhesive stickers are
not acceptable for use as TIR plates. {TRANS/WP.30/157,
paragraph 61}
Article 17
1. A single TIR Carnet shall be made out in respect of each road vehicle or
container. However, a single TIR Carnet may be made out in respect of a
combination of vehicles or for several containers loaded on to a single road vehicle
or on to a combination of vehicles. In that case the TIR manifest of the goods
covered by the TIR Carnet shall list separately the contents of each vehicle in the
combination of vehicles or of each container.
0.17-1 The provision that the manifest of the goods covered by the TIR Carnet
shall show separately the contents of each vehicle or a combination of
vehicles, or of each container, is only intended to simplify Customs
inspection of the contents of each vehicle or container. This provision
shall not therefore be interpreted so rigidly that each variation between
the actual contents of a vehicle or container and the contents of that
vehicle or container as shown on the manifest is considered a breach of
the provisions of the Convention.
If the carrier can satisfy the relevant authorities that, notwithstanding

such a variation, all the goods shown on the manifest agree with the total
of goods loaded in the combination of vehicles or in all the containers
covered by the TIR Carnet, this shall not normally be considered a
breach of Customs requirements.
2. The TIR Carnet shall be valid for one journey only. It shall contain at least
the number of detachable vouchers which are necessary for the TIR transport in
question.
0.17-2 In the case of household removals, the procedure laid down in

paragraph 10 (c) of the Rules for the use of the TIR Carnet can be
applied, the list of articles concerned being reasonably condensed.
Issuance of TIR Carnets for road trains and tractor semi-trailer

combinations
At the Customs office of departure it is left to the discretion of the

Customs authorities whether a single or several TIR Carnets would need
to be made out for a combination of vehicles or for several containers
loaded onto a single road vehicle or onto a combination of vehicles as
defined in Article 1 (g) and (h) of the Convention. Once the TIR
Carnet(s) has (have) been made out, it is not allowed, however, in line
with Article 4 of the Convention, to require additional TIR Carnets at
Customs offices en route.
{TRANS/WP.30/157, paragraph 26}
Issuance of TIR Carnets for mixed cargo consisting of normal goods and
heavy or bulky goods
When taking a decision on the number of TIR Carnets required for the
transport of a mixed cargo consisting of both normal goods and heavy
or bulky goods, the Customs office of departure shall take into account
the specific provisions of Article 32 according to which for the transport
of heavy or bulky goods the cover and all vouchers of the TIR Carnet
shall bear the endorsement “heavy or bulky goods”. Since this
endorsement does not apply to normal goods transported under Customs
seal, a separate TIR Carnet (or TIR Carnets) shall be required to cover
the transport of normal goods.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/71, Annex 3; TRANS/WP.30/206, paragraph 57}
Simultaneous use of several TIR Carnets
Where the Customs office of departure has accepted several TIR Carnets
for one TIR transport, this office shall indicate all reference numbers of
these TIR Carnets in box “For official use” on all vouchers of each TIR
Carnet accepted.
Article 18
A TIR transport may involve several Customs offices of departure and

destination, but the total number of Customs offices of departure and destination
shall not exceed four. The TIR Carnet may only be presented to Customs offices of
destination if all Customs offices of departure have accepted the TIR Carnet.
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21; entered into force on 12 May 2002}
0.18-1 It is essential for the smooth operation of the TIR procedure that the
Customs authorities of one country should refuse to designate a Customs
office of exit as a Customs office of destination for a transport operation
which is going on to a neighbouring country when that country is also a
Contracting Party to this Convention, unless there are some special
circumstances to justify the request.
0.18-2 1. Goods should be so loaded that the consignment to be unloaded

at the first unloading point can be taken out of the vehicle or the
container without it being necessary to unload the other consignment or
consignments of goods due to be unloaded at the other unloading points.
2. Where a transport operation involves unloading at more than one

office it is necessary that, after a partial unloading, a record of it should
be made in box 12 on all the remaining manifests of the TIR Carnet, and
at the same time another record should be made on the remaining
vouchers and the corresponding counterfoils to the effect that new seals
have been affixed.
Several Customs offices of departure and/or destination
A TIR transport may involve more than one Customs office of departure
and/or destination in one or in several countries, provided the total
number of Customs offices of departure and destination does not exceed
four. In accordance with No. 6 of the Rules regarding the use of the TIR
Carnet (Annex 1 to the Convention, Model of the TIR Carnet: Version 1
and Version 2, page 3 of the cover), for each additional Customs office
of departure or destination two extra vouchers are required. The filling
in of the vouchers of the TIR Carnet whenever several Customs offices of
departure/destination are involved should be done in such a way that
goods loaded/unloaded subsequently at different offices should be added
in/crossed out from the goods manifest (boxes 9, 10 and 11) and the
offices of departure/destination should endorse the goods
loaded/unloaded subsequently under item 16.
{TRANS/GE.30/55, paragraph 22; TRANS/WP.30/141, paragraphs 39-
41; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/31, Annex 3; TRANS/WP.30/192,
paragraph 26; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59, paragraph 46 and Annex 5}
Possibilities of increasing the total number of loading and unloading

points to more than four in exceptional cases
According to Article 18 and No.5 of the Rules regarding the use of the
TIR Carnet (Annex 1), one TIR transport may not involve more than four
points of loading and unloading. In order to increase the total number of
loading and unloading points in the course of one transport operation, a
road vehicle or a combination of vehicles or containers may perform
several TIR transports consecutively or at a time, each under cover of a
separate TIR Carnet. To this end, the following options may be used:
(i) Consecutive use of two TIR Carnets for one transport

operation in accordance with the comment to Article 28 "Possibility of
using two TIR Carnets for a single TIR transport". The first TIR Carnet
may include up to 4 Customs offices of departure and destination. After
its completion and termination at the fourth Customs office, a new TIR
Carnet may be opened and used for the remainder of the transport
operation. A proper inscription shall be made in both TIR Carnets to
reflect this fact. Thus, the last Customs office of destination covered by
the first TIR Carnet becomes the office of departure for the second TIR
Carnet which may include up to three Customs offices of destination. In
the first TIR Carnet, all goods bound for Customs offices of destination
of the second TIR Carnet should be indicated as intended for the last
Customs office of destination. Such a procedure may cover up to seven
Customs offices of departure and destination. To fulfil the conditions
laid down in Article 2 of the Convention, it is essential that both TIR
transports be carried out across at least one border. Since two TIR
Carnets are used one after another, only one TIR guarantee exists at a
time;
(ii) Simultaneous use of several road vehicles (e.g., a

combination of vehicles) or several containers. In line with Article 17,
paragraph 1 of the TIR Convention, for each road vehicle or container a
separate TIR Carnet may be issued. Each TIR Carnet may cover up to
four points of loading and unloading. The Customs office(s) of departure
should indicate all reference numbers of these TIR Carnets in box "For
official use" on all vouchers of each TIR Carnet accepted.
Whatever alternative is used, consignments to be unloaded at different

unloading points should be separated from each other, as stipulated in
Explanatory Note 0.18-2, paragraph 1.
{TRANS/WP.30/208, paragraph 28 and Annex; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/71,
Comment to Explanatory Note 0.18-2
Unloading of the goods
The term "unloading" referred to, in particular, in Explanatory Note

0.18-2 does not necessarily imply physical removal of the goods from
the vehicle or container, for example, in cases where a transport
operation continues with the same vehicle or container after a TIR
transport has ended. However, if a TIR transport has ended for a part-
load of the goods and continues for the rest of the load, the former shall
be physically removed from the sealed load compartment or container
or, in case of heavy or bulky goods, shall be separated from the
remaining heavy or bulky goods for which the TIR transport continues.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59, paragraph 46 and Annex 5;
Article 19
The goods and the road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the container
shall be produced with the TIR Carnet at the Customs office of departure. The
Customs authorities of the country of departure shall take such measures as are
necessary for satisfying themselves as to the accuracy of the goods manifest and
either for affixing the Customs seals or for checking Customs seals affixed under
the responsibility of the said Customs authorities by duly authorized persons.
0.19 The requirement that the Customs office of departure should check the
accuracy of the goods manifest implies the need to verify at least that the
particulars in the goods manifest tally with those in the export documents
and in the transport or other commercial documents relating to the goods;
the Customs office of departure may also have to examine the goods.
The Customs office of departure must also, before affixing seals, check
the condition of the road vehicle or container and, in the case of sheeted
vehicles or containers, the condition of the sheets and sheet fastenings, as
this equipment is not included in the Certificate of Approval.
Inspection at the office of departure
For the TIR system to operate smoothly it is essential that the Customs
inspection at the office of departure should be stringent and complete,
since the functioning of the TIR procedure depends upon it. The
following in particular should be prevented:
- False declaration of goods allowing for other goods to be substituted

during the journey (e.g. cigarettes loaded but wallpaper declared,
the cigarettes subsequently being unloaded and the wallpaper
loaded); and
- Carriage of goods not entered in the TIR Carnet manifest (e.g.

cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, weapons).
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/12, paragraph 31; TRANS/GE.30/GRCC/11,
paragraphs 19-21}
Falsification of the office of departure’s acceptance of a TIR Carnet
With a view to avoiding strict controls at the Customs office of

departure, fraudsters may attempt to falsify the Customs office of
departure's acceptance of an otherwise genuine TIR Carnet by using
false Customs stamps and seals. Such malpractices are very dangerous
as, according to the provisions of the TIR Convention, the Customs
authorities of countries in transit and of countries of destination
normally rely on checks carried out at the Customs office of departure.
Therefore, the Customs office(s) of exit, located in the country(ies) of
departure, play(s) a crucial role in revealing such fraudulent activities
and should check the authenticity of the seals affixed, the TIR Carnet
and other accompanying documents (e.g., goods export declaration,
CMR consignment note, etc.) which are usually verified by the Customs
office of departure. If necessary, the said Customs office(s) of exit
should carry out all other Customs procedures required in connection
with a TIR operation in the country(ies) of departure.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2004/2, paragraph 29; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/75,
paragraph 61 and Annex 3 and TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/75/Corr.3}
Specifications for Customs seals
The TIR Convention does not address the issue of standards and
requirements for Customs seals. It only stipulates that, as a general rule,
Contracting Parties must accept Customs seals affixed by other
Contracting Parties. Thus, the specification of Customs seals is left to
the discretion of national Customs authorities. With a view to ensuring
the effectiveness of Customs sealing, it is desirable that Customs
administrations use seals which conform to the latest international
requirements in this field. In this context, the attention of the Customs
authorities is drawn to the minimum requirements laid down in Specific
Annex E, Chapter 1 of the International Convention on the
Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs procedures (revised
Kyoto Convention). In addition, reference could be made to the
guidelines to Chapter 6 of the General Annex to the said Convention, as
elaborated under the auspices of the World Customs Organisation
(WCO).
{TRANS/WP.30/216, paragraph 67 and Annex 2 and
TRANS/WP.30/216/Corr.1; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/77, paragraph 54 and
Annex 3}
Article 20
For journeys in the territory of their country, the Customs authorities may
fix a time-limit and require the road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the
container to follow a prescribed route.
0.20 When fixing time-limits for the transport of goods within their territory,
Customs authorities must likewise take into account inter alia any special
regulations to which carriers are subject, particularly regulations
concerning working hours and mandatory rest periods for drivers of road
vehicles. It is recommended that these authorities should exercise their
right to prescribe a route only when they consider it essential.
Pecuniary penalties
When there is an infringement of the obligations deriving from Articles

20 and 39 and pecuniary penalties are required they may not be sought
from the guaranteeing association but only from the TIR Carnet holder
or the person responsible for the infringement. {TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/14,
paragraph 29; TRANS/GE.30/39, paragraph 30}
Article 21
At each Customs office en route and at Customs offices of destination, the

road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the container shall be produced for
purposes of control to the Customs authorities together with the load and the TIR
Carnet relating thereto.
0.21-1 The provisions of this Article do not restrict the right of Customs
authorities to examine all parts of a vehicle in addition to the sealed load
compartment.
0.21-2 The Customs office of entry may turn back the carrier to the Customs
office of exit of the adjacent country if it finds that no clearance has been
given by that office or that clearance has not been given in due form. In
such cases the Customs office of entry inserts a note in the TIR Carnet
for the Customs office of exit concerned.
0.21-3 If in the course of an examination, Customs authorities draw samples of

goods, a note recording full particulars of the goods taken must be made
by those authorities on the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet.
Termination of a TIR operation at the Customs office of exit (en route)

and at the Customs office of destination
Termination en route
The road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the container have been
presented for purposes of control to the Customs office of exit (en route)
together with the load and the TIR Carnet relating thereto.
Partial termination
presented for purposes of control to the Customs office of destination
together with the load and the TIR Carnet relating thereto followed by
partial unloading.
Final termination
presented for purposes of control to the last Customs office of
destination together with the load or the remaining load in case of
previous partial termination(s) and the TIR Carnet relating thereto.
Article 22
1. As a general rule and except when they examine the goods in accordance
with Article 5, paragraph 2, the Customs authorities of the Customs offices en
route of each of the Contracting Parties shall accept the Customs seals of other
Contracting Parties, provided that they are intact. The said Customs authorities
may, however, if control requirements make it necessary, add their own seals.
2. The Customs seals thus accepted by a Contracting Party shall have in the
territory of that Contracting Party the benefit of the same legal protection as is
accorded to the national seals.
Specifications of Customs seals
The TIR Convention does not address the issue of standards and
requirements for Customs seals. It only stipulates that, as a general rule,
Contracting Parties must accept Customs seals affixed by other
Contracting Parties. Thus, specification of Customs seals is left at the
discretion of national Customs authorities. However, with a view to
ensuring high security of Customs sealing, it is essential that Customs
administrations use seals which conform to up-to-date international
standards and requirements in this field. In this context, the attention of
Customs authorities is drawn to the guidelines to Chapter 6 of the
General Annex to the International Convention on the Simplification
and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention)
as well as to minimum requirements for Customs seals laid down in
Specific Annex E, Chapter 1 of the said Convention elaborated under the
auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO).
{TRANS/WP.30/216, paragraph 67 and Annex 2 and
TRANS/WP.30/216/Corr.1; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/77 paragraph 54 and
Annex 3}
Article 23
The Customs authorities shall not:
- require road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or containers to be

escorted at the carriers' expense on the territory of their country,
- require examination en route of road vehicles, combinations of vehicles

or containers and their loads
except in special cases.

Escort of road vehicles
Article 23 implies that escort may be prescribed under exceptional

circumstances only when compliance with Customs law cannot be
ensured by other means. A decision regarding escort should be based on
risk analysis. In particular, Customs authorities should analyze the risk
that the transport operator will not present the road vehicle(s) together
with the goods to the Customs office of destination or exit (en route) and
that the goods may illegally be put into free circulation. When doing so,
Customs authorities are recommended to assess, among others, the
following factors (in no particular order):
- information on Customs infringements committed by the TIR Carnet

holder as well as on his previous withdrawals or exclusions from the
TIR procedure;
- information on the reputation of the transport operator;
- the amount of import or export duties and taxes at risk;
- the origin of the goods and their itinerary.
In the case of escorts and in particular if no other written proof is

provided to the carrier, Customs authorities are recommended, at the
request of the carrier, to insert into the counterfoil No. 1 of the TIR
Carnet under item 5 “Miscellaneous” the word “Escort”, followed by a
short indication of the reasons which have led to the requirement for the
escort.
According to Explanatory Note 0.1 (f), escort fees should be limited in

amount to the approximate cost of the services rendered and should not
represent an indirect protection to domestic products or a tax on
imports or exports for fiscal purposes.(ECE/TRANS/WP.30/240,
paragraph 26; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/97, paragraph 27)
Article 24
If the Customs authorities conduct an examination of the load of a road

vehicle, combination of vehicles or the container in the course of the journey or at
a Customs office en route, they shall record on the TIR Carnet vouchers used in
their country, on the corresponding counterfoils, and on the vouchers remaining in
the TIR Carnet, particulars of the new seals affixed and of the controls carried out.
Article 25
If the Customs seals are broken en route otherwise than in the

circumstances of Articles 24 and 35, or if any goods are destroyed or damaged
without breaking of such seals, the procedure laid down in Annex I to this
Convention for the use of the TIR Carnet shall, without prejudice to the possible
application of the provisions of national law, be followed and the certified report in
the TIR Carnet shall be completed.
Article 26
1. When transport under cover of a TIR Carnet takes place in part in the
territory of a State which is not a Contracting Party to this Convention, the TIR
transport shall be suspended during that part of the journey. In that case, the
Customs authorities of the Contracting Party on whose territory the journey
continues shall accept the TIR Carnet for the resumption of the TIR transport,
provided that the Customs seals and/or identifying marks have remained intact.
Where the Customs seals have not remained intact, the Customs authorities may
accept the TIR Carnet for resumption of the TIR transport under the provisions of
Article 25.
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.24 ; entered into force on 19 September 2004}
2. The same shall apply where for a part of the journey the TIR Carnet is not
used by the holder of the Carnet in the territory of a Contracting Party because of
the existence of simpler Customs transit procedures or when the use of a Customs
transit regime is not necessary.
3. In such cases the Customs offices where the TIR transport is suspended or
resumed shall be deemed to be Customs offices of exit en route and Customs
offices of entry en route respectively. {ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21; entered into
force on 12 May 2002}
Suspension of a TIR transport in a Contracting Party where no approved

guaranteeing association exists
Article 26 also applies to Contracting Parties where no approved

guaranteeing associations exist and where, thus, the provisions of the
Convention are not applicable, in accordance with Article 3,
paragraph (b). A list of such Contracting Parties is established by the
TIR Administrative Committee and TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) on
the basis of documentation deposited with the TIRExB by Contracting
Parties pursuant to the provisions of Annex 9, Part I to the Convention.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/63, paragraphs 59 and 60 and Annex 3}
Use of the TIR procedure in case a part of the journey is not made by
road
According to Article 2 of the Convention, as long as some portion of the

journey between the beginning and the end of a TIR transport is made
by road, other modes of transport (railways, inland waterways, etc.) can
be used. During a non-road leg, the holder of a TIR Carnet may either:
- ask the Customs authorities to suspend the TIR transport in

accordance with the provisions of Article 26, paragraph 2 of the
Convention. In order to resume the suspended TIR transport,
Customs treatment and Customs control should be available at the
end of the non-road leg. If the whole part of the journey in the
country of departure is not made by road, the TIR operation may
start and be immediately certified as terminated at the Customs office
of departure by tearing off both vouchers No. 1 and No. 2 of the TIR
Carnet. Under these circumstances, no TIR guarantee is provided for
the remainder of the journey inside this country. However, the TIR
transport could be easily resumed at the Customs office situated at
the end of the non-road leg in another Contracting Party in
accordance with the provisions of Article 26 of the Convention; or
- use the TIR procedure. However, in this case the holder should take
into account that a TIR operation in a given country may apply only
in case the national Customs authorities are in a position to ensure
the proper treatment of the TIR Carnet at the following points (as
applicable): entry (en route), exit (en route) and destination.
{TRANS/WP.30.AC.2/67, paragraph 64 and Annex 4}
Article 27
Subject to the provisions of this Convention and in particular of Article 18,

another Customs office of destination may be substituted for a Customs office of
destination originally indicated.
Article 28
1. Termination of a TIR operation shall be certified by the Customs

authorities without delay. Termination of a TIR operation may be certified
without or with reservation: where termination is certified with reservation this
shall be on account of facts connected with the TIR operation itself. These facts
shall be clearly indicated in the TIR Carnet.
2. In cases where the goods are placed under another Customs procedure or
another system of Customs control, all irregularities that may be committed under
that other Customs procedure or system of Customs control shall not be attributed
to the TIR Carnet holder as such or any person acting on his behalf.
0.28-1 The use of the TIR Carnet must be restricted to the function which it was
intended to cover, namely the transit operation. The TIR Carnet must
not, for example, be used to cover the storage of goods under Customs
control at destination.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21, entered into force on 12 May 2002;
0.28-2 This Article provides that the termination of a TIR operation shall be
subjected to the goods being placed under another Customs procedure or
another system of Customs control. This includes clearing the goods for
home use (either full or conditionally), the transfer across the border to a
third party (export), or to a free zone, or the storage of the goods in a
place approved by the Customs authorities while awaiting the declaration

for another procedure.
Return of TIR Carnets to the holder or any other person acting on his
behalf
It must be stressed that the immediate return of the TIR Carnet to the
holder or any other person acting on his behalf, whether certified as
terminated with or without reservation, is an essential duty of the
Customs office of destination. This not only facilitates checking by the
issuing association and the international organization referred to in
Article 6, but also enables these organizations, on return of the Carnet,
to issue a new Carnet to the holder, since the number of Carnets in use
(in the holder’s possession) at any one time may be limited.
paragraphs 24 and 25; TRANS/WP.30/192, paragraph 26;
Possibility of using two TIR Carnets for a single TIR transport
Occasionally, the number of vouchers in the TIR Carnet are not

sufficient to carry out a total TIR transport. In these cases the first part
of a TIR transport has to be ended in accordance with Articles 27 and
28 of the Convention and a new Carnet has to be accepted by the same
Customs office having certified the termination of the previous TIR
operation and used for the remainder of the TIR transport. Proper
inscription shall be made in both TIR Carnets to reflect this fact.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/23, paragraph 21; TRANS/WP.30/192,
Comment “Applicable procedures after termination of a TIR operation”

has been deleted.{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/105, paragraph 31}}
Termination of a TIR operation
1. In cases where a TIR operation has been certified as terminated

without reservation, the Customs authorities which declare that the
certificate of termination has been obtained in an improper or
fraudulent manner should specify in its notification of non-discharge
and/or request for payment its reasons for declaring this termination
improper or fraudulent.
2. The Customs authorities should not certify the termination of TIR

operations subject to systematic unspecified reservations, without giving
reasons, solely for the purposes of avoiding the requirements of
Article 10, paragraph 1 and Article 11, paragraph 1.
{TRANS/GE.30/GRCC/11, paragraph 12; TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/12,
paragraph 25; TRANS/WP.30/192, paragraph 26;
Indication of reservations
Customs authorities should make any reservation about the termination

of a TIR operation very clear and should also indicate the existence of a
reservation by filling-in box 27 on voucher No. 2 of the TIR Carnet and
by placing an “R” under item No. 5 on counterfoil No. 2 of the Carnet
as well as by completion of the Certified Report of the TIR Carnet, if
appropriate.
{TRANS/GE.30/8, paragraph 12; TRANS/WP.30/192, paragraph 26;
Alternative forms of evidence for the termination of a TIR operation
With a view to establishing alternative evidence for the proper

termination of a TIR operation, Customs authorities are recommended
to use exceptionally, for example, the following information provided it
has been furnished to their satisfaction:
- any official certificate or confirmation of the termination of a

TIR operation covered by the same TIR transport made out by another
Contracting Party following the respective TIR operation or
confirmation of the transfer of the goods in question to another Customs
procedure or another system of Customs control, e.g. clearance for
home use;
- the duly stamped corresponding counterfoils No. 1 or No. 2 in

the TIR Carnet by such a Contracting Party or a copy thereof to be
provided by the international organization referred to in Article 6 of the
Convention which must confirm that it is a true copy of the original.
{TRANS/WP.30/159, paragraph 38; TRANS/WP.30/192,
Improved procedures in the use of TIR Carnets by transport operators
In some Contracting Parties the transport operator does not have direct
contacts with the competent Customs officials at the Customs office of
destination before the consignee or his agents undertake the necessary
Customs formalities for clearance of goods for home use or by any other
Customs procedure following the TIR transit operation. With a view to
allowing the transport operator or his driver to verify that the TIR
procedure is properly terminated by the competent Customs officials, the
transport operator or his driver are allowed, if they so wish, to keep the
TIR Carnet and to provide the consignee or his agents only with a copy
of the yellow voucher No. 1/No. 2 (not for Customs use) in the TIR
Carnet, together with any other required documentation. Following the
clearance of goods for home use or by any other Customs procedure, the
transport operator or his driver should then proceed in person to the
competent Customs officials to have his TIR Carnet certified.
^TRANS/WP.30/188, paragraph 54; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59,
paragraphs 61 and 62 and Annex 6`
(c) PROVISIONS CONCERNING TRANSPORT OF HEAVY

OR BULKY GOODS
Article 29
1. The provisions of this section apply only to the transport of heavy or bulky
goods as defined in Article 1, subparagraph (p), of this Convention.
2. Where the provisions of this section apply, heavy or bulky goods may, if the
authorities at the Customs office of departure so decide, be carried by means of
non-sealed vehicles or containers.
3. The provisions of this section shall apply only if, in the opinion of the
authorities at the Customs office of departure, the heavy or bulky goods carried
and any accessories carried with them can be easily identified by reference to the
description given, or can be provided with Customs seals and/or identifying marks
so as to prevent any substitution, or removal of the goods, without it being obvious.
0.29 No certificate of approval is required for road vehicles or containers

transporting heavy or bulky goods. It is, nevertheless, the responsibility
of the Customs office of departure to make sure that the other conditions
laid down in this Article for this type of transport operation are met.
Customs offices of other Contracting Parties shall accept the decision of
the Customs office of departure unless in their opinion it is clearly in
conflict with the provisions of Article 29.
Road vehicles considered as heavy or bulky goods
If road vehicles or special vehicles regarded themselves as heavy or

bulky goods are carrying other heavy or bulky goods so that both
vehicle and goods at the same time fulfil the conditions set forth in
Chapter III (c) of the Convention, only one TIR Carnet is needed
bearing at the cover and all vouchers of the TIR Carnet the endorsement
set forth in Article 32 of the Convention. If such vehicles are carrying
normal goods in the load compartment or in containers, the vehicle or
the containers must be previously approved under the conditions set
forth in Chapter III (a) and the load compartment or the containers have
to be sealed.
The provisons of Article 3 (a) (iii) of the Convention apply in the case of
road vehicles or special vehicles being exported from the country where
the Customs office of departure is located and being imported into
another country where the Customs office of destination is located. In
this case, the provisions of Article 15 of the Convention referring to the
temporary importation of a road vehicle are not applicable. Thus, the
Customs documents in respect of temporary importation of such vehicles
are not required.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59, paragraphs 61 and 62 and Annex 6;
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/65, paragraphs 39 and 40 and Annex 2;
Transport of livestock
For the transport of livestock the provisions under Article 29 of the

Convention concerning the transport of heavy and bulky goods should
be applicable.
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/21, paragraph 30}
Article 30
All the provisions of this Convention, save those to which the special
provisions of this section make an exception, shall apply to the transport of heavy
or bulky goods under the TIR procedure.
Article 31
The liability of the guaranteeing association shall cover not only the goods
enumerated in the TIR Carnet, but also any goods which, though not enumerated
in the Carnet, are on the load platform or among the goods enumerated in the TIR
Carnet.
Article 32
The cover and all vouchers of the TIR Carnet shall bear the endorsement
"heavy or bulky goods" in bold letters in English or in French.
Issuance of TIR Carnets for a mixed cargo consisting of normal goods

and heavy or bulky goods
When taking a decision on the number of TIR Carnets required for the
transport of a mixed cargo consisting of both normal goods and heavy
or bulky goods, the Customs office of departure shall take into account
the specific provisions of Article 32 according to which for the transport
of heavy or bulky goods the cover and all vouchers of the TIR Carnet
shall bear the endorsement “heavy or bulky goods”. Since this
endorsement does not apply to normal goods transported under Customs
seal, a separate TIR Carnet (or TIR Carnets) shall be required to cover
the transport of normal goods.
Article 33
The authorities at the Customs office of departure may require such

packing lists, photographs, drawings, etc., as are necessary for the identification of
the goods carried to be appended to the TIR Carnet. In this case they shall endorse
these documents, one copy of the said documents shall be attached to the inside of
the cover page of the TIR Carnet, and all the manifests of the TIR Carnet shall
include a reference to such documents.
Article 34
The authorities at the Customs offices en route of each of the Contracting

Parties shall accept the Customs seals and/or identifying marks affixed by the
competent authorities of other Contracting Parties. They may, however, affix
additional seals and/or identifying marks; they shall record particulars of the new
seals and/or identifying marks on the vouchers of the TIR Carnet used in their
country, on the corresponding counterfoils and on the vouchers remaining in the
TIR Carnet.
Article 35
If Customs authorities conducting an examination of the load at a Customs

office en route or in the course of the journey are obliged to break seals and/or
remove identifying marks, they shall record the new seals and/or identifying marks
on the vouchers of the TIR Carnet used in their country, on the corresponding
counterfoils and on the vouchers remaining in the TIR Carnet.
Chapter IV
IRREGULARITIES
Article 36
Any breach of the provisions of this Convention shall render the offender
liable, in the country where the offence was committed, to the penalties prescribed
by the law of that country.
Article 37
When it is not possible to establish in which territory an irregularity was

committed, it shall be deemed to have been committed in the territory of the
Contracting Party where it is detected.
Article 38
1. Each of the Contracting Parties shall have the right to exclude temporarily
or permanently from the operation of this Convention any person guilty of a
serious offence against the Customs laws or regulations applicable to the
international transport of goods.
0.38.1 Explanatory Note has been deleted.

{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.23; entered into force on 7 November 2003}
2. This exclusion shall be notified within one week to the competent

authorities of the Contracting Party on whose territory the person concerned is
established or resident, to the association(s) in the country or Customs territory
where the offence has been committed and to the TIR Executive Board.

Cooperation between competent authorities
With regard to the authorization of a person to utilize TIR Carnets in line

with Annex 9, Part II of the Convention, the competent authorities of the
Contracting Party where the person concerned is resident or established
should take into due account any information notified by another
Contracting Party in accordance with Article 38, paragraph 2 on serious
or repeated offences against Customs legislation committed by that
person. Thus, in order to allow for efficient consideration of the case by
the Contracting Party where the person concerned is resident or
established, such notification should contain as many details as possible.
{TRANS/WP.30/196, paragraph 76; TRANS/WP.30/200, paragraph 68;
Exclusion of a domestic transport operator from the TIR procedure
In order to exclude from the TIR regime a national transport operator

guilty of a serious offence against the Customs laws committed in the
territory of the country where he is resident or established, the Customs
authorities are recommended to use the provisions of Article 6,
paragraph 4 and Annex 9, Part II, paragraph 1 (d) rather than the
provisions of Article 38, paragraph 1.
Article 39
When TIR operations are accepted as being otherwise in order:
1. The Contracting Parties shall disregard minor discrepancies in the

observance of time-limits or routes prescribed.
2. Likewise, discrepancies between the particulars on the goods manifest of

the TIR Carnet and the actual contents of a road vehicle, combination of vehicles
or container shall not be considered as infringements of the Convention by the
holder of the TIR Carnet when evidence is produced to the satisfaction of the
competent authorities that these discrepancies were not due to mistakes committed
knowingly or through negligence at the time when the goods were loaded or
dispatched or when the manifest was made out.
0.39 The expression "mistakes committed through negligence" is to be taken

to mean acts which, although not committed deliberately and in full
knowledge of the facts, are due to a failure to take reasonable and
necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of the facts in any particular case.
Article 40
The Customs administrations of the countries of departure and of

destination shall not consider the holder of the TIR Carnet responsible for the
discrepancies which may be discovered in those countries, when the discrepancies
in fact relate to the Customs procedures which preceded or followed a TIR
transport and in which the holder was not involved.
Article 41
When it is established to the satisfaction of the Customs authorities that

goods specified on the manifest of a TIR Carnet have been destroyed or have been
irrecoverably lost by accident or force majeure or that they are short by reason of
their nature, payment of the duties and taxes normally due shall be waived.
Article 42
On receipt from a Contracting Party for a request giving the relevant

reasons, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties concerned in a TIR
transport shall furnish that Contracting Party with all the available information
needed for implementation of the provisions of Articles 39, 40 and 41 above.
Co-operation between Customs authorities
It is often difficult for Customs authorities, in the case of non-discharge

of TIR Carnets, to establish the import or export duties and taxes to be
claimed, since the description of the goods in the Carnet is often very
vague and its value not indicated. Therefore, the Customs office of
departure often needs to be asked for additional information on the
goods loaded. In such cases close co-operation and exchange of
information between competent authorities of all Contracting Parties is
of importance, as only strict compliance with the provisions of Articles
42 and 50 of the Convention can guarantee an effective functioning of
the TIR transit regime.
Article 42 bis
The competent authorities, in close cooperation with the associations, shall

take all necessary measures to ensure the proper use of TIR Carnets. To this effect
they may take appropriate national and international control measures. National
control measures taken in this context by the competent authorities shall be
communicated immediately to the TIR Executive Board which will examine their
conformity with the provisions of the Convention. International control measures
shall be adopted by the Administrative Committee.
Article 42 ter
The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall, as appropriate,

provide authorized associations with information that they require to fulfil the
undertaking given in accordance with Annex 9, Part I, para. 3(iii).
Annex 10 sets out the information to be provided in particular cases.
Chapter V
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Article 43
The Explanatory Notes set out in Annex 6 and Annex 7, Part III, interpret
certain provisions of this Convention and its Annexes. They also describe certain
recommended practices.
Chapter VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Article 44
Each Contracting Party shall provide the guaranteeing associations

concerned with facilities for:
(a) the transfer of the currency necessary for the sums claimed by the authorities
of Contracting Parties by virtue of the provisions of Article 8 of this
Convention; and
(b) the transfer of currency for payment for TIR Carnet forms sent to the
guaranteeing associations by the corresponding foreign associations or by the
international organizations.
Article 45
Each Contracting Party shall cause to be published the list of the Customs
offices of departure, Customs offices en route and Customs offices of destination
approved by it for accomplishing TIR operations. The Contracting Parties of
adjacent territories shall consult each other to agree upon corresponding frontier
offices and upon their opening hours.
0.45 Contracting Parties are recommended to make the largest possible

number of Customs offices, both inland and at the frontier, available for
dealing with TIR operations.
Article 46
1. No charge shall be made for Customs attendance in connection with the

Customs operations mentioned in this Convention, save where it is provided on
days or at times or places other than those normally appointed for such operations.
2. Contracting Parties shall arrange to the fullest extent possible for Customs
operations concerning perishable goods at Customs offices to be facilitated.
Charges for Customs checks on request from the transport operator
Any charges related to Customs attendance on request from the

transport operator, as laid down in the comment to Article 5 of the TIR
Convention, shall be borne by him.
Article 47
1. The provisions of this Convention shall preclude neither the application of

restrictions and controls imposed under national regulations on grounds of public
morality, public security, hygiene or public health, or for veterinary or
phytopathological reasons, nor the levy of dues chargeable by virtue of such
regulations.
2. The provisions of this Convention shall not preclude the application of

other provisions either national or international governing transport.
Trade facilitation and Customs controls
The TIR Convention is a Customs Convention aimed at the Customs

transit regime. The objective of Article 47 is to allow for the application
of additional restrictions and controls based on national regulations
other than Customs regulations. Therefore it should not be used to
justify supplementary Customs requirements.
Where Article 47, paragraph 1 becomes applicable, such restrictions

and controls will usually lead to delays and extra costs for transport
businesses. In recognition of this, such restrictions and controls shall be
kept to a minimum and be limited to the cases where the circumstances
or the real risks justify them.
{TRANS/WP.30/204, paragraph 58; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69, Annex 3}
Accompanying documentation
Documentation required under international Conventions (such as the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, 1973) should always accompany the goods
concerned. In such cases a reference to this documentation on the TIR
Carnet could facilitate Customs controls.
{TRANS/WP.30/216, paragraph 72 and Annex 2;
Article 48
Nothing in this Convention shall prevent Contracting Parties which form a

Customs or Economic Union from enacting special provisions in respect of
transport operations commencing or terminating, or passing through, their
territories, provided that such provisions do not attenuate the facilities provided
for by this Convention.
Article 49
This Convention shall not prevent the application of greater facilities which
Contracting Parties grant or may wish to grant either by unilateral provisions or
by virtue of bilateral or multilateral agreements provided that such facilities do
not impede the application of the provisions of this Convention, and in particular,
TIR operations.
Article 50
The Contracting Parties shall communicate to one another, on request,

information necessary for implementing the provisions of this Convention, and
particularly information relating to the approval of road vehicles or containers
and to the technical characteristics of their design.
Article 51
The Annexes to this Convention form an integral part of the Convention.
Chapter VII
FINAL CLAUSES
Article 52
Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession
1. All States Members of the United Nations or members of any of the

specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or Parties to
the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and any other State invited by the
General Assembly of the United Nations, may become Contracting Parties to this
Convention:
(a) by signing it without reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval;

(b) by depositing an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval after

signing it subject to ratification, acceptance or approval; or
(c) by depositing an instrument of accession.
2. This Convention shall be open from 1 January 1976 until 1 December 1976
inclusive for signature at the Office of the United Nations at Geneva by the States
referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Thereafter it shall be open for their
accession.
3. Customs or economic unions may, together with all their member States or
at any time after all their member States have become Contracting Parties to this
Convention, also become Contracting Parties to this Convention in accordance
with the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article. However, these unions
shall not have the right to vote.
4. The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be

deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article 53
Entry into force
1. This Convention shall enter into force six months after the date on which
five States referred to in Article 52, paragraph 1, have signed it without
reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited their
instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
2. After five States referred to in Article 52, paragraph 1, have signed it

without reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval, or have deposited their
instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Convention
shall enter into force for further Contracting Parties six months after the date of
the deposit of their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
3. Any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited

after the entry into force of an amendment to this Convention shall be deemed to
apply to this Convention as amended.
4. Any such instrument deposited after an amendment has been accepted but
before it has entered into force shall be deemed to apply to this Convention as
amended on the date when the amendment enters into force.
Article 54
Denunciation
1. Any Contracting Party may denounce this Convention by so notifying the

Secretary-General of the United Nations.
2. Denunciation shall take effect fifteen months after the date of receipt by the
Secretary-General of the notification of denunciation.
3. The validity of TIR Carnets accepted by the Customs office of departure

before the date when the denunciation takes effect shall not be affected thereby
and the guarantee of the guaranteeing association shall hold good in accordance
with the provisions of this Convention.
Article 55
Termination
If, after the entry into force of this Convention, the number of States which
are Contracting Parties is for any period of twelve consecutive months reduced to
less than five, the Convention shall cease to have effect from the end of the
twelve-month period.
Article 56
Termination of the operation of the TIR Convention, 1959
1. Upon its entry into force, this Convention shall terminate and replace, in
relations between the Contracting Parties to this Convention, the TIR
Convention, 1959.
2. Certificates of approval issued in respect of road vehicles and containers

under the conditions of the TIR Convention, 1959, shall be accepted during the
period of their validity or any extension thereof for the transport of goods under
Customs seal by Contracting Parties to this Convention, provided that such
vehicles and containers continue to fulfil the conditions under which they were
originally approved.
Article 57
Settlement of disputes
1. Any dispute between two or more Contracting Parties concerning the

interpretation or application of this Convention shall, so far as possible be settled
by negotiation between them or other means of settlement.
2. Any dispute between two or more Contracting Parties concerning the

interpretation or application of this Convention which cannot be settled by the
means indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article shall, at the request of one of them,
be referred to an arbitration tribunal composed as follows: each Party to the
dispute shall appoint an arbitrator and these arbitrators shall appoint another
arbitrator, who shall be chairman. If, three months after receipt of a request, one
of the Parties has failed to appoint an arbitrator or if the arbitrators have failed to
elect the chairman, any of the Parties may request the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to appoint an arbitrator or the chairman of the arbitration
tribunal.
3. The decision of the arbitration tribunal established under the provisions of

paragraph 2 shall be binding on the Parties to the dispute.
4. The arbitration tribunal shall determine its own rules of procedure.
5. Decisions of the arbitration tribunal shall be taken by majority vote.
6. Any controversy which may arise between the Parties to the dispute as
regards the interpretation and execution of the award may be submitted by any of
the Parties for judgment to the arbitration tribunal which made the award.
Article 58
Reservations
1. Any State may, at the time of signing, ratifying or acceding to this

Convention, declare that it does not consider itself bound by Article 57,
paragraphs 2 to 6, of this Convention. Other Contracting Parties shall not be
bound by these paragraphs in respect of any Contracting Party which has entered
such a reservation.
2. Any Contracting Party having entered a reservation as provided for in

paragraph 1 of this Article may at any time withdraw such reservation by
notifying the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
3. Apart from the reservations provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article, no

reservation to this Convention shall be permitted.
Article 58 bis
Administrative Committee
An Administrative Committee composed of all the Contracting Parties shall

be established. Its composition, functions and rules of procedure are set out in
Annex 8.
Article 58 ter
TIR Executive Board
The Administrative Committee shall establish a TIR Executive Board as a

subsidiary body which will, on its behalf, fulfil the tasks entrusted to it by the
Convention and by the Committee. Its composition, functions and rules of
procedure are set out in Annex 8.
Article 59
Procedure for amending this Convention
1. This Convention, including its Annexes, may be amended upon the proposal
of a Contracting Party by the procedure specified in this Article.
2. Any proposed amendment to this Convention shall be considered by the

Administrative Committee composed of all the Contracting Parties in accordance
with the rules of procedure set out in Annex 8. Any such amendment considered or
prepared during the meeting of the Administrative Committee and adopted by it
by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting shall be
communicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the Contracting
Parties for their acceptance.
3. Except as provided for under Article 60, any proposed amendment

communicated in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall come into force
with respect to all Contracting Parties three months after the expiry of a period of
twelve months following the date of communication of the proposed amendment
during which period no objection to the proposed amendment has been
communicated to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by a State which is a

Contracting Party.
4. If an objection to the proposed amendment has been communicated in

accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article, the amendment shall be deemed not
to have been accepted and shall have no effect whatsoever.
Article 60
Special procedure for amending Annexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
1. Any proposed amendment to Annexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10

considered in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 59 shall come into
force on a date to be determined by the Administrative Committee at the time of
its adoption, unless by a prior date determined by the Administrative Committee
at the same time, one-fifth or five of the States which are Contracting Parties,
whichever number is less, notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations of
their objection to the amendment. Determination by the Administrative
Committee of dates referred to in this paragraph shall be by a two-thirds majority
of those present and voting.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.19; entered into force on 17 February 1999;
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.27; entered into force on 12 August 2006}
2. On entry into force, any amendment adopted in accordance with the

procedures set out in paragraph 1 above shall for all Contracting Parties replace
and supersede any previous provisions to which the amendment refers.
Article 61
Requests, communications and objections
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all Contracting

Parties and all States referred to in Article 52, paragraph 1, of this Convention of
any request, communication or objection under Articles 59 and 60 above and of
the date on which any amendment enters into force.
Article 62
Review Conference
1. Any State which is a Contracting Party may, by notification to the

Secretary-General of the United Nations, request that a conference be convened
for the purpose of reviewing this Convention.
2. A review conference to which all Contracting Parties and all States referred
to in Article 52, paragraph 1, shall be invited, shall be convened by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations if, within a period of six months following
the date of notification by the Secretary-General, not less than one-fourth of the
States which are Contracting Parties notify him of their concurrence with the
request.
3. A review conference to which all Contracting Parties and all States referred
to in Article 52, paragraph 1, shall be invited shall also be convened by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations upon notification of a request by the
Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall make a request if
agreed to by a majority of those present and voting in the Committee.
4. If a conference is convened in pursuance of paragraphs 1 or 3 of this

Article, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall so advise all the
Contracting Parties and invite them to submit, within a period of three months, the
proposals which they wish the conference to consider. The Secretary-General of
the United Nations shall circulate to all Contracting Parties the provisional agenda
for the conference, together with the texts of such proposals, at least three months
before the date on which the conference is to meet.
Article 63
Notifications
In addition to the notifications and communications provided for in Articles

61 and 62, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify all the States
referred to in Article 52 of the following:
(a) signatures, ratifications, acceptances, approvals and accessions under

Article 52;
(b) the dates of entry into force of this Convention in accordance with Article 53;
(c) denunciations under Article 54;
(d) the termination of this Convention under Article 55;
(e) reservations under Article 58.

Article 64
Authentic text
After 31 December 1976, the original of this Convention shall be deposited

with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit certified true
copies to each of the Contracting Parties and to the States referred to in Article 52,
paragraph 1, which are not Contracting Parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto,

have signed this Convention.
DONE at Geneva, this fourteenth day of November one thousand nine

hundred and seventy-five, in a single copy in the English, French and Russian
languages, the three texts being equally authentic.
____________________
TIR CONVENTION - 99 - ANNEXES
2.2 ANNEXES TO THE TIR CONVENTION, 1975
(INCLUDING EXPLANATORY NOTES

AND COMMENTS THERETO)
ANNEX 1 - 101 - TIR CONVENTION
Annex 1
MODEL OF THE TIR CARNET
VERSION 1
1. The TIR Carnet is printed in French except for page 1 of the cover where
the items are also printed in English. The "Rules regarding the Use of the TIR
Carnet" given in French on page 2 of the cover are also printed in English on page
3 of the cover. The "Certified Report" may also appear, on its reverse side, in a
language other than French, as may be appropriate.
2. Carnets used for TIR operations within a regional guarantee chain may be
printed in any other official language of the United Nations except for page 1 of the
cover where the items are also printed in English or French. The "Rules regarding
the Use of the TIR Carnet" are printed on page 2 of the cover in the official
language of the United Nations used and are also printed in English or French on
page 3 of the cover.
VERSION 2
3. For the transport of tobacco and alcohol for which an increased

guarantee may be claimed from the guaranteeing association, in line with Annex 6,
Explanatory Note 0.8.3, Customs authorities shall request TIR Carnets to be
clearly marked "TOBACCO/ALCOHOL" and "TABAC/ALCOOL" on the cover
and on all vouchers. In addition, these Carnets must provide details, at least in
English and French, on the categories of tobacco and alcohol guaranteed, on a
separate sheet inserted into the Carnet following page 2 of the cover of the Carnet.
TIR CONVENTION - 102 - ANNEX 1
Explanatory Note to the model of the TIR Carnet
1.10 (c) Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet
Loading lists annexed to the goods manifest
No. 10 (c) of the Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet permits the
use of loading lists as Annex to the TIR Carnet even when there would
otherwise be enough space in the manifest to enter all the goods carried.
However, this is permissible only if the loading lists contain all the
particulars required by the goods manifest in legible and recognizable
form and all other provisions of Rule 10 (c) are complied with.
Comments to the model of the TIR Carnet
Method of affixing additional documents
If, in line with No. 10 (c) or No. 11 of the Rules regarding the Use of the
TIR Carnet, additional documents need to be attached to the vouchers or
the cover of the TIR Carnet, the Customs authorities should attach them
to the TIR Carnet by means of staples or other devices and by stamping
them in such a way that their removal would leave obvious traces on the
Carnet.
{TRANS/WP.30/139, paragraph 43; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/29, Annex 3;
Goods description in the Goods Manifest (boxes 9-11 of the vouchers)
Customs administrations and TIR Carnet holders should strictly observe

the Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet. If necessary the goods
should be described in attached documents which are to be stamped by
Customs and reference to which is to be made in box 8 of the vouchers.
At least the usual commercial description of goods is necessary allowing
for their clear identification without ambiguity for Customs purposes.
{TRANS/GE.30/45, paragraphs 12-15; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59,
Declaration of the goods value
The fact that there is no declaration of the value of goods on the TIR
Carnet gives no ground for detention of the goods by Customs
administrations.
Termination of a TIR operation
In boxes 24 to 28 of voucher No. 2, in addition to the required

inscriptions, only one Customs stamp and one signature are necessary
and sufficient to certify the termination of a TIR operation. Other
authorities than Customs are not entitled to stamp and sign the
vouchers, counterfoils and the front cover. The filling-in by the
competent authorities of the counterfoil to voucher No. 2, including one
Customs stamp, the date and the signature, indicates to the holder of a
TIR Carnet and the guaranteeing association that the termination of the
TIR operation has been certified, with or without reservation.
Customs stamps on the counterfoil
Sometimes, Customs authorities in transit countries do not stamp the

counterfoils in TIR Carnets as stipulated in the Convention. Such
occurrences, though not permissible, do not jeopardize the validity of
the TIR transport operation as long as the TIR Carnet is accepted by the
next Customs office of entry (en route).
Customs stamps on the yellow sheet
In some countries Customs authorities have requested the provision of

Customs stamps on the yellow sheet in the TIR Carnet which is not
intended for Customs use, but has been included into the TIR Carnet to
provide an example, in the language of the country of departure, for
filling-in of vouchers. It is therefore recommended to insert crosses in
the TIR Carnet in boxes 13-15, 17, 23 and 28 as well as in box 6 on the
counterfoil of the yellow sheet so as to indicate clearly that Customs
stamps and signatures are not necessary on this yellow sheet in the TIR
Carnet.
Language versions of the Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet
It is recommended that the "Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet"
should also appear on the reverse side of the goods manifest (not for
Customs use) contained in the TIR Carnet, in any language which might
be appropriate to facilitate the proper filling-in and use of the TIR
Carnet.
Alternative forms of evidence for the termination of a TIR operation
With a view to establishing alternative evidence for the proper

termination of a TIR operation, Customs authorities are recommended
to use exceptionally, for example, the following information provided it
has been furnished to their satisfaction:
- any official certificate or confirmation of the termination of a TIR

operation covered by the same TIR transport made out by another
Contracting Party following the respective TIR operation or
confirmation of the transfer of the goods in question to another
Customs procedure or another system of Customs control, e.g.
clearance for home use;
- the duly stamped corresponding counterfoils No. 1 or No. 2 in the

TIR Carnet by such a Contracting Party or a copy thereof to be
provided by the international organization referred to in Article 6 of
the Convention which must confirm that it is a true copy of the
original.
{TRANS/WP.30/159, paragraph 38; TRANS/WP.30/192,
Indication of reservations
Customs authorities should make any reservation about the termination

of a TIR operation very clear and should also indicate the existence of a
reservation by filling-in box 27 on voucher No. 2 of the TIR Carnet and
by placing an “R” under item No. 5 on counterfoil No. 2 of the Carnet
as well as by completion of the Certified Report of the TIR Carnet, if
appropriate.
{TRANS/GE.30/8, paragraph 12; TRANS/WP.30/192, paragraph 26 ;
Model of the TIR Carnet and TIR Carnet forms actually printed and
distributed
In order to impede falsification of TIR Carnet forms and to facilitate

their distribution and registration, TIR Carnet forms actually printed
and distributed may contain additional details and features which do not
appear in the model of the TIR Carnet reproduced in Annex 1, such as
identification and page numbers, bar-coded as well as other special
protective features. Such additional details and features shall be
approved by the TIR Administrative Committee.
Filling-in of a TIR Carnet
No. 10 (b) of the Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet does not
forbid the filling-in by hand or by any other means, as long as the
particulars on all sheets are clearly legible.
Filling-in of box 26 of voucher No. 2 and item 3 on the counterfoil No. 2

of the TIR Carnet
It is recommended that only Customs offices of destination and not

Customs offices of exit (en route) fill-in the above mentioned boxes upon
unloading.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69, paragraph 61 and Annex 4;
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2003/9, paragraph 11}
Use of extra sheets in case of several Customs offices of departure or

destination
According to No. 6 of the Rules regarding the Use of the TIR Carnet,
two extra sheets are required for each additional Customs office of
departure or destination. In line with Explanatory Note 0.1 (b), each
national leg of a TIR transport carried out between two successive
Customs offices, whatever their status, can be considered as a TIR
operation. To ensure uninterrupted Customs control, it is recommended
to use one set of vouchers No. 1/No. 2 and to apply a separate discharge
procedure for each TIR operation. Where there are several Customs
offices of departure, the succeeding Customs office(s) of departure not
only start(s) a new TIR operation, but also certify(ies) the termination of
the previous TIR operation by filling-in the respective voucher No.2 and
counterfoil No.2 of the TIR Carnet. Thus, the succeeding Customs
office(s) of departure also fulfil(s) the role of the Customs office of
destination or exit (en route) for the goods loaded at the previous offices
of departure. This also applies, mutatis mutandis, where there are
several Customs offices of destination. The preceding office(s) of
destination not only certify(ies) termination of the previous TIR
operation, but also start(s) a new TIR operation by filling-in the
respective voucher No.1 and counterfoil No.1 of the TIR Carnet. Thus,
the preceding office(s) of destination also fulfil(s) the role of the
Customs office of departure or entry (en route) for the goods bound for
the subsequent office(s) of destination.
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2003/13, paragraph 25 and Annex;
Use of the TIR Carnet in case goods carried under the TIR procedure
are refused to enter the territory of a Contracting Party
In case, in exceptional circumstances, competent authorities take the

decision not to allow goods under the TIR procedure to enter the
territory of their country, Customs authorities are strongly
recommended to clearly indicate in Box “For official use” of all
remaining Vouchers No. 1/2 the precise reason for this decision,
including a clear reference to the provision(s) of national or
international law on which this decision was based. In addition,
Customs authorities should indicate in Box 5 of the concerned
counterfoils No. 1 and 2: “Access refused”.
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2011/4 and ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/105
paragraph35}
References for version 1 of the model of the TIR Carnet
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.26; entered into force on 1 April 2006

ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21; entered into force on 12 May 2002
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.8; entered into force on 1 August 1987
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.7 and Corr.1; entered into force on 1 August 1986
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.2; entered into force on 1 October 1980
References for version 2 of the model of the TIR Carnet
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.26; entered into force on 1 April 2006

ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.17; entered into force on 1 October 1994
Model of the TIR Carnet: VERSION 1
Page 1 of cover
[Annex 1
page 3]
(Name of International Organization)
CARNET TIR*
.....vouchers No
1. Valable pour prise en charge par le bureau de douane de départ jusqu'au inclus
Valid for the acceptance of goods by the Customs office of departure up to and including
2. Délivré par
Issued by
(nom de l'association émettrice / name of issuing association)
3. Titulaire
Holder
(numéro d'identification, nom, adresse, pays / identification number, name, address, country)
4. Signature du délégué de l'association 5. Signature du secrétaire

émettrice de l'organisation internationale:
et cachet de cette association: Signature of the secretary of the international
Signature of authorized official of the organization:
issuing association and stamp of that
association:
(A remplir avant l'utilisation par le titulaire du carnet / To be completed before use by the holder of the carnet)
6. Pays de depart
Country/Countries of departure (1)
7. Pays de destination
Country/Countries of destination (1)
8. No(s) d'immatriculation du (des) véhicules(s) routiers(s) (1)

Registration No(s). of road vehicle(s) (1)
9. Certificat(s) d'agrément du (des) véhicule(s) routier(s) (No et date) (1)

Certificate(s) of approval of road vehicle(s) (No. and date) (1)
10. No(s) d'identification du (des) conteneur(s) (1)

Identification No(s). of container(s) (1)
11. Observations diverses

Remarks
12. Signature du titulaire du carnet:

Signature of the carnet holder:
(1)
Biffer la mention inutile
Strike out whichever does not apply
* Voir annexe 1 de la Convention TIR, 1975, élaborée sous les auspices de la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l'Europe.
* See annex 1 of the TIR Convention, 1975, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Page 2 of cover
[Annex 1
RÈGLES RELATIVES A L’UTILISATION DU CARNET TIR page 4]
A. Généralités
1. Emission: Le carnet TIR sera émis dans le pays de départ ou dans le pays où le titulaire est établi ou domicilié.
2. Langue: Le carnet TIR est imprimé en français, à l’exception de la page 1 de la couverture dont les rubriques sont imprimées
également en anglais; les «Règles relatives à l’utilisation du carnet TIR» sont reproduites en version anglaise à la page 3 de ladite
couverture. Par ailleurs, des feuillets supplémentaires donnant une traduction en d’autres langues du texte imprimé peuvent être
ajoutés.
Les carnets utilisés pour les transports TIR dans le cadre d’une chaîne de garantie régionale peuvent être imprimés dans l’une des
langues officielles de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, à l’exception de la page 1 de la couverture, dont les rubriques sont également
imprimées en anglais ou en français. Les «règles relatives à l’utilisation du carnet TlR» sont reproduites à la page 2 de la couverture
dans la langue officielle de l’Organisation des Nations Unies utilisée, ainsi qu’en anglais ou en français à la page placée après le
procès-verbal de constat.
3. Validité: Le carnet TlR demeure valable jusqu’à l’achèvement du transport TlR au bureau de douane de destination, pour autant qu’il
ait été pris en charge au bureau de douane de départ dans le délai fixé par l’association émettrice (rubrique 1 de la page 1 de la
couverture).
4. Nombre de carnets: Il pourra être établi un seul carnet TIR pour un ensemble de véhicules (véhicules couplés) ou pour plusieurs
conteneurs chargés soit sur un seul véhicule soit sur un ensemble de véhicules (voir également la règle 10d) ci-dessous).
5. Nombre de bureaux de douane de départ et de destination: Les transports effectués sous le couvert d’un carnet TIR peuvent
comporter plusieurs bureaux de douane de départ et de destination, mais le nombre total des bureaux de douane de départ et de
destination ne pourra dépasser quatre. Le carnet TIR ne peut être présenté aux bureaux de douane de destination que si tous les
bureaux de douane de départ l’ont pris en charge. (Voir également la règle 10 e) ci-dessous).
6. Nombre de feuillets: Si le transport comporte un seul bureau de douane de départ et un seul bureau de douane de destination, le
carnet TIR devra comporter au moins 2 feuillets pour le pays de départ, 2 feuillets pour le pays de destination, puis 2 feuillets pour
chaque autre pays dont le territoire est emprunté. Pour chaque bureau de douane de départ (ou de destination) supplémentaire,
2 autres feuillets seront nécessaires.
7. Présentation aux bureaux de douane: Le carnet TIR sera présenté avec le véhicule routier, l’ensemble de véhicules, le ou les
conteneurs à chacun des bureaux de douane de départ, de passage et de destination. Au dernier bureau de douane de départ, la
signature de l’agent et le timbre à date du bureau de douane doivent être apposés au bas du manifeste de tous les volets à utiliser
pour la suite du transport (rubrique 17).
B. Manière de remplir le carnet TIR
8. Grattage, surcharge: Le carnet TIR ne comportera ni grattage, ni surcharge. Toute rectification devra être effectuée en biffant les
indications erronées et en ajoutant, le cas échéant, les indications voulues. Toute modification devra être approuvée par son auteur et
visée par les autorités douanières.
9. Indication relative à l’immatriculation: Lorsque les dispositions nationales ne prévoient pas l’immatriculation des remorques et
semi-remorques, on indiquera, en lieu et place du No d’immatriculation, le No d’identification ou de fabrication.
10. Manifeste:
a) Le manifeste sera rempli dans la langue du pays de départ, à moins que les autorités douanières n’autorisent l’usage d’une
autre langue. Les autorités douanières des autres pays empruntés se réservent le droit d’en exiger une traduction dans leur
langue. En vue d’éviter des retards qui pourraient résulter de cette exigence, il est conseillé au transporteur de se munir des
traductions nécessaires.
b) Les indications portées sur le manifeste devraient être dactylographiées ou polycopiées de manière qu’elles soient
nettement lisibles sur tous les feuillets. Les feuillets illisibles seront refusés par les autorités douanières.
c) Des feuilles annexes du même modèle que le manifeste ou des documents commerciaux comportant toutes les indications du
manifeste peuvent être attachés aux volets. Dans ce cas, tous les volets devront porter les indications suivantes:
i) nombre de feuilles annexes (case 8);
ii) nombre et nature des colis ou des objets ainsi que le poids brut total des marchandises énumérées sur ces feuilles annexes
(cases 9 à 11).
d) Lorsque le carnet TIR couvre un ensemble de véhicules ou plusieurs conteneurs, le contenu de chaque véhicule ou de chaque
conteneur sera indiqué séparément sur le manifeste. Cette indication devra être précédée du No d’immatriculation du véhicule
ou du No d’identification du conteneur (rubrique 9 du manifeste).
e) De même, s’il y a plusieurs bureaux de douane de départ ou de destination, les inscriptions relatives aux marchandises prises
en charge ou destinées à chaque bureau de douane seront nettement séparées les unes des autres sur le manifeste.
11. Listes de colisage, photos, plans, etc: Lorsque, pour l’identification des marchandises pondéreuses ou volumineuses, les autorités
douanières exigeront que de tels documents soient annexés au carnet TIR, ces derniers seront visés par les autorités douanières et
attachés à la page 2 de la couverture. Au surplus, une mention de ces documents sera faite dans la case 8 de tous les volets.
12. Signature: Tous les volets (rubriques 14 et 15) seront datés et signés par le titulaire du carnet TIR ou par son représentant.
C. Incidents ou accidents
13. S’il arrive en cours de route, pour une cause fortuite, qu’un scellement douanier soit rompu ou que des marchandises périssent ou
soient endommagées, le transporteur s’adressera immédiatement aux autorités douanières s’il s’en trouve à proximité ou, à défaut, à
d’autres autorités compétentes du pays où il se trouve. Ces dernières établiront dans le plus bref délai le procès-verbal de constat
figurant dans le carnet TIR.
14. En cas d’accident nécessitant le transbordement sur un autre véhicule ou dans un autre conteneur, ce transbordement ne peut
s’effectuer qu’en présence de l’une des autorités désignées à la règle 13 ci-dessus. Ladite autorité établira le procès-verbal de
constat. A moins que le carnet ne porte la mention «marchandises pondéreuses ou volumineuses», le véhicule ou conteneur de
substitution devra être agréé pour le transport de marchandises sous scellements douaniers. En plus, il sera scellé et le
scellement apposé sera indiqué dans le procès-verbal de constat. Toutefois, si aucun véhicule ou conteneur agréé n’est
disponible, le transbordement pourra être effectué sur un véhicule ou dans un conteneur non agréé, pour autant qu’il offre des
garanties suffisantes. Dans ce dernier cas, les autorités douanières des pays suivants apprécieront si elles peuvent, elles
aussi, laisser continuer dans ce véhicule ou conteneur le transport sous le couvert du carnet TIR.
15. En cas de péril imminent nécessitant le déchargement immédiat, partiel ou total, le transporteur peut prendre des mesures de
son propre chef sans demander ou sans attendre l’intervention des autorités visées à la règle 13 ci-dessus. Il aura alors à
prouver qu’il a dû agir ainsi dans l’intérêt du véhicule ou conteneur ou de son chargement et, aussitôt après avoir pris les
mesures préventives de première urgence, avertira une des autorités visées à la règle 13 ci-dessus pour faire constater les
faits, vérifier le chargement, sceller le véhicule ou conteneur et établir le procès-verbal de constat.
16. Le procès-verbal de constat restera joint au carnet TIR jusqu’au bureau de douane de destination.
17. Il est recommandé aux associations de fournir aux transporteurs, outre au modèle inséré dans le carnet TIR lui-même, un
certain nombre de formules de P.V. de constat rédigées dans la ou les langues des pays à traverser.
[Annex 1
page 5
(white)]
VOUCHER No 1 PAGE 1 1. TIR CARNET No
3. Name of the international organization
2. Customs office(s) of departure
1. 2.
3.
4. Holder of the carnet (identification number, name, address

For official use and country)
5. Country/Countries of departure 6. Country/Countries of destination
7. Registration No(s). of road vehicle(s) 8. Documents attached to the manifest
GOODS MANIFEST
9. (a) Load compartment(s) or 10. Number and type of packages or articles; description of goods 11. Gross 16. Seals or
container(s) weight identification
(b) Marks and Nos. of in kg marks
packages or articles applied,
(number,
identification)
12. Total number of packages entered Number 13. I declare the information in items 17. Customs office of departure. Customs
on the manifest 1-12 above to be correct officer's signature and Customs office
Destination: and complete date stamp
14. Place and date
1. Customs office 15. Signature of holder or agent
2. Customs office
3. Customs office
18. Certificate for goods taken under control (Customs office of

departure or of entry en route)
19. Seals or identification marks 20. Time-limit for transit

found to be intact
21. Registered by the Customs office at under No.
22. Miscellaneous (itinerary stipulated, Customs office at which the

load must be produced, etc.)
23. Customs officer's signature and Customs

office date stamp
COUNTERFOIL No 1 PAGE 1 of TIR CARNET No

6. Customs officer's signature and
1. Accepted by the Customs office at Customs office date stamp
2. Under No.
3. Seals or identification marks applied
4. Seals or identification marks found to be intact
5. Miscellaneous (route prescribed, Customs office at which the load must be

produced, etc.)
[Annex 1
page 6
(green)]
1. 2.
3.

GOODS MANIFEST
(number,
identification)
14. Place and date
2. Customs office
3. Customs office
18. Certificate for goods taken under control (Customs office of 24. Certificate of termination of the TIR operation (Customs office
departure or of entry en route) of exit en route or of destination)
19. Seals or identification marks 20. Time-limit for transit 25. Seals or identification marks found to be intact
found to be intact
21. Registered by the Customs office at under No. 26. Number of packages for which the termination of the TIR
operation is certified
No
22. Miscellaneous (itinerary stipulated, Customs office at which the 27. Reservations
TIR CARNET
23. Customs officer's signature and Customs 28. Customs officer's signature and
office date stamp Customs office date stamp
PAGE 2

1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Customs office date stamp
2. Seals or Identification marks found to be intact
3. Number of packages for which the termination of the TIR operation is certified (as
specified in the manifest)
4. New seals affixed
5. Reservations
[Annex 1
Certified report page 7
Drawn up in accordance with article 25 of the TIR Convention (yellow)]
(See also Rules 13 to 17 regarding the use of the TIR carnet)

2. TIR CARNET No
4. Registration No(s). of road vehicle(s) 5. Holder of the carnet (identification number, name, address
Identification No(s). of container(s) and country)
6. The Customs seal(s) is/are intact not intact 8. Remarks
7. The load compartment(s) or intact not intact

container(s) is/are
9. No goods appeared to be missing The goods indicated in items 10 to 13 are missing (M) or have been
destroyed (D) as indicated in column 12
10. (a) Load compartment(s) or 11. Number and type of packages or articles; 12. 13. Remarks (give particulars of
container(s) description of goods M or D quantities missing or destroyed)
(b) Marks and Nos. of
packages or articles
14. Date, place and circumstances of the accident
15. Measures taken to enable the TIR operation to continue

affixing of new seals: number description
transfer of load (see item 16 below)
other
16. If the goods have been transferred: description of road vehicle(s)/container(s) substituted
Registration No. Approved No. of certificate Number and particulars
Yes No of approval of seals affixed
(a) vehicle /
/
Identification No.
/
(b) container
/
17. Authority which drew up this certified report 18. Endorsement of next Customs office reached by the TIR transport
Place/Date/Stamp Signature Signature
Mark the appropriate boxes with a cross

Page 3 of cover
[Annex 1
RULES REGARDING THE USE OF THE TIR CARNET page 8]
A. General
1. Issue: The TIR carnet may be issued either in the country of departure or in the country in which the holder is established or resident.
2. Language: The TIR carnet is printed in French, except for page 1 of the cover where the items are also printed in English; this page is
a translation of the « Rules regarding the use of the TIR carnet » given in French on page 2 of the cover. Additional sheets giving a
translation of the printed text may also be inserted.
Carnets used for TIR transports within a regional guarantee chain may be printed in any other official language of the United Nations
except for page 1 of the cover where items are also printed in English or French. The "Rules regarding the use of the TIR Carnet" are
printed on page 2 of the cover in the official language of the United Nations used and are also printed in English or French on page 3 of
the cover.
3. Validity: The TIR carnet remains valid until the completion of the TIR transport at the Customs office of destination, provided that it has
been taken under Customs control at the Customs office of departure within the time-limit set by the issuing association (item 1 of
page 1 of the cover).
4. Number of carnets: Only one TIR carnet need be required for a combination of vehicles (coupled vehicles) or for several containers
loaded either on a single vehicle or on a combination of vehicles (see also rule 10 d) below).
5. Number of Customs offices of departure and Customs offices of destination: Transport under cover of a TIR carnet may involve
several Customs offices of departure and destination but the total number of Customs offices of departure and destination shall not
exceed four. The TlR carnet may only be presented to Customs offices of destination if all Customs offices of departure have accepted
the TlR carnet (see also rule 10 e) below).
6. Number of forms: Where there is only one Customs office of departure and one Customs office of destination, the TIR carnet must
contain at least 2 sheets for the country of departure, 2 sheets for the country of destination and 2 sheets for each country traversed.
For each additional Customs office of departure (or destination) 2 extra sheets shall be required.
7. Presentation at Customs offices: The TIR carnet shall be presented with the road vehicle, combination of vehicles, or container(s) at
each Customs office of departure, Customs office en route and Customs office of destination. At the last Customs office of departure,
the Customs Officer shall sign and date stamp item 17 below the manifest on all vouchers to be used on the remainder of the journey.
B. How to fill in the TIR carnet
8. Erasures, over-writing: No erasures or over-writing shall be made on the TIR carnet. Any correction shall be made by crossing out the
incorrect particulars and adding, if necessary, the required particulars. Any change shall be initialled by the person making it and
endorsed by the Customs authorities.
9. Information concerning registration: When national legislation does not provide for registration of trailers and semi-trailers, the
identification or manufacturer’s no. shall be shown instead of the registration no.
10. The manifest:
(a) The manifest shall be completed in the language of the country of departure, unless the Customs authorities allow another
language to be used. The Customs authorities of the other countries traversed reserve the right to require its translation into their
own language. In order to avoid delays which might ensue from this requirement, carriers are advised to supply the driver of the
vehicle with the requisite translations.
(b) The information on the manifest should be typed or multicopied in such a way as to be clearly legible on all sheets.
Illegible sheets will not be accepted by the Customs authorities.
(c) Separate sheets of the same model as the manifest or commercial documents providing all the information required by the
manifest, may be attached to the vouchers. In such cases, all the vouchers must bear the following particulars:
(i) the number of sheets attached (box 8);
(ii) the number and type of the packages or articles and the total gross weight of the goods listed on the attached sheets
(boxes 9 to 11).
(d) When the TIR carnet covers a combination of vehicles or several containers, the contents of each vehicle or each container shall
be indicated separately on the manifest. This information shall be preceded by the registration no. of the vehicle or the
identification no. of the container (item 9 of the manifest).
(e) Likewise, if there are several Customs offices of departure or of destination, the entries concerning the goods taken under
Customs control at, or intended for, each Customs office shall be clearly separated from each other on the manifest.
11. Packing lists, photographs, plans, etc: When such documents are required by the Customs authorities for the identification of heavy
or bulky goods, they shall be endorsed by the Customs authorities and attached to page 2 of the cover of the carnet. In addition, a
reference shall be made to these documents in box 8 of all vouchers.
12. Signature: All vouchers (items 14 and 15) must be dated and signed by the holder of the carnet or his agent.
C. Incidents or accidents
13. In the event of Customs seals being broken or goods being destroyed or damaged by accident en route the carrier shall immediately
contact the Customs authorities, if there are any near at hand, or, if not, any other competent authorities of the country he is in. The
authorities concerned shall draw up with the minimum delay the certified report which is contained in the TIR carnet.
14. In the event of an accident necessitating transfer of the load to another vehicle or another container, this transfer may be carried out
only in the presence of one of the authorities mentioned in rule 13 above. The said authority shall draw up the certified report. Unless
the carnet carries the words « Heavy or bulky goods », the vehicle or container substituted must be one approved for the transport of
goods under Customs seals. Furthermore, it shall be sealed and details of the seal affixed shall be indicated in the certified report.
However, if no approved vehicle or container is available, the goods may be transferred to an unapproved vehicle or container,
provided it affords adequate safeguards. In the latter event, the Customs authorities of succeeding countries shall judge whether they,
too, can allow the transport under cover of the TIR carnet to continue in that vehicle or container.
15. In the event of imminent danger necessitating immediate unloading of the whole or of part of the load, the carrier may take action on his
own initiative, without requesting or waiting for action by the authorities mentioned in rule 13 above. It shall then be for him to furnish
proof that he was compelled to take such action in the interests of the vehicle or container or of the load and, as soon as he has taken
such preventive measures as the emergency may require, he shall notify one of the authorities mentioned in rule 13 above in order that
the facts may be verified, the load checked, the vehicle or container sealed and the certified report drawn up.
16. The certified report shall remain attached to the TIR carnet until the Customs office of destination is reached.
17. In addition to the model form inserted in the TIR carnet itself, associations are recommended to furnish carriers with a supply of certified
report forms in the language or languages of the countries of transit.

Page 1 of cover
[Annex 1
page 9]
(Name of International Organization)
CARNET TIR*
.....vouchers No
1. Valable pour prise en charge par le bureau de douane de départ jusqu'au inclus
2. Délivré par
Issued by
3. Titulaire
Holder

association:
6. Pays de depart
7. Pays de destination




Remarks

(1)
Biffer la mention inutile
Page 2 of cover
[Annex 1
RÈGLES RELATIVES A L’UTILISATION DU CARNET TIR page 10]
A. Généralités
1. Emission: Le carnet TIR sera émis dans le pays de départ ou dans le pays où le titulaire est établi ou domicilié.
2. Langue: Le carnet TIR est imprimé en français, à l’exception de la page 1 de la couverture dont les rubriques sont imprimées
également en anglais; les «Règles relatives à l’utilisation du carnet TIR» sont reproduites en version anglaise à la page 3 de ladite
couverture. Par ailleurs, des feuillets supplémentaires donnant une traduction en d’autres langues du texte imprimé peuvent être
ajoutés.
Les carnets utilisés pour les transports TIR dans le cadre d’une chaîne de garantie régionale peuvent être imprimés dans l’une des
langues officielles de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, à l’exception de la page 1 de la couverture, dont les rubriques sont également
imprimées en anglais ou en français. Les «règles relatives à l’utilisation du carnet TlR» sont reproduites à la page 2 de la couverture
dans la langue officielle de l’Organisation des Nations Unies utilisée, ainsi qu’en anglais ou en français à la page placée après le
procès-verbal de constat.
3. Validité: Le carnet TlR demeure valable jusqu’à l’achèvement du transport TlR au bureau de douane de destination, pour autant qu’il
ait été pris en charge au bureau de douane de départ dans le délai fixé par l’association émettrice (rubrique 1 de la page 1 de la
couverture).
4. Nombre de carnets: Il pourra être établi un seul carnet TIR pour un ensemble de véhicules (véhicules couplés) ou pour plusieurs
conteneurs chargés soit sur un seul véhicule soit sur un ensemble de véhicules (voir également la règle 10d) ci-dessous).
5. Nombre de bureaux de douane de départ et de destination: Les transports effectués sous le couvert d’un carnet TIR peuvent
comporter plusieurs bureaux de douane de départ et de destination, mais le nombre total des bureaux de douane de départ et de
destination ne pourra dépasser quatre. Le carnet TIR ne peut être présenté aux bureaux de douane de destination que si tous les
bureaux de douane de départ l’ont pris en charge. (Voir également la règle 10 e) ci-dessous).
6. Nombre de feuillets: Si le transport comporte un seul bureau de douane de départ et un seul bureau de douane de destination, le
carnet TIR devra comporter au moins 2 feuillets pour le pays de départ, 2 feuillets pour le pays de destination, puis 2 feuillets pour
chaque autre pays dont le territoire est emprunté. Pour chaque bureau de douane de départ (ou de destination) supplémentaire,
2 autres feuillets seront nécessaires.
7. Présentation aux bureaux de douane: Le carnet TIR sera présenté avec le véhicule routier, l’ensemble de véhicules, le ou les
conteneurs à chacun des bureaux de douane de départ, de passage et de destination. Au dernier bureau de douane de départ, la
signature de l’agent et le timbre à date du bureau de douane doivent être apposés au bas du manifeste de tous les volets à utiliser
pour la suite du transport (rubrique 17).
B. Manière de remplir le carnet TIR
8. Grattage, surcharge: Le carnet TIR ne comportera ni grattage, ni surcharge. Toute rectification devra être effectuée en biffant les
indications erronées et en ajoutant, le cas échéant, les indications voulues. Toute modification devra être approuvée par son auteur et
visée par les autorités douanières.
9. Indication relative à l’immatriculation: Lorsque les dispositions nationales ne prévoient pas l’immatriculation des remorques et
semi-remorques, on indiquera, en lieu et place du No d’immatriculation, le No d’identification ou de fabrication.
10. Manifeste:
a) Le manifeste sera rempli dans la langue du pays de départ, à moins que les autorités douanières n’autorisent l’usage d’une
autre langue. Les autorités douanières des autres pays empruntés se réservent le droit d’en exiger une traduction dans leur
langue. En vue d’éviter des retards qui pourraient résulter de cette exigence, il est conseillé au transporteur de se munir des
traductions nécessaires.
b) Les indications portées sur le manifeste devraient être dactylographiées ou polycopiées de manière qu’elles soient
nettement lisibles sur tous les feuillets. Les feuillets illisibles seront refusés par les autorités douanières.
c) Des feuilles annexes du même modèle que le manifeste ou des documents commerciaux comportant toutes les indications du
manifeste peuvent être attachés aux volets. Dans ce cas, tous les volets devront porter les indications suivantes:
i) nombre de feuilles annexes (case 8);
ii) nombre et nature des colis ou des objets ainsi que le poids brut total des marchandises énumérées sur ces feuilles annexes
(cases 9 à 11).
d) Lorsque le carnet TIR couvre un ensemble de véhicules ou plusieurs conteneurs, le contenu de chaque véhicule ou de chaque
conteneur sera indiqué séparément sur le manifeste. Cette indication devra être précédée du No d’immatriculation du véhicule
ou du No d’identification du conteneur (rubrique 9 du manifeste).
e) De même, s’il y a plusieurs bureaux de douane de départ ou de destination, les inscriptions relatives aux marchandises prises
en charge ou destinées à chaque bureau de douane seront nettement séparées les unes des autres sur le manifeste.
11. Listes de colisage, photos, plans, etc: Lorsque, pour l’identification des marchandises pondéreuses ou volumineuses, les autorités
douanières exigeront que de tels documents soient annexés au carnet TIR, ces derniers seront visés par les autorités douanières et
attachés à la page 2 de la couverture. Au surplus, une mention de ces documents sera faite dans la case 8 de tous les volets.
12. Signature: Tous les volets (rubriques 14 et 15) seront datés et signés par le titulaire du carnet TIR ou par son représentant.
C. Incidents ou accidents
13. S’il arrive en cours de route, pour une cause fortuite, qu’un scellement douanier soit rompu ou que des marchandises périssent ou
soient endommagées, le transporteur s’adressera immédiatement aux autorités douanières s’il s’en trouve à proximité ou, à défaut, à
d’autres autorités compétentes du pays où il se trouve. Ces dernières établiront dans le plus bref délai le procès-verbal de constat
figurant dans le carnet TIR.
14. En cas d’accident nécessitant le transbordement sur un autre véhicule ou dans un autre conteneur, ce transbordement ne peut
s’effectuer qu’en présence de l’une des autorités désignées à la règle 13 ci-dessus. Ladite autorité établira le procès-verbal de
constat. A moins que le carnet ne porte la mention «marchandises pondéreuses ou volumineuses», le véhicule ou conteneur de
substitution devra être agréé pour le transport de marchandises sous scellements douaniers. En plus, il sera scellé et le
scellement apposé sera indiqué dans le procès-verbal de constat. Toutefois, si aucun véhicule ou conteneur agréé n’est
disponible, le transbordement pourra être effectué sur un véhicule ou dans un conteneur non agréé, pour autant qu’il offre des
garanties suffisantes. Dans ce dernier cas, les autorités douanières des pays suivants apprécieront si elles peuvent, elles
aussi, laisser continuer dans ce véhicule ou conteneur le transport sous le couvert du carnet TIR.
15. En cas de péril imminent nécessitant le déchargement immédiat, partiel ou total, le transporteur peut prendre des mesures de
son propre chef sans demander ou sans attendre l’intervention des autorités visées à la règle 13 ci-dessus. Il aura alors à
prouver qu’il a dû agir ainsi dans l’intérêt du véhicule ou conteneur ou de son chargement et, aussitôt après avoir pris les
mesures préventives de première urgence, avertira une des autorités visées à la règle 13 ci-dessus pour faire constater les
faits, vérifier le chargement, sceller le véhicule ou conteneur et établir le procès-verbal de constat.
16. Le procès-verbal de constat restera joint au carnet TIR jusqu’au bureau de douane de destination.
17. Il est recommandé aux associations de fournir aux transporteurs, outre au modèle inséré dans le carnet TIR lui-même, un
certain nombre de formules de P.V. de constat rédigées dans la ou les langues des pays à traverser.
[Annex 1
page 11]
Liste des marchandises devant être

impérativement transportées sous le couvert
de ce carnet TIR tabac/alcool
1) Alcool éthylique non dénaturé d'un titre alcoométrique volumique de 80% vol ou
plus (code SH: 22.07.10)
2) Alcool éthylique non dénaturé d'un titre alcoométrique volumique de moins de

80%; eaux-de-vie, liqueurs et autres boissons spiritueuses; préparations alcooliques
composées des types utilisés pour la fabrication des boissons (code SH: 22.08)
3) Cigares (y compris ceux à bout coupé) et cigarillos, contenant du tabac (code SH:
24.02.10)
4) Cigarettes contenant du tabac (code SH: 24.02.20)
5) Tabac à fumer, même contenant des succédanés de tabac en toute proportion

(code SH: 24.03.10)
List of goods which must be transported

under cover of this
tobacco/alcohol TIR carnet
(1) Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol or higher
(HS code: 22.07.10)
(2) Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol;
spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages; compound alcoholic preparations
of a kind used for the manufacture of beverages (HS code: 22.08)
(3) Cigars, cheroots and cigarillos, containing tobacco (HS code: 24.02.10)
(4) Cigarettes containing tobacco (HS code: 24.02.20)
(5) Smoking tobacco, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes in any proportion
(HS code: 24.03.10)
ɉɟɪɟɱɟɧɶ ɝɪɭɡɨɜ, ɤɨɬɨɪɵɟ ɞɨɥɠɧɵ

ɩɟɪɟɜɨɡɢɬɶɫɹ ɫ ɩɪɢɦɟɧɟɧɢɟɦ
ɧɚɫɬɨɹɳɟɣ ɤɧɢɠɤɢ ɆȾɉ
''Ɍɚɛɚɱɧɵɟ ɢɡɞɟɥɢɹ/Ⱥɥɤɨɝɨɥɶɧɵɟ ɧɚɩɢɬɤɢ''
1) ɇɟɞɟɧɚɬɭɪɢɪɨɜɚɧɧɵɣ ɷɬɢɥɨɜɵɣ ɫɩɢɪɬ, ɫɨɞɟɪɠɚɳɢɣ ɩɨ ɨɛɴɟɦɭ ɧɟ ɦɟɧɟɟ 80%
ɱɢɫɬɨɝɨ ɫɩɢɪɬɚ (ɤɨɞ ɋɋ: 22.07.10)
2) ɇɟɞɟɧɚɬɭɪɢɪɨɜɚɧɧɵɣ ɷɬɢɥɨɜɵɣ ɫɩɢɪɬ, ɫɨɞɟɪɠɚɳɢɣ ɩɨ ɨɛɴɟɦɭ ɦɟɧɟɟ 80%

ɱɢɫɬɨɝɨ ɫɩɢɪɬɚ; ɫɩɢɪɬɵ, ɥɢɤɟɪɵ ɢ ɞɪɭɝɢɟ ɫɩɢɪɬɧɵɟ ɧɚɩɢɬɤɢ; ɫɨɟɞɢɧɟɧɢɹ ɧɚ
ɫɩɢɪɬɨɜɨɣ ɨɫɧɨɜɟ, ɢɫɩɨɥɶɡɭɟɦɵɟ ɞɥɹ ɢɡɝɨɬɨɜɥɟɧɢɹ ɧɚɩɢɬɤɨɜ (ɤɨɞ ɋɋ: 22.08)
3) ɋɢɝɚɪɵ, ɦɚɧɢɥɶɫɤɢɟ ɫɢɝɚɪɵ ɢ ɫɢɝɚɪɵ ɬɢɩɚ ''ɫɢɝɚɪɢɥɶɨ’’, ɫɨɞɟɪɠɚɳɢɟ ɬɚɛɚɤ

(ɤɨɞ ɋɋ: 24.02.10)
4) ɋɢɝɚɪɟɬɵ, ɫɨɞɟɪɠɚɳɢɟ ɬɚɛɚɤ (ɤɨɞ ɋɋ: 24.02.20)
5) Ʉɭɪɢɬɟɥɶɧɵɣ ɬɚɛɚɤ, ɫɨɞɟɪɠɚɳɢɣ ɡɚɦɟɧɢɬɟɥɢ ɬɚɛɚɤɚ ɜ ɥɸɛɨɣ ɩɪɨɩɨɪɰɢɢ ɢɥɢ

ɧɟ ɫɨɞɟɪɠɚɳɢɣ ɢɯ (ɤɨɞ ɋɋ: 24.03.10)
[Annex 1
page 12
(white)]
1. 2.
3.

GOODS MANIFEST
(number,
identification)
14. Place and date
2. Customs office
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route)

found to be intact


office date stamp

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Customs office date stamp
2. Under No.

produced, etc.)
[Annex 1
page 13
(green)]
1. 2.
3.

GOODS MANIFEST
(number,
identification)
12. Total number of packages entered Number 13. I declare the information in items 17. Customs office at departure. Customs
14. Place and date
2. Customs office
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) of exit en route or of destination)
found to be intact
No
TIR CARNET
office date stamp Customs office date stamp
PAGE 2

1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Customs office date stamp
2. Seals or Identification marks found to be intact
5. Reservations
[Annex 1
Certified report page 14
Drawn up in accordance with article 25 of the TIR Convention (yellow)]
(See also Rules 13 to 17 regarding the use of the TIR carnet)

2. TIR CARNET No
4. Registration No(s). of road vehicle(s) 5. Holder of the carnet (identification number, name, address
Identification No(s). of container(s) and country)
6. The Customs seal(s) is/are intact not intact 8. Remarks
7. The load compartment(s) or intact not intact

container(s) is/are
9. No goods appeared to be missing The goods indicated in items 10 to 13 are missing (M) or have been
destroyed (D) as indicated in column 12
10. (a) Load compartment(s) or 11. Number and type of packages or articles; 12. 13. Remarks (give particulars of
container(s) description of goods M or D quantities missing or destroyed)
packages or articles
14. Date, place and circumstances of the accident
15. Measures taken to enable the TIR operation to continue

affixing of new seals: number description
other
16. If the goods have been transferred: description of road vehicle(s)/container(s) substituted
RegistrationNo. Approved No.of certificate Number and particulars
Yes No of approval of seals affixed
(a) vehicle /
/
Identification No.
/
(b) container
/
17. Authority which drew up this certified report 18. Endorsement of next Customs office reached by the TIR transport
Place/Date/Stamp Signature Signature
Mark the appropriate boxes with a cross


Page 3 of cover
[Annex 1
RULES REGARDING THE USE OF THE TIR CARNET page 15]
A. General
1. Issue: The TIR carnet may be issued either in the country of departure or in the country in which the holder is established or resident.
2. Language: The TIR carnet is printed in French, except for page 1 of the cover where the items are also printed in English; this page is
a translation of the « Rules regarding the use of the TIR carnet » given in French on page 2 of the cover. Additional sheets giving a
translation of the printed text may also be inserted.
Carnets used for TIR transports within a regional guarantee chain may be printed in any other official language of the United Nations
except for page 1 of the cover where items are also printed in English or French. The "Rules regarding the use of the TIR Carnet" are
printed on page 2 of the cover in the official language of the United Nations used and are also printed in English or French on page 3 of
the cover.
3. Validity: The TIR carnet remains valid until the completion of the TIR transport at the Customs office of destination, provided that it has
been taken under Customs control at the Customs office of departure within the time-limit set by the issuing association (item 1 of
page 1 of the cover).
4. Number of carnets: Only one TIR carnet need be required for a combination of vehicles (coupled vehicles) or for several containers
loaded either on a single vehicle or on a combination of vehicles (see also rule 10 d) below).
5. Number of Customs offices of departure and Customs offices of destination: Transport under cover of a TIR carnet may involve
several Customs offices of departure and destination but the total number of Customs offices of departure and destination shall not
exceed four. The TlR carnet may only be presented to Customs offices of destination if all Customs offices of departure have accepted
the TlR carnet (see also rule 10 e) below).
6. Number of forms: Where there is only one Customs office of departure and one Customs office of destination, the TIR carnet must
contain at least 2 sheets for the country of departure, 2 sheets for the country of destination and 2 sheets for each country traversed.
For each additional Customs office of departure (or destination) 2 extra sheets shall be required.
7. Presentation at Customs offices: The TIR carnet shall be presented with the road vehicle, combination of vehicles, or container(s) at
each Customs office of departure, Customs office en route and Customs office of destination. At the last Customs office of departure,
the Customs Officer shall sign and date stamp item 17 below the manifest on all vouchers to be used on the remainder of the journey.
B. How to fill in the TIR carnet
8. Erasures, over-writing: No erasures or over-writing shall be made on the TIR carnet. Any correction shall be made by crossing out the
incorrect particulars and adding, if necessary, the required particulars. Any change shall be initialled by the person making it and
9. Information concerning registration: When national legislation does not provide for registration of trailers and semi-trailers, the
identification or manufacturer’s no. shall be shown instead of the registration no.
10. The manifest:
(a) The manifest shall be completed in the language of the country of departure, unless the Customs authorities allow another
language to be used. The Customs authorities of the other countries traversed reserve the right to require its translation into their
own language. In order to avoid delays which might ensue from this requirement, carriers are advised to supply the driver of the
vehicle with the requisite translations.
(b) The information on the manifest should be typed or multicopied in such a way as to be clearly legible on all sheets.
Illegible sheets will not be accepted by the Customs authorities.
(c) Separate sheets of the same model as the manifest or commercial documents providing all the information required by the
manifest, may be attached to the vouchers. In such cases, all the vouchers must bear the following particulars:
(i) the number of sheets attached (box 8);
(ii) the number and type of the packages or articles and the total gross weight of the goods listed on the attached sheets
(boxes 9 to 11).
(d) When the TIR carnet covers a combination of vehicles or several containers, the contents of each vehicle or each container shall
be indicated separately on the manifest. This information shall be preceded by the registration no. of the vehicle or the
identification no. of the container (item 9 of the manifest).
(e) Likewise, if there are several Customs offices of departure or of destination, the entries concerning the goods taken under
Customs control at, or intended for, each Customs office shall be clearly separated from each other on the manifest.
11. Packing lists, photographs, plans, etc: When such documents are required by the Customs authorities for the identification of heavy
or bulky goods, they shall be endorsed by the Customs authorities and attached to page 2 of the cover of the carnet. In addition, a
12. Signature: All vouchers (items 14 and 15) must be dated and signed by the holder of the carnet or his agent.
C. Incidents or accidents
13. In the event of Customs seals being broken or goods being destroyed or damaged by accident en route the carrier shall immediately
contact the Customs authorities, if there are any near at hand, or, if not, any other competent authorities of the country he is in. The
authorities concerned shall draw up with the minimum delay the certified report which is contained in the TIR carnet.
14. In the event of an accident necessitating transfer of the load to another vehicle or another container, this transfer may be carried out
only in the presence of one of the authorities mentioned in rule 13 above. The said authority shall draw up the certified report. Unless
the carnet carries the words « Heavy or bulky goods », the vehicle or container substituted must be one approved for the transport of
goods under Customs seals. Furthermore, it shall be sealed and details of the seal affixed shall be indicated in the certified report.
However, if no approved vehicle or container is available, the goods may be transferred to an unapproved vehicle or container,
provided it affords adequate safeguards. In the latter event, the Customs authorities of succeeding countries shall judge whether they,
too, can allow the transport under cover of the TIR carnet to continue in that vehicle or container.
15. In the event of imminent danger necessitating immediate unloading of the whole or of part of the load, the carrier may take action on his
own initiative, without requesting or waiting for action by the authorities mentioned in rule 13 above. It shall then be for him to furnish
proof that he was compelled to take such action in the interests of the vehicle or container or of the load and, as soon as he has taken
such preventive measures as the emergency may require, he shall notify one of the authorities mentioned in rule 13 above in order that
the facts may be verified, the load checked, the vehicle or container sealed and the certified report drawn up.
16. The certified report shall remain attached to the TIR carnet until the Customs office of destination is reached.
17. In addition to the model form inserted in the TIR carnet itself, associations are recommended to furnish carriers with a supply of certified
report forms in the language or languages of the countries of transit.
Annex 2
REGULATIONS ON TECHNICAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO

ROAD VEHICLES WHICH MAY BE ACCEPTED FOR
INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT UNDER CUSTOMS SEAL
Article 1
Basic principles
Approval for the international transport of goods under Customs seal may
be granted only to vehicles, the load compartments of which are constructed and
equipped in such a manner that:
(a) no goods can be removed from or introduced into, the sealed part of the
vehicle without leaving obvious traces of tampering or without breaking the
Customs seal;
(b) Customs seals can be simply and effectively affixed to them;
(c) they contain no concealed spaces where goods may be hidden;
(d) all spaces capable of holding goods are readily accessible for Customs
inspection.
Cylindrical tanks of vehicles
Optional tanks should not be considered as load compartments as long

as they serve for the vehicle's fuel supply. Additional tanks used for the
transport of goods other than fuel should also not be considered as load
compartments due to technical difficulties concerning their approval
and distinction from normal fuel tanks.
{TRANS/GE.30/39, paragraphs 51-54}
Markings on load compartments
Paintings, transfers, bands of reflective material and other similar

markings which cannot be torn off the walls or sheets of load
compartments are permissible if they do not cover up the structure of the
walls or sheets, which should still be clearly visible. Stickers and other
similar markings which could hide openings in the load compartments
should not, however, be allowed (see also comment to Annex 2,
Article 3, paragraph 5).
{TRANS/WP.30/151, paragraph 39; TRANS/GE.30/57, paragraph 45}
Article 2
Structure of load compartments
1. To meet the requirements of Article 1 of these Regulations:
(a) the constituent parts of the load compartment (sides, floor, doors, roof,
uprights, frames, cross-pieces, etc.) shall be assembled either by means of
devices which cannot be removed and replaced from the outside without
leaving obvious traces or by such methods as will produce a structure which
cannot be modified without leaving obvious traces. When the sides, floor,
doors and roof are made up of various components, these shall meet the same
requirements and be of sufficient strength;
Explanatory Note to Article 2, paragraph 1 (a)
2.2.1 (a) Assembly of constituent parts
(a) Where joining devices (rivets, screws, bolts and nuts, etc.) are
used, a sufficient number of such devices shall be inserted from
outside, traverse the assembled constituent parts, protrude inside
and there be firmly secured (e.g. riveted, welded, bushed or
bolted and swaged or welded on the nut). However, conventional
rivets (i.e. rivets whose placing requires handling from both sides
of the assembly of constituent parts) may also be inserted from
the inside;
Notwithstanding the above, load compartment floors may be

secured by means of self-tapping screws, self-drilling rivets or
rivets inserted by means of an explosive charge or pins inserted
pneumatically, when placed from inside and passing at
right-angles through the floor and the metallic cross-pieces
underneath, on condition, except in the case of self-tapping
screws, that some of their ends be flush with the level of the
outside part of the cross-piece or be welded on to it.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.3; entered into force on 1
October 1981}
(b) The competent authority shall determine what joining devices,

and how many of them, must fulfil the requirements of
subparagraph (a) of this note; they shall do so by making sure
that the constituent parts so assembled cannot be displaced and
replaced without leaving obvious traces. The choice and placing
of other joining devices are not subject to any restriction;
(c) Joining devices which can be removed and replaced from one
side without leaving obvious traces, i.e. without requiring
handling from both sides of the constituent parts to be assembled,
shall not be allowed under subparagraph (a) of this note.
Examples of such devices are expansion rivets, blind rivets and
the like;
(d) The assembly methods described above shall apply to special

vehicles, for example to insulated vehicles, refrigerated vehicles
and tank-vehicles in so far as they are not incompatible with the
technical requirements which such vehicles must fulfil having
regard to their use. Where, due to technical reasons, it is not
practicable to secure parts in the manner described in
subparagraph (a) of this note, the constituent parts may be joined
by means of the devices mentioned in subparagraph (c) of this
note provided that the devices used on the inner face of the wall
are not accessible from the outside.
Comments to Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (a)
1. Joining device
The joining device illustrated below is in accordance with Annex 2,

Article 2, paragraph 1(a) provided that a sufficient number of such
devices are inserted from the outside and firmly secured from the inside
as stipulated in Annex 6, Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (a).
{TRANS/WP.30/123, paragraphs 34-36; TRANS/WP.30/127,
paragraph 45; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/23, Annex 3}
Installation sequence
1 2 3 4
Pin is inserted Nose assembly is Continued pulling As pull increases,

through placed over pintail. on pintail swages pintail breaks -
prepared hole. Nose assembly/instal- collar into anvil pushes off
Collar is placed lation tool pulls on locking grooves. swaged collar.
over pintail. pin and starts drawing
sheets together.
ANNEX 2 -129 - TIR CONVENTION
2. Joining device
The joining device, examples of which are given below, is in accordance

with Annex 6, Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (a). In view of its inherent
technical characteristics such as the large low profile head, the knurled
or square shoulder on the underside of the large low profile head and
the encapsulated (plastic grip) locking feature the device can be firmly
secured on the inside of the load compartments without requiring
welding, riveting, etc. While the assembly of the joining device requires
handling from both sides of the constituent parts to be assembled, the
device can only be opened on the drive nut side, e.g. on the inside of the
load compartment. The device with the square shoulder is usually
applied to fix hinges to load compartments.
{TRANS/WP.30/135, paragraphs 43 and 44; TRANS/WP.30/137,
paragraphs 59-61; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/27, Annex 3}
Examples of a joining device
Knurled shoulder
Large low
profile head
Drive nut
Installation tool Encapsulated

locking feature
Inside Square shoulder

Outside
Pneumatically inserted pins for securing load compartment floors
In one system of construction, nails with spirally-threaded stems are

used which in many respects resemble self-tapping screws, and give
greater holding strength when the floor is relatively thin. In this method,
the friction produced when the nail is driven in causes the zinc chromate
coating of the stem and of the material of the floor cross-piece to melt,
thus satisfactorily welding them together.
{TRANS/GE.30/33, paragraph 125; TRANS/GE.30/GRCC/10,
paragraphs 52-54}
Self-tapping, self-drilling screws
The self-tapping, self-drilling screw shown in sketch 1 is not regarded as

a self- tapping screw in the meaning of Annex 6, Explanatory Note 2.2.1
(a) (a) of the Convention. Such a self-tapping, self-drilling screw shall,
in accordance with the provisions of Explanatory Notes 2.2.1 (a) (a) and
(b) of Annex 6 be welded on to the metallic cross-pieces underneath.
Alternatively, the protruding part of some of these screws could instead
be bent to an angle of at least 45( as shown in sketch 2. If, however,
used together with a floor construction, examples of which are provided
for in sketches 3 and 4, welding or bending of the screws is not
considered to be necessary.
{TRANS/WP.30/135, paragraphs 48-51; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/27,
Annex 3}
Sketch 1
Structural component I (wood)
Structural component II (steel)
Setting procedure
1
1. Drilling into wood 2 3
2. Wood and steel purlin penetrated
(the wings break off on contact
I
with the metal)
3. Conclusion of thread formation II
(structural components I and II
fastened together)
Sketch 2
Section B-C
B Frontwall
C
View A
Sketch 3
Floor and additional hard-wearing

floor cover, secured to the chassis
underneath by self-drilling
self-tapping screws
Sketch 4
Floor, consisting of matched boards

secured to the chassis underneath
by self-drilling self-tapping screws
Validity of blind rivets
In general, the use of blind rivets for the assembly of constituent parts of
load compartment is not allowed under the Convention as stipulated in
Annex 6, Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (a) (c). However, blind rivets can be
used on condition that a sufficient number of joining devices as
described in Annex 6, Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (a) (a) of the Convention
are used to assemble constituent parts.
{TRANS/WP.30/137, paragraphs 54-58; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/29,
Annex 3}
(b) doors and all other closing systems (including stopcocks, manhole-covers,
flanges etc.) shall be fitted with a device on which Customs seals can be fixed.
This device must be such that it cannot be removed and replaced from the
outside without leaving obvious traces, or the door or fastening be opened
without breaking the Customs seals. The latter shall be adequately protected.
Opening roofs shall be permitted;
Explanatory Note to Article 2, paragraph 1 (b)
2.2.1 (b) Doors and other closing systems
(a) The device on which Customs seals can be fixed must:
(i) be secured by welding, or by not less than two joining

devices conforming to subparagraph (a) of Explanatory
Note 2.2.1 (a); or
(ii) be so designed that when the load compartment has been

closed and sealed the device cannot be removed without
leaving obvious traces.
It must also:
(iii) incorporate holes of not less than 11 mm in diameter or

slots of at least 11 mm in length by 3 mm in width, and
(iv) afford equal security whatever type of seal is used.
(b) Butt hinges, strap hinges, hinge-pins and other devices for
hanging doors and the like must be secured in conformity with
the requirements of subparagraphs (a) (i) and (ii) of this note.
Moreover, the various components of such devices (e.g.
hinge-plates, pins or swivels), provided that they are necessary to
guarantee Customs security of the load compartment, shall be so
fitted that they cannot be removed or dismantled when the load
compartment is closed and sealed without leaving obvious traces
(see sketch No. 1a appended to Annex 6).
However, where such a device is not accessible from outside it
will suffice if, when the door or the like has been closed and
sealed, it cannot be detached from the hinge or similar device
without leaving obvious traces. Where a door or closure-device
has more than two hinges, only those two hinges nearest to the
extremities of the door need to be fixed in conformity with the
requirements of subparagraph (a) (i) and (ii) above.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.8; entered into force on 1 August
1987}
Comments to Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b) (b)
Door or closure-device having more than two hinges
In the case where a door or closure-device has more than two hinges,
the competent authorities may require additional hinges to be secured,
to fulfil the requirements of Annex 2, Article 1 of the Convention.
Butt-hinges
The device illustrated below meets the requirements of Annex 6,

Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b), subparagraph (b) in conjunction with
subparagraph (a) (ii).
Tapped metal plate

M8 M8
Pin
(without the
hexagonal head)
Bearing
Description:
The pin and the bearing of this device have a special shape which makes
it impossible to dismantle these items when the hinge is closed. A screw
with a hexagonal head protruding beyond the pin should be used. The
space between the screw head and the bearing, when the hinge is closed,
should be so small as to prevent the removal of the screw without
leaving obvious traces. In this case it would not be necessary to weld the
screws.
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/23, Annex 3}
(c) Exceptionally, in the case of vehicles having insulated load

compartments, the Customs sealing device, the hinges and any
fittings, the removal of which would give access to the interior of
the load compartment or to spaces in which goods could be
concealed, may be fixed to the doors of such load compartments
by means of the following systems:
(i) Set bolts or set screws which are inserted from the outside
but which do not otherwise meet the requirements of
Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (a), subparagraph (a) above, on
condition that:
- the tails of the set bolts or set screws are fixed into
a tapping plate or similar device fitted behind the
outer layer or layers of the door structure, and
- the heads of the appropriate number of set bolts or

set screws are so welded to the Customs sealing
device, hinges etc., that they are completely
deformed and
- that the set bolts or set screws cannot be removed

without leaving visible signs of tampering (see
sketch No.1 appended to Annex 6);
(ii) A fastening device which is inserted from the inside of the

insulated door construction on condition that:
- the fastening pin and securing collar of the device

are assembled by pneumatic or hydraulic tooling
and fixed behind a plate or similar device fitted
between the outer layer of the door structure and
the insulation; and
- the head of the fastening pin is not accessible from

the inside of the load compartment; and
- a sufficient number of securing collars and

fastening pins are welded together and the devices
cannot be removed without leaving visible signs of
tampering (see sketch No. 5 appended to
Annex 6).
1991}
The term "insulated load compartment" is to be taken to include

refrigerated and isothermic load compartments.
Comment to Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b) (c) (ii)
The text of the first indent could be better understood if, after the
wording: "assembled by pneumatic or hydraulic tooling" the words:
"and fixed" are replaced by: "securing the head of the pin".
{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/29, paragraph 25}
(d) Vehicles comprising a large number of such closures as valves,

stopcocks, manhole covers, flanges and the like must be designed
so as to keep the number of Customs seals to a minimum. To this
end, neighbouring closures must be interconnected by a common
device requiring only one Customs seal, or must be provided with
a cover meeting the same purpose;
(e) Vehicles with opening roofs must be constructed in such a

manner as to permit sealing with a minimum number of Customs
seals.
(f) In cases where more than one Customs seal are required for
Customs secure sealing, the number of such seals shall be
indicated in the Certificate of Approval under point 5 (Annex 4 to
the TIR Convention, 1975). A sketch or photographs of the road
vehicle shall be attached to the Certificate of Approval showing
the exact location of the Customs seals.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.23; entered into force on 7 November
2003}
Comment to Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b) (f)
Implementation period for the inclusion in the Certificate of Approval of

the number and place of seals when more than one Customs seal is
required
The provisions of Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b) (f), which come into force
on 7 August 2003 shall be applicable for road vehicles to be approved
for the first time or on the occasion of the biennial inspection and
renewal of the approval after entry into force of Explanatory Note 2.2.1
(b)(f) where appropriate. As a consequence, as of 7 August 2005, all
road vehicles, requiring more than one seal for Customs secure sealing,
shall need to be equipped with a Certificate of Approval in line with
Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b) (f).
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69, paragraph 59 and Annex 2;
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69/Corr.1}
Comments to Article 2, paragraph 1 (b)
Securing of doors
In the case of doors of vehicles or containers which are not refrigerated

nor insulated but have an interior lining, the devices (bolts, rivets, etc.)
securing the hinges and the Customs sealing device must pass through
the whole thickness of the door (including the lining) and be visibly
secured on the inside.
Number of Customs seals
Comment has been deleted

{TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69, Annex 2}
Examples of Customs sealing devices
In order to achieve Customs secure sealing of load compartments and

containers, sealing devices have to fulfil the requirements of Annex 6,
Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b), subparagraph (a) (see Figures 1-4).
Furthermore, Customs seals have to be affixed in accordance with the
following requirements:
The fastening rope is not longer than necessary and is properly

tightened;
The fastening rope is going through the TIR rings;
Customs seals are affixed as tight as possible;
The securing of other parts of the closing system, e.g. handles of

locking mechanisms, cam engaging devices, locking rod saddles
are secured as stipulated in Annex 6, Explanatory Note 2.2.1(a),
subparagraph (a) (see Figures 1-4).
It should be borne in mind that the effectiveness of any sealing device

will be reduced if wear and tear exists in, for instance, locking rods,
hinges or cam engaging devices. Appropriate measures should be taken
to identify such instances.
Figure 1
Example of a rear door load compartment and
container showing a Customs secure door closing system
Cam engaging device Bearing or saddle
Rear door
Approved
joining device Locking rod Sealing device
Cam engaging Door closing system

device
Secured
by riveting
Door
Rivet
Sealing device
Manoeuvre Secured
handle by welding
Manoeuvre handle Door
securing point
Locking rod
Locking rod bearing
or saddle Screw
Cam engaging
device
Figure 2
Example of a Customs sealing device
1 2
Bush for Bush for

Holes for rivet, pivoting section pivoting section
screw, bolt, etc.
(to be secured Pivoting section Pivoting section
on inside of door)
Back
Lever
plate
Lever
Back
plate Holes for Holes for
Customs seal Customs seal
Lever retainer
Lever retainer
Holes for rivet,

screw, bolt, etc.
(to be secured
on inside of door)
In particular sealing device No. 1 is prone to tampering if the above-mentioned

requirements are not fulfilled. In view of their better protection against manipulation prior
to affixing Customs seals, the devices given below should preferably be used.
3 4
Bolt, screw,
Rivet welded rivet, etc.
to back plate affixing
Back plate
pivoting section
Back plate
Pivoting section Pivoting section
Holes for rivet, Lever Lever

screw, bolt, etc.
(to be secured Holes for Holes for
on inside of door) Customs seal Customs seal
Lever retainer Holes for rivet,

Lever retainer
screw, bolt, etc.
(to be secured
on inside of door)
The Customs sealing devices Nos. 3 and 4 may also be used for securing the doors of
refrigerated and insulated containers and load compartments. Where so used, the sealing
devices may be affixed by means of at least two set bolts or set screws fixed into a metal
tapping plate inserted behind the outer layer of the door. In such cases the heads of the set
bolts or set screws must be so welded that they are completely deformed (see also sketch
No. 1 in Annex 6). {TRANS/GE.30/6, paragraph 35}
Figure 3
Anti-theft locking device
Right door
Left door
Door joint
Bottom cross
section member
c
d
a
Holes for affixing

Customs seals
Weld
This Customs sealing device should preferably be used on metal containers and load
compartments. Care needs to be taken to avoid confusion as to where exactly the seals
need to be placed. Various types of seals may be used. If cable seals in the form of an
"eight" are used it is recommended that the cable goes through all four holes (a, b, c, d).
If rigid seals are used, the seals must pass through holes (c) or (d).
Figure 4
Cam engaging
device
Cam
Locking rod
Manoeuvre handle
Locking rod
Sealing device
Cam
Cam engaging
device
This type of Customs sealing device is used for securing the doors of insulated containers
and load compartments. The sealing point of this device may differ from one construction to
another depending on whether the hold for affixing seals goes horizontally or vertically.
From a Customs point of view the device with the vertical hole provides better security
whereas the device having a horizontal hold requires tight sealing in order to be Customs
secure.
(c) apertures for ventilation and drainage shall be provided

with a device preventing access to the interior of the load
compartment. This device must be such that it cannot be removed
and replaced from the outside without leaving obvious traces.
Explanatory Note to Article 2, paragraph 1 (c)
2.2.1 (c)-1 Ventilation apertures

(a) Their greatest dimension must, in principle, not exceed 400 mm.
(b) Apertures permitting direct access to the load compartment must

be obstructed
(i) by means of wire gauze or perforated metal screens

(maximum dimension of holes: 3 mm in both cases) and
protected by welded metal lattice-work (maximum
dimension of holes: 10 mm); or
(ii) by means of a single perforated metal screen of sufficient

strength (maximum dimension of holes: 3 mm; thickness
of the screen: at least 1 mm).
1990}
Comment to Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (c)-1
Ventilation apertures of insulated load compartments
Example of a screen fitted between the inner and outer surfaces of

insulated load compartments.
Sketch 1 Sketch 2
Insulation
Outside Inside
Shutter Metal screen

in closed
position
Shutter
in open
position
See sketches 1 and 2 Outer skin
Inner skin
(c) Apertures not permitting direct access to the load compartment

(e.g. because of elbow or baffle-plate systems) must be provided
with devices referred to in subparagraph (b), in which, however,
the dimensions of the holes may be as much as 10 mm (for the
wire gauze or metal screen) and 20 mm (for the metal lattice-
work).
1990}
(d) Where openings are made in sheets, the devices referred to in

subparagraph (b) of this note must in principle be prescribed.
However, blocking devices in the form of a perforated metal
screen fitted outside, and wire or other gauze fitted inside, will be
allowed.
(e) Identical non-metal devices may be allowed provided that the

holes are of the requisite dimensions and the material used is
strong enough to prevent the holes from being substantially
enlarged without visible damage. In addition, it must be
impossible to replace the ventilation device by working from one
side of the sheet only.
(f) The ventilation aperture may be provided with a protective

device. This shall be secured to the sheet in such a way as to
permit Customs inspection of the aperture. This protective device
shall be secured to the sheet at a distance of not less than 5 cm
from the screen of the ventilation aperture.
1984}
Comments to Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (c)-1
Example of a protective device
Section a-a1
a1
Ventilation apertures in load compartments
Although ventilation apertures should not in principle exceed 400 mm,

any competent administration may, provided that all other requirements
are complied with, give its approval to an opening greater than 400 mm
if such an opening is presented to it.
{TRANS/GE.30/14, paragraph 102; TRANS/WP.30/143, paragraphs 36
and 37; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/31, Annex 3}
Explanatory Note to Article 2, paragraph 1 (c)
2.2.1 (c)-2 Drainage apertures
(a) Their greatest dimension must, in principle not exceed 35 mm;
(b) Apertures permitting direct access to the load compartment must

be provided with the devices described in subparagraph (b) of
Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (c)-1 for ventilation apertures;
(c) When drainage apertures do not permit direct access to the load
compartment, the devices referred to in subparagraph (b) of this
note will not be prescribed, on condition that the apertures are
provided with a reliable baffle system readily accessible from
inside the load compartment.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1 (c) of these Regulations,

constituent parts of the load compartment which, for practical reasons, have to
include empty spaces (for example, between the partitions of a double wall) shall
be permitted. In order that the said spaces cannot be used to conceal goods:
(i) where it covers the full height from floor to roof, or, in other cases,
where the space between it and the outer wall is completely enclosed,
the lining inside the load compartment shall be so fitted that it cannot
be removed and replaced without leaving obvious traces; and
(ii) where a lining is of less than full height and the spaces between the
lining and the outer wall are not completely enclosed, and in all other
cases where spaces occur in the construction of a load compartment, the
number of such spaces shall be kept to a minimum and these spaces
shall be readily accessible for Customs inspection.
Elimination of hollow beam structural members
Structural members of load compartments with enclosed spaces, such as

hollow beams, shall be kept to a minimum and shall be eliminated
gradually in the design of new load compartments utilizing open profile
beams whenever possible. If, for constructional reasons, enclosed
spaces in structural members of load compartments are used, the
provision of holes intended to facilitate Customs inspection of hollow
spaces are admissible. The presence of such inspection holes shall be
noted under item 12 in the Certificate of Approval of road vehicles
(Annex 4 to the Convention).
{TRANS/WP.30/135, paragraphs 63-65; TRANS /WP.30/137,
paragraphs 65-67; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/27, Annex 3;
TRANS/WP.30/151, paragraphs 33-36}
3. Windows shall be allowed provided that they are made of materials of

sufficient strength and that they cannot be removed and replaced from the outside
without leaving obvious traces. Glass may nevertheless be permitted, but if glass
other than safety glass is used, the windows shall be fitted with a fixed metal grille
which cannot be removed from the outside; the mesh of the grille shall not exceed
10 mm.
2.2.3 Safety glass
Glass shall be considered as safety glass if there is no risk of it being

destroyed as a result of any factor ordinarily occurring in the normal
conditions of use of a vehicle. The glass shall bear a mark which
characterizes it as safety glass.
4. Openings made in the floor for technical purposes, such as lubrication,

maintenance and filling of the sand-box, shall be allowed only on condition that
they are fitted with a cover capable of being fixed in such a way as to render the
load compartment inaccessible from the outside.
Securing of floor openings for technical purposes
Covers of floor openings for technical purposes in road vehicles are

sufficiently protected if the arrangements to prevent access to the load
compartment from the outside are themselves inside the load
compartment.
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/14, paragraphs 35-39}
Article 3
Sheeted vehicles
1. Where applicable, the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of these Regulations

shall apply to sheeted vehicles. In addition, these vehicles shall conform to the
provisions of this Article.
2. The sheet shall be either of strong canvas or of plastic-covered or

rubberized cloth, which shall be of sufficient strength and unstretchable. It shall be
in good condition and made up in such a way that once the closing device has been
secured, it is impossible to gain access to the load compartment without leaving
obvious traces.
3. If the sheet is made up of several pieces, their edges shall be folded into one
another and sewn together with two seams at least 15 mm apart. These seams shall
be made as shown in sketch No. 1 appended to these Regulations; however, where
in the case of certain parts of the sheet (such as flaps and reinforced corners) it is
not possible to assemble the pieces in that way, it shall be sufficient to fold the edge
of the top section and make the seams as shown in sketches Nos. 2 or 2(a)
appended to these Regulations. One of the seams shall be visible only from the
inside and the colour of the thread used for that seam shall be clearly different
from the colour of the sheet itself and from the colour of the thread used for the
other seam. All seams shall be machine-sewn.
2.3.3 Sheets made up of several pieces

(a) The several pieces constituting one sheet may be made of
different materials conforming to the provisions of Annex 2,
Article 3, paragraph 2;
(b) Any arrangement of the pieces which adequately guarantees
security will be allowed in making up the sheet, on condition that
the pieces are assembled in conformity with the requirements of
Annex 2, Article 3.
4. If the sheet is of plastic-covered cloth, and is made up of several pieces, the

pieces may alternatively be welded together in the manner shown in sketch No. 3
appended to these Regulations. The edges of the pieces shall overlap by at least 15
mm. The pieces shall be fused together over the whole width of the overlap. The
edge of the outer sheet shall be covered with a band of plastic material at least 7
mm wide, affixed by the same welding process. The plastic band and the sheet on
each side of it for a width of at least 3 mm shall have a clearly-defined uniform
relief pattern stamped on them. The pieces shall be welded in such a way that they
cannot be separated and rejoined without leaving obvious traces.
Band of plastic material
The requirement for the band of plastic material is essential for Customs
security purposes. Consequently, it should not be permitted to dispense
with it.
Overlap of the edges of the pieces of the sheet
While for Customs security purposes, an overlap of the edges of the

pieces of the sheet of at least 15 mm is sufficient, an overlap of 20 mm
and more is admitted and may be necessary for technical reasons
depending on the material of the sheet and its adhesion.
{TRANS/WP.30/162, paragraphs 64 and 65; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/37,
Annex 6}
Methods for welding pieces of the sheet
Methods for welding pieces of sheets which are recognized as Customs

secure if applied in accordance with the provisions of Annex 2 of the
Convention include the "fusing method", where pieces of sheets are
fused using high temperatures and the "high frequency method", where
pieces of sheets are welded using high frequency and pressure.
{TRANS/WP.30/162, paragraphs 64 and 65; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/37,
Annex 6}
5. Repairs shall be made in accordance with the method described in sketch

No. 4 appended to these Regulations; the edges shall be folded into one another
and sewn together with two visible seams at least 15 mm apart; the colour of the
thread visible from the inside shall be different from that of the thread visible from
the outside and from that of the sheet itself; all seams shall be machine-sewn.
When a sheet which has been damaged near the edges is repaired by replacing the
damaged part by a patch, the seam can also be made in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article and sketch No. 1 appended to these
Regulations. Sheets of plastic-covered cloth may alternatively be repaired in
accordance with the method described in paragraph 4 of this Article, but in that
case the plastic band must be affixed to both sides of the sheet, the patch being
fitted on the inside of the sheet.
Bands of reflective material
Bands of reflective material which can be torn off and which cover up
the structure of the sheets of load compartments are permissible, if they
are completely welded to the sheets of plastic-covered cloth and are
secured in accordance with the requirements of Annex 2, Article 3,
paragraph 5 of the Convention (see sketch below).
13 13
Band of reflective
3 3 material 3 3
7 7 Band of plastic material
Sheet
Sheet
Patch Band of plastic material
Repair of sheets made of plastic covered cloth
The following process is permitted for the repair of such sheets: Vinyl
liquefied under pressure and heat is used to secure the piece on the
sheet by melting. Obviously in such cases a band of plastic material
stamped with a relief pattern will be affixed to the edge of the piece on
both sides of the sheet.
paragraph 33}
6. The sheet shall be fixed to the vehicle in strict compliance with the
conditions set forth in Article 1(a) and (b) of these Regulations. The following
systems can be used:
(a) The sheet can be secured by:
(i) metal rings fixed to the vehicles,
(ii) eyelets let into the edge of the sheet, and
(iii) a fastening passing through the rings above the sheet and
visible from the outside for its entire length.
The sheet shall overlap solid parts of the vehicle by at least 250 mm,
measured from the centre of the securing rings, unless the system of
construction of the vehicle in itself prevents all access to the load
compartment.
Explanatory Notes to Article 3, paragraph 6 (a)
2.3.6 (a)-1 Vehicle with sliding rings
Metal securing rings sliding on metal bars fixed to the vehicles are
acceptable for the purpose of this paragraph (see sketch No.2 appended
to Annex 6) provided that:
(a) the bars are affixed to the vehicle at maximum spacings of 60 cm
and in such a manner that they cannot be removed and replaced
without leaving obvious traces;
(b) the rings are made with a double hoop or equipped with a central
bar and made in one piece without the use of welding; and
(c) the sheet is fixed to the vehicle in strict compliance with the
conditions set forth in Annex 2, Article 1(a) of this Convention.
2.3.6 (a)-2 Vehicles with swivel rings
Metal swivel rings, each of which rotates in a metal bracket fixed to the
vehicle are acceptable for the purpose of this paragraph (see sketch
No. 2a appended to Annex 6) provided that:
(a) each bracket is affixed to the vehicle in such a manner that it
cannot be removed and replaced without leaving obvious traces;
and
(b) the spring under each bracket is completely enclosed by a

bell-shaped metal cover.
Comments to Article 3, paragraph 6 (a)
Example of a locking bar construction

Article 1, paragraph (a) and Annex 2, Article 3, paragraphs 6 (a) and 8.
Side view
Side-board
min. 280
Sliding frontplate
Foldable TIR-ring
Locking bar
200 150
Upright
Description of above sketch
The device will be fitted on the side-board in the same position as a

conventional type of TIR-ring and in such a way that the TIR-ring of the
device will be located at a maximum distance of 150 mm from the
centreline of the upright. The device will be fastened to the side-board
with two rivets similar to the fastening of the usual TIR-rings. It consists
of three integrated metal parts: base plate, foldable TIR-ring and a
sliding front plate including locking bar. When the front plate is slid into
locked position, the locking bar goes into a hole in the upright and locks
the side-board to the upright. The locking bar shall, however, intrude
into the upright by at least 20 mm. At the same time the TIR-ring is
automatically folded out. In fold-out position, with the fastening rope
passing through the ring above the sheet, the sliding front plate is locked
and secured and cannot be slid back in open position.
{TRANS/WP.30/125, paragraph 40; TRANS/WP.30/127, paragraphs 46
and 47; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/23, Annex 3}
Shape of eyelets
Eyelets in the sheets could be round or oval and the rings should not
protrude more than necessary from the relevant parts of the vehicles. In
order to ensure that the sheets are properly fixed, Customs authorities
should make sure, when sealing the road vehicle, that the fastening rope
is properly tightened.
Example of metal rings for fastening vehicle sheets
In the welded metal pillars, which support and contain the locking
mechanisms for the side-boards, a folding type of metal TIR-ring is
integrated. The TIR-ring can be folded out by hand through a small
opening in the outside plate of the pillar. By spring-load the TIR-ring is
kept in either "in" or "out" position. The functioning of this special ring
is integrated in the side-board locking mechanism as follows:
A piece of metal is welded on to each side-board locking pin so that

when the TIR-ring is in folded-out position the vertical movement of the
locking pins is restricted and side-boards cannot be released. At the
same time, the shape and location of these metal pieces prevent the
folding out of the TIR-rings with open side-board locks.
This means, that in folded-out position, when secured by the sheet and
fastening rope passing through the ring, the TIR-ring will in the first
place secure the side-boards to the pillar and in the second place secure
the pillar to the floor of the load compartment (side-rave).
Furthermore, the upper pillar locking pin, which is welded on to one of

the locking pins for the side-boards, will secure the top-roof
construction at the same time as the side-boards are secured.
As long as the TIR-ring is folded out the pillar must be completely
destroyed before the side-board or top-roof construction can be opened.
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/12, paragraph 15; TRANS/GE.30/35, paragraph
109 and Annex 2; TRANS/GE.30/GRCC/11, paragraphs 27-29; see
sketch below}
Example of metal rings for fastening vehicle sheets
Side-board
Pillar
(b) When any edge of a sheet is to be permanently secured to a vehicle, the two
surfaces shall be joined together without a break and shall be held in place by
strong devices.
Explanatory Note to Article 3, paragraph 6 (b)
2.3.6 (b) Permanently-secured sheets
Where one or more edges of the sheet are permanently attached to the
body of the vehicle, the sheet shall be held in place by one or more strips
of metal or other suitable material secured to the body of the vehicle by
joining devices meeting the requirements of subparagraph (a) of
Explanatory Note 2.2.1(a) of Annex 6.
Comment to Article 3, paragraph 6 (b)
The device illustrated in sketch No. 4 appended to Annex 6 meets the

requirements of Annex 2, Article 3, subparagraphs 6(a) and 6(b).
(c) When a sheet locking system is used it shall in locked position join the sheet
tightly to the outside of the load compartment (as an example see sketch No.6).
7. The sheet shall be supported by an adequate superstructure (uprights,

sides, arches, slats, etc.).
Supports for vehicle sheets
The hoops supporting the sheet are sometimes hollow and might be used
as a hiding place. It is, however, always possible to inspect them, as is
the case for many other vehicle parts. In these conditions, hollow hoops
are permissible.
{TRANS/GE.30/14, paragraph 90; TRANS/GE.30/12, paragraphs 100
and 101; TRANS/GE.30/6, paragraph 41}
8. The spaces between the rings and the spaces between the eyelets shall not
exceed 200 mm. The spaces may however be greater but shall not exceed 300 mm
between rings and eyelets on either side of the upright if the construction of the
vehicle and the sheet is such as to prevent all access to the load compartment. The
eyelets shall be reinforced.
2.3.8 Spaces exceeding 200 mm but not exceeding 300 mm are acceptable
over the uprights if the rings are recessed in the side-boards and the
eyelets are oval and so small that they can just pass over the rings.
9. The following fastenings shall be used:
(a) steel wire ropes of at least 3 mm diameter; or
(b) ropes of hemp or sisal of at least 8 mm diameter encased in a transparent

sheath of unstretchable plastic; or
(c) ropes consisting of batches of fibre-optic lines inside a spirally wound steel
housing encased in a transparent sheath of unstretchable plastic; or
(d) ropes comprising a textile cord surrounded by at least four strands consisting
solely of steel wire and completely covering the core, under the condition that
the ropes (without taking into account the transparent sheath, if any) are not
less than 3 mm in diameter.
Ropes in accordance with paragraph 9 (a) or (d) of this Article may have a
transparent sheath of unstretchable plastic.
In cases where the sheet has to be fixed to the frame in a system of

construction which otherwise complies with the provisions of paragraph 6 (a) of
this Article, a thong can be used as fastening (an example of such a system of
construction is given in sketch No.7 appended to this Annex). The thong has to
comply with the requirements stipulated in paragraph 11 (a)(iii) with regard to
material, dimensions and shape.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.11; entered into force on 1 August 1989;
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.17; entered into force on 1 October 1994;

Comments to Explanatory Note 2.3.9
Nylon ropes
Nylon ropes in plastics sheathing are not permitted, since they do not
meet the requirements of Annex 2, Article 3, paragraph 9.
paragraphs 30-33; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/232, paragraph 34 and Annex;
Fastening rope
Where the sheet has to be fixed to the frame in a system of construction

which otherwise complies with the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 6
(a), instead of a thong a rope could be used, which could consist of two
pieces.
10. Each type of rope shall be in one piece and shall have a hard metal end-
piece at each end. Each metal end-piece shall allow the introduction of the thread
or strap of the Customs seal. The fastener of each metal end-piece of ropes in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph 9 (a), (b) and (d) of this Article shall
include a hollow rivet passing through the rope so as to allow the introduction of
the thread or strap of the Customs seal. The rope shall remain visible on either
side of the hollow rivet so that it is possible to ensure that the rope is in one piece
(see sketch No. 5 appended to these Regulations).
11. At the openings in the sheet, used for loading and unloading, the two
surfaces shall be joined together. The following systems can be used:
(a) The two edges of the sheet shall have an adequate overlap. They shall also be
fastened by:
(i) a flap sewn or welded in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of this

Article,
(ii) rings and eyelets meeting the conditions of paragraph 8 of this Article,
the rings shall be manufactured of metal, and
(iii) a thong made of appropriate material, in one piece and unstretchable,

at least 20 mm wide and 3 mm thick, passing through the rings and
holding together the two edges of the sheet and the flap; the thong shall
be secured inside the sheet and fitted either with:
an eyelet to take the rope mentioned in paragraph 9 of this Article,

or
an eyelet which can be attached to a metal ring mentioned in

paragraph 6 of this Article and be secured by the rope mentioned in
paragraph 9 of this Article.
A flap shall not be required if a special device, such as a baffle plate, is fitted,
which prevents access to the load compartment without leaving obvious traces.
Neither shall a flap be required for vehicles with sliding sheets.
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.20 and Add.1; entered into force on 12 June 2001}
Explanatory Notes to Article 3, paragraph 11(a)
2.3.11 (a)-1 Sheet tension flaps
The sheets of many vehicles are provided on the outside with a

horizontal flap pierced by eyelets running along the length of the side of
the vehicle. Such flaps, known as tension flaps, are used to tauten the
sheet by means of tension cords or similar devices. Such flaps have been
used to conceal horizontal slits made in the sheets giving improper
access to the goods carried in the vehicle. It is therefore recommended
that the use of flaps of this type should not be allowed. The following
devices may be used instead:
(a) tension flaps of similar design fixed on the inside of the sheet; or
(b) small individual flaps each pierced by one eyelet secured to the
outside surface of the sheets and spaced at such distances as will
permit an adequate tension of the sheet.
Alternatively, it may be possible in certain cases to avoid the use of

tension flaps on sheets.
2.3.11 (a)-2 Sheet thongs
The following materials are regarded as suitable for making thongs:
(a) leather;
(b) non-tensile materials including plastic-covered or rubberized

cloth, provided that such materials cannot after severance be
welded or reconstituted without leaving obvious traces.
Furthermore, the plastic material used to cover thongs shall be
transparent and smooth-surfaced.
Comments to Explanatory Note 2.3.11 (a)-2
Example of thongs for fastening vehicle sheets
The Administrative Committee is of the opinion that the eyelets in the

thong should be reinforced.
{TRANS/GE.30/AC.2/21, paragraph 16}
Securing of thongs

Article 3, paragraph 11(a) (iii).
(1)
(2)
(3)
Description
The thong has to be passed through the upper eyelet (1) in the opening
of the sheet for loading and unloading, comes out of the load
compartment through the lower eyelet (2) and is then passed through the
reinforced eyelet (3) at the end of the thong.
{TRANS/WP.30/123, paragraphs 45-47 and Annex 3;
2.3.11 (a)-3 The device shown in sketch No.3 appended to Annex 6 meets the
requirements of the last part of Annex 2, Article 3, paragraph 11 (a). It
also meets the requirements of Annex 2, Article 3, paragraphs 6 (a)
and 6 (b).
(b) A special locking system holding the edges of the sheets tightly locked when
the load compartment is closed and sealed. The system shall be provided with
an opening through which a metal ring mentioned in paragraph 6 of this
Article can pass and be secured by the rope mentioned in paragraph 9 of this
Article. Such a system is described in sketch No. 8 appended to this Annex.
Article 4
Vehicles with sliding sheets
1. Where applicable, the provisions of Articles 1, 2 and 3 of these Regulations

shall apply to vehicles with sliding sheets. In addition, these vehicles shall conform
to the provisions of this Article.
2. The sliding sheets, floor, doors and all other constituent parts of the load
compartment shall fulfil either the requirements in Article 3, paragraphs 6, 8, 9
and 11 of these Regulations or the requirements set out in (i) to (vi) below.
(i) The sliding sheets, floor, doors and all other constituent parts of the
load compartment shall be assembled in such a way that they cannot be
opened or closed without leaving obvious traces.
(ii) The sheet shall overlap the solid parts at the top of the vehicle by at
least 1/4 of the actual distance between the tensioning straps. The sheet
shall overlap the solid parts at the bottom of the vehicle by at least 50
mm. The horizontal opening between the sheet and the solid parts of the
load compartment may not exceed 10 mm measured perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at any place when the load
compartment is secured and sealed for Customs purposes.
(iii) The sliding sheet guidance and other movable parts shall be assembled
in such a way that closed and Customs sealed doors and other movable
parts cannot be opened or closed from the outside without leaving
obvious traces. The sliding sheet guidance and other movable parts
shall be assembled in such a way that it is impossible to gain access to
the load compartment without leaving obvious traces. The system is
described in sketch No. 9 appended to these Regulations.
(iv) The horizontal distance between the rings, used for Customs purposes,
on the solid parts of the vehicle shall not exceed 200 mm. The space
may, however, be greater but shall not exceed 300 mm between the
rings on either side of the upright if the construction of the vehicle and
the sheets is such as preventing all access to the load compartment. In
any case, the conditions laid down in (ii) above shall be complied with.
(v) The distance between the tensioning straps shall not exceed 600 mm.
(vi) The fastenings used to secure the sheets to the solid parts of the vehicle
shall fulfil the requirements in Article 3, paragraph 9 of these
Regulations.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.20; entered into force on 12 June 2001}
Sketch No. 1
SHEET MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES SEWN TOGETHER
Outside view
Seam
a a1
Inside view
Seam Seam
(thread of a colour different
from that of the sheet and from
that of the other seam)
1
Section a-a
Double flat seam
a a1
At least Thread visible from the

15 mm inside only and of a colour
different from that of the
seam and from that of the
other seam.
Sketch No. 2
Corner seam a
Seam
a1
Outside view
Sea
a a1
Inside
Sea Seam
Outside view
from that of the sheet and
from
Section a-a1
Double flat seam
a a1
At Thread visible from the

least inside only and of a
colour
different from that of
the
Seam
Seam (thread of a colour different

Inside view that of the other seam)
1 */
Section a-a a
About
Thread visible from the 40 mm
inside only and of a colour
sheet and from that of the
other seam
a1
*/
This sketch shows the top folded section of the sheet according to Annex 2, Article 3, paragraph 3.
Sketch No. 2 (a)
Corner seam
a
Seam
a1
Outside view
Seam
Inside view Seam (thread of a colour different

1 */
Section a-a
a
About
other seam
a1
*/
Sketch No. 3
SHEET MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES WELDED TOGETHER
a a1
Outside view
Section a-a1
13 Band of plastic material
3 7 3
1
Section a-a
The figures shown

15 are millimetres
Inside view
Sketch No. 4
REPAIR OF THE SHEET
Outside view Seams

a a1
Inside view
Seams */
Outside
1
Section a-a a1
a
Inside
At least
15 mm
*/
Threads visible from the inside shall have a colour different from that of the threads visible from the
outside and from that of the sheet.
Sketch No. 5
EXAMPLE OF END-PIECE
1. Side view: Front
Hollow rivet for passing the

thread or the strap of the
Customs seal (minimum dimensions
of the hole: width 3mm,
lenght 11 mm)
Rope
Solid rivet
Transparent
plastic sheath
Hard metal
end-piece
Hole for closing

by carrier 2. Side view: Back
Sketch No. 6
EXAMPLE OF SHEET LOCKING SYSTEM
(1) (2) (3)
Description
This sheet locking system is acceptable provided that it is fitted with at least one metal ring at each
gate end. The openings through which the ring passes are oval and of a size just sufficient to allow
the ring to pass through it. The visible part of the metal ring does not protrude more than twice the
maximum thickness of the fastening rope when the system is locked.
Sketch No. 7
EXAMPLE OF SHEETS FIXED TO SPECIAL-SHAPED FRAME
a1
View of side section Eyelet Frame
Section a-a1
Frame Thong Ring Sheet

Description
The fastening device of the sheet to the vehicle is acceptable provided that the rings are recessed in
the profile and do not protrude more than the maximum depth of the profile. The width of the profile
shall be as narrow as possible.
Sketch No. 8
SHEET LOCKING SYSTEM AT OPENINGS FOR LOADING AND

UNLOADING
{Description see next page}
Sketch No.8.1
Sketch No.8.2
Sketch No.8.4 Sketch No.8.3
Sheet and Rivet

Rivet
band of plastic
Hinge
Hem with rope
Sheet Front view Side view
Space
for hem Locking rod
Sheet Locking profile profile
Top view

Rivet
Rivet Locking rod
Metal
plate
Transparent
cap
Ring and
Fastening rope eyelet
Outside view Inside view

Description
In this locking system the two edges at the openings in the sheet used for loading
and unloading are united by means of an aluminium locking rod. The sheet openings
are provided with a hem over its entire length enclosing a rope (see sketch No. 8.1).
This makes it impossible to pull the sheet out of the locking rod's profile. The hem
shall be on the outside and be welded in accordance with Annex 2, Article 3,
paragraph 4 of the Convention.
The edges are to be passed into the open profiles on the aluminium locking rod and
slid into two parallel longitudinal channels which should be closed at their lower
end. When the locking rod is in its upper position the edges of the sheet are united.
At the upper end of the opening the locking rod is stopped by a transparent plastic
cap fixed by riveting to the sheet (see sketch No. 8.2). The locking rod consists of
two sections, joined by a riveted hinge, to allow folding for easy fitting and removal.
This hinge must be designed in such a way so as not to allow the removal of the
swivel pin once the system is locked (see sketch No. 8.3).
At the lower part of the locking rod is an opening through which the ring passes. The
opening is oval and of a size just sufficient to allow the ring to pass through it (see
sketch No. 8.4). The TIR fastening rope will be pulled through this ring to secure the
locking rod.
Sketch No. 9
EXAMPLE OF A CONSTRUCTION OF A VEHICLE WITH SLIDING SHEETS
Sketch No.9.1
Sketch No.9.2
Load
compartment
Pelmet floor Sheet
Tensioning straps
Fastening
Securing rope
ring
TIR-Cable
Sketch No.9.1
Sketch No.9.3
Distance between
tensioning straps

SHEET GUIDANCE AND OVERLAP-TOP SHEET OVERLAP-BOTTOM
Roof Tensioning
Tensioning strap runner device
Upper cantrail
Pelmet Upright
Sliding sheet
Tensioning strap
The sheet overlap shall
be at least ¼ of the Load compartment
distance between the floor
Upright runner tensioning straps
The sheet overlap
shall be at least
50mm
Sliding sheet Curtain eyelet
Upright Lower cantrail
Fastening rope
Ring on lower cantrail
Tensioning strap hook
Annex 3
PROCEDURE FOR THE APPROVAL OF ROAD VEHICLES COMPLYING

WITH THE TECHNICAL CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE
REGULATIONS CONTAINED IN ANNEX 2
GENERAL
1. Road vehicles may be approved by one of the following procedures:
(a) individually; or
(b) by design type (series of road vehicles).
2. An Approval Certificate conforming to the standard form of Annex 4 shall

be issued for approved vehicles. This Certificate shall be printed in the language of
the country of issue and in French or English. When the authority which has
granted the approval deems it necessary, photographs or diagrams authenticated
by that authority shall be attached to the Certificate. The number of those
documents shall then be inserted by that authority under item No. 6 of the
Approval Certificate.
Comments to paragraph 2
Name of holder on Certificate
In the event of a change of owner, it may be that the name shown in

box 8 (holder) will not be that of the new owner. This should not give
rise to any dispute.
Name on vehicles
In the same circumstances it may be that a name other than that actually
shown on the vehicle appears on the photograph attached to the
Certificate. The vehicle should not in such a case be refused entry, since
the sole purpose of the photograph is to indicate the general appearance
of the vehicle.
Insufficient space in box 5 of the Certificate
If there is insufficient space in box 5 (Other particulars) the indications

may be given in a note on the back of the Certificate.
3. The Approval Certificate shall be kept on the road vehicle.
Comment to paragraph 3
This must be the original of the Certificate, not, however, a photocopy.

4. Road vehicles shall be produced every two years, for the purposes of
inspection and of renewal of approval where appropriate, to the competent
authorities of the country in which the vehicle is registered or, in the case of
unregistered vehicles, of the country in which the owner or user is resident.
5. If a road vehicle no longer complies with the technical conditions prescribed

for its approval, it shall, before it can be used for the transport of goods under
cover of TIR Carnets, be restored to the condition which had justified its approval
so as to comply again with the said technical conditions.
6. If the essential characteristics of a road vehicle are changed, the vehicle

shall cease to be covered by the approval and shall be re-approved by the
competent authority before it can be used for the transport of goods under cover of
TIR Carnets.
7. The competent authorities of the country of registration of the vehicle, or,

in the case of vehicles for which registration is not required, the competent
authorities of the country where the owner or user of the vehicle is established
may, as the case may be, withdraw or renew the Approval Certificate or issue a
new Approval Certificate in the circumstances set out in Article 14 of this
Convention and in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of this Annex.
PROCEDURE FOR INDIVIDUAL APPROVAL
8. The owner, the operator or the representative of either shall apply to the
competent authority for individual approval. The competent authority shall
inspect the road vehicle produced in accordance with the general rules laid down
in paragraphs 1 to 7 above and shall satisfy itself that the vehicle complies with the
technical conditions prescribed in Annex 2, and after approval shall issue a
certificate conforming to the model in Annex 4.
PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL BY DESIGN TYPE

(SERIES OF ROAD VEHICLES)
9. Where road vehicles are manufactured by type series, the manufacturer

may apply to the competent authority of the country of manufacture for approval
by design-type.
10. The manufacturer shall state in his application the identification numbers
or letters which he assigns to the type of road vehicle to which his application for
approval relates.
11. The application shall be accompanied by drawings and a detailed design

specification of the type of road vehicle to be approved.
12. The manufacturer shall give an undertaking in writing that he will:
(a) produce to the competent authority such vehicles of the type concerned as
that authority may wish to examine;
(b) permit the competent authority to examine further units at any time during
the production of the type series concerned;
(c) advise the competent authority of any change, however small, in the design or
specification before proceeding with such change;
(d) mark the road vehicles in a visible place with the identification numbers of
letters of the design-type and the serial number of the vehicle in the type
series (manufacturer's number);
(e) keep a record of vehicles manufactured to the approved design-type.
13. The competent authority shall state what changes, if any, must be made to
the proposed design-type in order that approval may be granted.
14. No approval by design-type shall be granted unless the competent authority

has satisfied itself by examination of one or more vehicles manufactured to the
design-type concerned that vehicles of that type comply with the technical
condition prescribed in Annex 2.
15. The competent authority shall notify the manufacturer in writing of its
decision to grant approval by design-type. This decision shall be dated and
numbered. The authority which took the decision shall be clearly designated.
16. The competent authority shall take the necessary steps to issue an Approval
Certificate, which it has duly signed, in respect of every vehicle built in conformity
with an approved design-type.
17. The holder of the Approval Certificate shall, before using the vehicle for the
carriage of goods under the cover of a TIR Carnet, fill in, as may be required, on
the Approval Certificate:
- the registration number given to the vehicle (item No.1); or
- in the case of a vehicle not subject to registration, particulars of his

name and business address (item No. 8).
Explanatory Note to paragraph 17
3.0.17 Approval procedure
1. Annex 3 provides that the competent authorities of a Contracting

Party may issue a Certificate of Approval in respect of a vehicle
constructed within its territory and that no additional approval
procedures shall be applied in respect of such a vehicle in the country
where it is registered or, as the case may be, where the owner is resident.
2. These provisions are not intended to restrict the right of the

competent authorities of the Contracting Party where the vehicle is
registered or where the owner is resident to require the production of
such a Certificate of Approval either at importation or subsequently for
purposes connected with the registration or control of the vehicle or with
similar legal requirements.
18. When a vehicle which has been approved by design-type is exported to

another country which is a Contracting Party to this Convention, no further
approval procedure shall be required in that country on account of its importation.
PROCEDURE FOR ENDORSEMENT OF

THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
19. When an approved vehicle, carrying goods under cover of a TIR Carnet, is
found to have major defects, the competent authorities of Contracting Parties may
either refuse to allow the vehicle to continue its journey under a TIR Carnet, or
allow the vehicle to continue its journey under a TIR Carnet on its territory while
taking the necessary security precautions. The approved vehicle must be restored
to a satisfactory state as rapidly as possible, and in any case before it is again used
for the transport of goods under cover of a TIR Carnet.
20. In each of these cases the Customs authorities shall make an appropriate
endorsement in item No. 10 of the Certificate of Approval of the vehicle. When the
vehicle has been restored to a condition which justifies approval, it shall be
presented to the competent authorities of a Contracting Party who shall revalidate
the Certificate by adding an endorsement to item No. 11 cancelling the earlier
observations. No vehicle, the Certificate of which has been endorsed at item No. 10
under the provisions of the preceding paragraph , may again be used for the
transport of goods under a TIR Carnet until it has been restored to a satisfactory
condition and until the endorsement in item No. 10 has been cancelled as stated
above.
3.0.20 Procedure for endorsement of the Certificate of Approval
When an endorsement concerning defects is to be cancelled after the

vehicle has been restored to a satisfactory state, it is sufficient to state,
under item No. 11 provided for the purpose, "Defects rectified" followed
by the name, signature and stamp of the competent authority concerned.
Any defects noted in the sheets or their system of securing may be

entered in box No. 10 of the Approval Certificate.
{TRANS/GE.30/33, paragraphs 46-49}
21. Each endorsement made on the Certificate shall be dated and authenticated
by the competent authorities.
22. When a vehicle is found to have defects which the Customs authorities
consider to be of minor importance and not involving the risk of smuggling, the
continued use of the vehicle for the transport of goods under cover of a TIR Carnet
can be authorized. The holder of the Approval Certificate shall be notified of the
defects and shall restore his vehicle to a satisfactory state within a reasonable time.
Annex 4
MODEL CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL OF A ROAD VEHICLE
Comments
Approval Certificate
The Certificate of Approval should be of format A 3, folded in two. See

sample hereafter.
{TRANS/GE.30/10, paragraph 33; TRANS/WP.30/157, paragraphs 27-
29; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/35, Annex 6}
Photographs or diagrams to be attached
Whenever photographs or diagrams need to be attached to the Approval

Certificate in accordance with Annex 4 to the Convention, they have to
reflect accurately and in an updated manner the actual vehicle.
Approval of demountable bodies
As stipulated in Article 1 (j) of the Convention, demountable bodies are

to be treated as containers. Therefore Certificates of Approval as
provided for in Annex 4 to the Convention are not required for
demountable bodies as defined in Annex 6, Explanatory Note 0.1 (j).
Approval plates in line with the provisions of Annex 7, Part II of the
Convention are however required.
Place and number of Customs seals
In cases where more than one Customs seal are required for Customs
secure sealing, the number of such seals shall be indicated in the
Certificate of Approval under point 5 (Annex 4 to the TIR Convention,
1975). A sketch or photographs of the road vehicle shall be attached to
the Certificate of Approval showing the exact location of the Customs
seals. This provision, which comes into force on 7 August 2003, shall be
applicable for road vehicles to be approved for the first time or on the
occasion of the biennial inspection and renewal of the approval after
entry into force of Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b)(f) where appropriate. As a
consequence, as of 7 August 2005, all road vehicles, requiring more
than one seal for Customs secure sealing, shall need to be equipped with
a Certificate of Approval in line with Explanatory Note 2.2.1 (b) (f).
{TRANS/WP.30/206, paragraph 62; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69, Annex 2;
TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/69/Corr.1}
Transition period for the introduction of the new model certificate
The new format of the model certificate of approval of a road vehicle,

which came into force on 1 August 1995 (TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/35,
Annex 4) shall be required for road vehicles to be approved for the first
time or on the occasion of the biennial inspection and renewal of the
approval where appropriate of other road vehicles. As a consequence,
as of 1 August 1997, all road vehicles would need to be equipped with
the new format of the model certificate.
{TRANS/WP.30/R.164, paragraphs 46-48; TRANS/WP.30/R.158;
Model Certificate of Approval of a Road Vehicle */
APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
of a road vehicle for the transport of goods
under Customs seal
Certificate No ……………………………………………………………………………………
TIR Convention of 14 November 1975
Issued by: …………………………………………………………………………………….

(Competent Authority)
[page 1]
/
Model Certificate of Approval of a Road Vehicle (cont'd)
Certificate No
IDENTIFICATION
1. Registration No ......................................................................................................
2. Type of vehicle ......................................................................................................
3. Chassis No ............................................................................................................
4. Trade mark (or name of manufacturer) ..................................................................
5. Other particulars ....................................................................................................
6. Number of annexes ...............................................................................................
7. APPROVAL Valid until
*/
individual approval Stamp
*/
approval by design type
Authorization No (if applicable) ...............................................
Place .......................................................................................
Date .........................................................................................
Signature .................................................................................
8. HOLDER, (manufacturer, owner or operator) (for unregistered vehicles only)

Name and address .....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
9. RENEWALS
Valid until
Place
Date
Signature
Stamp
*/
mark applicable alternative with an “x”.
Please see the “Important Notice” on page 4.

[page 2]
REMARKS (reserved for the use of Competent Authorities) Certificate No
10. Defects noted 11. Rectification of defects
Authority Stamp Authority Stamp
Signature Signature
Signature Signature
Signature Signature
12. Other remarks
Please see “Important Notice” on page 4.

[page 3]
IMPORTANT NOTICE
1. When the authority which has granted the approval deems it

necessary, photographs or diagrams authenticated by the authority shall be
attached to the approval certificate. The number of those documents shall
then be inserted by the competent authority, under item No. 6 of the
certificate.
2. The certificate shall be kept on the road vehicle. This must be the
original of the certificate, not, however, a photocopy.
3. Road vehicles shall be produced every two years, for the purposes of
inspection and of renewal of approval where appropriate, to the competent
authorities of the country in which the vehicle is registered or, in the case of
unregistered vehicles, of the country in which the owner or user is resident.
4. If a road vehicle no longer complies with the technical conditions

prescribed for its approval, it shall, before it can be used for the transport of
goods under cover of TIR Carnets, be restored to the condition which had
justified its approval so as to comply again with the said technical conditions.
5. If the essential characteristics of a road vehicle are changed, the

vehicle shall cease to be covered by the approval and shall be re-approved
by the competent authority before it can be used for the transport of goods
under cover of TIR Carnets.
[page 4]
Annex 5
TIR PLATES
1. The dimensions of the plates shall be 250 mm by 400 mm.
2. The letters TIR in capital Latin characters shall be 200 mm high and their
strokes at least 20 mm wide. The letters shall be white on a blue ground.
Comment
The model of a TIR plate in conformity with Annex 5 is shown below.

White capital letters on blue ground (RAL 5017)
(Characters: 200 mm high; stroke width: at least 20 mm)
An electronic file (encapsulated postscript format – EPS) containing the
TIR plate in conformity with Annex 5, as shown above, is available on
the TIR web site (http:// tir.unece.org) or can be obtained by contacting
the TIR Secretary.
400 mm
250 mm

Annex 6
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Introduction to Explanatory Notes
(i) In accordance with the provisions of Article 43 of this

Convention, the Explanatory Notes interpret certain provisions of
this Convention and of its Annexes. They also describe certain
recommended practices,
(ii) The Explanatory Notes do not modify the provisions of this

Convention or of its Annexes but merely make their contents,
meaning and scope more precise,
(iii) In particular, having regard to the provisions of Article 12 of this

Convention and of Annex 2 relating to the technical conditions
for the approval of road vehicles for transport under Customs
seal, the Explanatory Notes specify, where appropriate, the
construction techniques to be accepted by the Contracting Parties
as complying with those provisions. The Explanatory Notes also
specify, where appropriate, which construction techniques do not
comply with those provisions,
(iv) The Explanatory Notes provide a means of applying the

provisions of this Convention and of its Annexes so as to take
into account the development of technology and economic
requirements.
Note:
{Explanatory Notes appearing in Annex 6 have been placed with the

provisions of the Convention to which they are related. Sketches related
to the Explanatory Notes are included in this Annex}
TIR CONVENTION - 190 - SKETCHES TO ANNEX 6
Sketch No. 1
EXAMPLE OF A HINGE AND CUSTOMS SEALING DEVICE ON DOORS

OF VEHICLES HAVING INSULATED LOAD COMPARTMENTS
Hinge blade
Tapped metal plate
Head of bolt or screw

fully welded and
completely deformed
HINGE
Door
Pivoting section
Pivot bush
Pivot
Set-screw head completely

deformed by welding
Not accessible when door sealed
Lever
Holes for Customs seals
Back plate
Head of set-bolt or set-screw
completely deformed by welding
Tapped metal plate
Insulating material
CUSTOMS SEALING DEVICE

SKETCHES TO ANNEX 6 - 191 - TIR CONVENTION
Sketch No. 1a
EXAMPLE OF A HINGE NOT REQUIRING SPECIAL PROTECTION

FOR THE HINGE-PIN
The hinge illustrated below complies with the requirements of Explanatory

Note 2.2.1(b), paragraph (b), second sentence. The design of the strap and the hinge-
plate make any special protection of the pin unnecessary, since the shoulders of the
strap extend behind the edges of the hinge-plate. These shoulders therefore prevent the
Customs-sealed door from being opened at the hinged side without leaving obvious
traces, even if the unprotected pin has been removed.
Strap
Pin
Edges of the hinge-plate

Shoulders
Strap
Shoulders
Pin
Sketch No. 2
SHEETED VEHICLE WITH SLIDING RINGS
Double hooped FIRST VARIANT

ring
Metal
bar
Fastening wire
Alternative ring SECOND VARIANT

with centre bar
60 cm 60 cm
Bar attachments points

Sketch No. 2a
EXAMPLE OF A SWIVEL RING ("D" RING)
Swivel 'D' ring
Fixing bracket
Spring cover
Rivets
Spring
Retaining washer
Splayed (riveted)
end of 'D' ring
Sketch No. 3
EXAMPLE OF A DEVICE FOR FASTENING VEHICLE SHEETS
The device illustrated below meets the requirements of the last part of
paragraph 11 (a) of Annex 2, Article 3. It also meets the requirements of Annex 2,
Article 3, paragraphs (a) and 6 (b).
Sheet
Sheet-fastening
rope
Securing ring
Part of sheet
Eyelets
Metal bar, riveted
Wall
Sketch No. 4
DEVICE FOR FASTENING SHEETS
The device illustrated below meets the requirements of Annex 2, Article 3, subparagraphs 6 (a)
and 6 (b).
Sheet Iron girder

Floor
Securing ring
Fastening rope
Comment
The sketch below is an example of a device for fastening vehicle sheets

in accordance with Annex 2, Article 3, paragraphs 6 (a) and 6 (b).
Sheet
Floor
Sealing wire
Securing ring
Iron girder
Sketch No. 5
EXAMPLE OF A FASTENING DEVICE INSERTED FROM THE

INSIDE OF INSULATED DOOR CONSTRUCTION
Door-end view
See sketch
No. 5.2 See sketch
No. 5.3
Locking rod
Sketch No. 5.1

Hinge Securing collar
Wood
Fastening pin
Metal plate
Rubber
sealing Foam
strip Sketch No. 5.2 insulation
Locking rod
Saddle for
locking rod
Securing collar
Outer skin
Fastening pin Wood

insulation
Metal plate
Inner skin Foam
Sketch No. 5.3
insulation
ANNEX 7 – PART I - 197 - TIR CONVENTION
Annex 7
REGARDING APPROVAL OF CONTAINERS
Part I
REGULATIONS ON TECHNICAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO

CONTAINERS WHICH MAY BE ACCEPTED
FOR INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT UNDER CUSTOMS SEAL
Explanatory Notes
The Explanatory Notes to Annex 2 set out in Annex 6 of this Convention

apply mutatis mutandis to containers approved for transport under
Customs seal for the application of this Convention.
Article 1
Basic principles
Approval for the international transport of goods under Customs seal may be
granted only to containers constructed and equipped in such a manner that:
(a) no goods can be removed from, or introduced into, the sealed part of the
container without leaving visible traces of tampering or without breaking the
Customs seal;
(b) Customs seals can be simply and effectively affixed to them;
(c) they contain no concealed spaces where goods may be hidden;
(d) all spaces capable of holding goods are readily accessible for Customs
inspection.
TIR CONVENTION - 198 - ANNEX 7 – PART I
Markings on containers
Paintings, transfers and other similar markings which cannot be torn off
the walls or sheets of containers are permissible if they do not cover up
the structure of the wall or sheet which should still be clearly visible.
Stickers and other similar markings which could hide openings in the
containers should, however, not be allowed.
Article 2
Structure of containers
1. To meet the requirements of Article 1 of these Regulations:
(a) the constituent parts of the container (sides, floor, doors, roof, uprights,
frames, cross-pieces, etc.) shall be assembled either by means of devices
which cannot be removed and replaced from the outside without leaving
visible traces or by such methods as will produce a structure which cannot be
modified without leaving visible traces. When the sides, floor, doors and roof
are made up of various components, these shall meet the same requirements
and be of sufficient strength;
(b) doors and all other closing systems (including stopcocks, manhole-covers,
flanges, etc.) shall be fitted with a device on which Customs seals can be
fixed. This device must be such that it cannot be removed and replaced from
outside the container without leaving visible traces, or the door or fastening
be opened without breaking the Customs seals. The latter shall be adequately
protected. Opening roofs shall be permitted;
Comment to Article 2, paragraph 1 (b)
Protection of Customs seals on containers
As the Convention does not make any specific requirement as to the

means for protection of the seal, there is a choice either to protect the
seal by covering it with a special device, or to construct the door in such
a way that there can be no danger that the seal may be damaged by
impact.
(c) apertures for ventilation and drainage shall be provided with a device
preventing access to the interior of the container. This device must be such
that it cannot be removed and replaced from outside the container without
leaving visible traces.
Comment to Article 2, paragraph 1 (c)
Ventilation apertures in containers
Although ventilation apertures should not in principle exceed 400 mm,

any competent administration may, provided that all other requirements
are complied with, give its approval to an opening greater than 400 mm,
if such an opening is presented to it.
{TRANS/GE.30/14, paragraph 102; TRANS/WP.30/143, paragraphs 36
and 37}
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1 (c) of these Regulations,

constituent parts of the container which, for practical reasons, have to include
empty spaces (for example, between the partitions of a double wall) shall be
permitted. In order that the said spaces cannot be used to conceal goods:
(i) where it covers the full height from floor to roof, or, in other cases,
where the space between it and the outer wall is completely enclosed,
the lining inside the container shall be so fitted that it cannot be
removed and replaced without leaving obvious traces, and
(ii) where a lining is of less than full height and the spaces between the
lining and the outer wall are not completely enclosed, and in all other
cases where spaces occur in the construction of a container, the number
of such spaces shall be kept to a minimum and these spaces shall be
readily accessible for Customs inspection.
Elimination of hollow beam structural members
Structural members of containers with enclosed spaces, such as hollow

beams shall be kept to a minimum and shall be eliminated gradually in
the design of new containers utilizing open profile beams whenever
possible. If, for constructional reasons, enclosed spaces in structural
members of containers are used, the provision of holes intended to
facilitate Customs inspection of hollow spaces are admissible. The
presence of such inspection holes shall be noted under item 9 in Model
II or item 7 in Model III in the Certificate of Approval of containers
(Annex 7, Part II of the Convention).
{TRANS/WP.30/151, paragraphs 33-37;TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/33,
Annex 7}
3. Windows shall be allowed in demountable bodies as defined in Annex 6,

Explanatory Note 0.1 (j) of the Convention, provided that they are made of
materials of sufficient strength and that they cannot be removed and replaced
from the outside without leaving obvious traces. Glass may nevertheless be
permitted, but if glass other than safety glass is used, the windows shall be fitted
with a fixed metal grille which cannot be removed from the outside; the mesh of
the grille shall not exceed 10 mm. Windows shall not be allowed in containers as
defined in Article 1 (j) of the Convention other than in demountable bodies as
defined in Annex 6, Explanatory Note 0.1(j) of the Convention.
Article 3
Containers capable of being folded or dismantled
Containers capable of being folded or dismantled shall be subject to the

provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of these Regulations; in addition, they shall be fitted
with a bolting system which locks the various parts together once the container has
been erected. This bolting system must be capable of being sealed by the Customs
if it is on the outside of the container when the latter has been erected.
Article 4
Sheeted containers
1. Where applicable, the provisions of Articles 1, 2 and 3 of these Regulations

shall apply to sheeted containers. In addition, these containers shall conform to the
provisions of this Article.
2. The sheet shall be either of strong canvas or of plastic-covered or

rubberized cloth, which shall be of sufficient strength and unstretchable. It shall be
in good condition and made up in such a way that once the closing device has been
secured, it is impossible to gain access to the load without leaving visible traces.
3. If the sheet is made up of several pieces, their edges shall be folded into one
another and sewn together with two seams at least 15 mm apart. These seams shall
be made as shown in sketch No. 1 appended to these Regulations; however, where
in the case of certain parts of the sheet (such as flaps and reinforced corners) it is
not possible to assemble the pieces in that way, it shall be sufficient to fold the edge
of the top section and make the seams as shown in sketch No. 2 appended to these
Regulations. One of the seams shall be visible only from the inside and the colour
of the thread used for that seam shall be clearly different from the colour of the
sheet itself and from the colour of the thread used for the other seam. All seams
shall be machine-sewn.
4. If the sheet is of plastic-covered cloth, and is made up of several pieces, the

pieces may alternatively be welded together in the manner shown in sketch No. 3
appended to these Regulations. The edges of the pieces shall overlap by at least 15
mm. The pieces shall be fused together over the whole width of the overlap. The
edge of the outer sheet shall be covered with a band of plastic material at least 7
mm wide, affixed by the same welding process. The plastic band and a width of at
least 3 mm on each side shall have a well-marked uniform relief stamped on it. The
pieces shall be welded in such a way that they cannot be separated and rejoined
without leaving visible traces.
Band of plastic material
The requirement for the band of plastic material is essential for Customs
security purposes. Consequently, it should not be permitted to dispense
with it.
Overlap of the edges of the pieces of the sheet
While for Customs security purposes, an overlap of the edges of the

pieces of the sheet of at least 15 mm is sufficient, an overlap of 20 mm
and more is admitted and may be necessary for technical reasons
depending on the material of the sheet and its adhesion.
{TRANS/WP.30/162, paragraphs 64 and 65; TRANS/WP.30/АС.2/37,
Annex 6}
Methods for welding pieces of the sheet
Methods for welding pieces of sheets which are recognized as Customs

secure if applied in accordance with the provisions of Annex 2 to the
Convention include the "fusing method", where pieces of sheets are
fused using high temperatures and the "high frequency method", where
pieces of sheets are welded using high frequency and pressure.
{TRANS/WP.30/162, paragraphs 64 and 65; TRANS/WP.30/АС.2/37,
Annex 6}
5. Repairs shall be made in accordance with the method described in sketch

No. 4 appended to these Regulations; the edges shall be folded into one another
and sewn together with two visible seams at least 15 mm apart; the colour of the
thread visible from the inside shall be different from that of the thread visible from
the outside and from that of the sheet itself; all seams shall be machine-sewn.
When a sheet which has been damaged near the edges is repaired by replacing the
damaged part by a patch, the seam can also be made in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article and sketch No. 1 appended to these
Regulations. Sheets of plastic-covered cloth may alternatively be repaired in
accordance with the method described in paragraph 4 of this Article, but in that
case the plastic band must be affixed to both sides of the sheet, the patch being
fitted on the inside of the sheet.
Repair of sheets made of plastic covered cloth
The following process is permitted for the repair of such sheets: Vinyl
liquefied under pressure and heat is used to secure the piece on the
sheet by melting. Obviously in such cases a band of plastic material
stamped with a relief pattern will be affixed to the edge of the piece on
both sides of the sheet.
paragraph 33; TRANS/WP.30/141, paragraph 35;
Bands of reflective material
Bands of reflective material which can be torn off and which cover up
the structure of the sheets of containers are permissible, however, if they
are completely welded to the sheets of plastic-covered cloth and are
secured in accordance with the requirements of Annex 2, Article 3,
paragraph 5 of the Convention (see sketch below).
13 13
Band of reflective
3 3 material 3 3
7 7 Band of plastic material
Sheet
Sheet
Patch Band of plastic material
6. The sheet shall be fixed to the container in strict compliance with the
conditions set forth in Article 1 (a) and (b) of these Regulations. The following
systems can be used:
(a) The sheet can be secured by
(i) metal rings fixed to the containers,
(ii) eyelets let into the edge of the sheet, and
(iii) a fastening passing through the rings above the sheet and
visible from the outside for its entire length.
The sheet shall overlap solid parts of the container by at least 250 mm,
measured from the centre of the securing rings, unless the system of
construction of the container by itself prevents all access to the goods.
Explanatory Note to Article 4, paragraph 6 (a)
Example of a system of affixing sheets around containers' corner-

castings, acceptable from Customs point of view, is given in the sketch
appended to Annex 7, Part III.
(b) When any edge of a sheet is to be permanently secured to a container, the two
surfaces shall be joined together without a break and shall be held in place by
strong devices.
(c) When a sheet locking system is used, it shall in locked position join the sheet
tightly to the outside of the container (as an example, see sketch No. 6
appended to these Regulations).
7. The sheet shall be supported by an adequate superstructure (uprights,

sides, arches, slats, etc.).
Supports for sheets
The hoops supporting the sheet are sometimes hollow and might be used
as a hiding place. It is, however, always possible to inspect them, as is
the case for many other container parts. Under these conditions, hollow
hoops are permissible.
{TRANS/GE.30/14, paragraph 90; TRANS/GE.30/12, paragraphs 100
and 101; TRANS/GE.30/6, paragraph 41; TRANS/WP.30/141,
paragraph 35; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/31, Annex 3}
8. The spaces between the rings and the spaces between the eyelets shall not
exceed 200 mm. The spaces may however be greater but shall not exceed 300 mm
between rings and eyelets on either side of the upright if the construction of the
container and the sheet is such as to prevent all access to the interior of the
container. The eyelets shall be reinforced.
9. The following fastenings shall be used:
(a) steel wire ropes of at least 3 mm diameter; or
(b) ropes of hemp or sisal of at least 8 mm diameter encased in a transparent

sheath of unstretchable plastic; or
(c) ropes consisting of batches of fibre-optic lines inside a spirally wound steel
housing encased in a transparent sheath of unstretchable plastic; or
(d) ropes comprising a textile cord surrounded by at least four strands consisting
solely of steel wire and completely covering the core, under the condition that
the ropes (without taking into account the transparent sheath, if any) are not
less than 3 mm in diameter.
Ropes in accordance with paragraph 9 (a) or (d) of this Article may have a
transparent sheath of unstretchable plastic.
In cases where the sheet has to be fixed to the frame in a system of

construction which otherwise complies with the provisions of paragraph 6 (a) of
this Article, a thong can be used as fastening (an example of such a system of
construction is given in sketch No. 7 appended to this Annex). The thong has to
comply with the requirements stipulated in paragraph 11 (a) (iii) with regard to
material, dimensions and shape.
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.17; entered into force on 1 October 1994;
Fastening rope
In the latter system of construction instead of a thong a rope could be

used, which could consist of two pieces.
{TRANS/WP.30/125, paragraph 33; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/232, paragraph
34 and Annex; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/91, paragraph 24}
10. Each type of rope shall be in one piece and shall have a hard metal end-
piece at each end. Each metal end-piece shall allow the introduction of the thread
or strap of the Customs seal. The fastener of each metal end-piece of ropes in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph 9 (a), (b) and (d) of this Article shall
include a hollow rivet passing through the rope so as to allow the introduction of
the thread or strap of the Customs seal. The rope shall remain visible on either
side of the hollow rivet so that it is possible to ensure that the rope is in one piece
(see sketch No. 5 appended to these Regulations).
11. At the openings in the sheet, used for loading and unloading, the two
surfaces shall be joined together. The following systems can be used:
(a) The two edges of the sheet shall have an adequate overlap. They shall also be
fastened by:
(i) a flap sewn or welded in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of this

Article,
(ii) rings and eyelets meeting the conditions of paragraph 8 of this Article,
the rings shall be manufactured of metal, and
(iii) a thong made of appropriate material, in one piece and unstretchable,

at least 20 mm wide and 3 mm thick, passing through the rings and
holding together the two edges of the sheet and the flap; the thong shall
be secured inside the sheet and fitted either with:
an eyelet to take the rope mentioned in paragraph 9 of this Article;

or
an eyelet which can be attached to a metal ring mentioned in

paragraph 6 of this Article and be secured by the rope mentioned in
paragraph 9 of this Article.
A flap shall not be required if a special device, such as a baffle plate, is fitted,
which prevents access to the container without leaving obvious traces.
Neither shall a flap be required for containers with sliding sheets.
ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.20; entered into force on 12 June 2001}
(b) A special locking system holding the edges of the sheet tightly locked when
the container is closed and sealed. The system shall be provided with an
opening through which a metal ring mentioned in paragraph 6 of this Article
can pass and be secured by the rope mentioned in paragraph 9 of this
Article. Such a system is described in sketch No. 8 appended to this Annex.
12. The identification marks, which must appear on the container, and the
approval plate provided for in Part II of this Annex, shall in no circumstances be
covered by the sheet.
Article 5
Containers with sliding sheets
1. Where applicable, the provisions of Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 of these

Regulations shall apply to containers with sliding sheets. In addition, these
containers shall conform to the provisions of this Article.
2. The sliding sheets, floor, doors and all other constituent parts of the
container shall fulfil either the requirements in Article 4, paragraphs 6, 8, 9 and 11
of these Regulations or the requirements set out in (i) to (vi) below.
(i) The sliding sheets, floor, doors and all other constituent parts of the
container shall be assembled in such a way that they cannot be opened
or closed without leaving obvious traces.
(ii) The sheet shall overlap the solid parts at the top of the container by at
least 1/4 of the actual distance between the tensioning straps. The sheet
shall overlap the solid parts at the bottom of the container by at least 50
mm. The horizontal opening between the sheet and the solid parts of the
container may not exceed 10 mm measured perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the container at any place when the container is
secured and sealed for Customs purposes.
(iii) The sliding sheet guidance and other movable parts shall be assembled
in such a way that closed and Customs sealed doors and other movable
parts cannot be opened or closed from the outside without leaving
obvious traces. The sliding sheet guidance and other movable parts
shall be assembled in such a way that it is impossible to gain access to
the container without leaving obvious traces. The system is described in
sketch No. 9 appended to these Regulations.
(iv) The horizontal distance between the rings, used for Customs purposes,
on the solid parts of the container shall not exceed 200 mm. The space
may, however, be greater but shall not exceed 300 mm between the
rings on either side of the upright if the construction of the container
and the sheets is such as preventing all access to the container. In any
case, the conditions laid down in (ii) above shall be complied with.
(v) The distance between the tensioning straps shall not exceed 600 mm.
(vi) The fastenings used to secure the sheets to the solid parts of the
container shall fulfil the requirements in Article 4, paragraph 9 of
these Regulations.
TIR CONVENTION - 210 - SKETCHES TO ANNEX 7 – PART I
Sketch No. 1
SHEETS MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES
Outside view
Seam
a a1
Inside view
Seam Seam
1
Section a-a
Double flat seam
a a1
At least Thread visible from the

15 mm inside only and of a colour
seam and from that of the
other seam.
SKETCHES TO ANNEX 7- PART I - 211 - TIR CONVENTION
Sketch No. 2
Corner seam a
Seam
a1
Outside view
Sea
a a1
Inside
Sea Seam
from that of the sheet and
Outside view
from
Section a-a1
Double flat seam
a a1
At Thread visible from the

least inside only and of a
colour
different from that of
the
Seam
Seam (thread of a colour different

Inside view that of the other seam)
1 */
Section a-a a
About
other seam
a1
Note: The corner seams made according to the method illustrated in sketch No. 2 (a) in Annex 2 are
also allowed.
*/
Comment
Sketch No. 2(a) to Annex 2 "SHEETS MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES

SEWN TOGETHER" is reproduced here in Annex 7 as an example of an
approved method of sewing corner seams according to the above Note.
Corner seam
a
Seam
a1
Outside view
Seam
Inside view Seam (thread of a colour different

a
1 */
Section a-a
About
other seam
a1
*/
Sketch No. 3
a a1
Outside view
Section a-a1
13 Band of plastic material
7 3
3
1
Section a-a
The figures shown

15 are millimetres
Inside view
Sketch No. 4
REPAIR OF THE SHEET
Outside view Seams

a a1
Inside view
Seams */
Outside
1
Section a-a a1
a
Inside
At least
15 mm
*/
Threads visible from the inside shall have a colour different from that of the threads visible from the
outside and from that of the sheet.
Sketch No. 5
SPECIMEN OF END-PIECE
1. Side view: Front
Hollow rivet for passing the

thread or the strap of the
Customs seal (minimum dimensions
of the hole: width 3mm,
lenght 11 mm)
Rope
Solid rivet
Transparent
plastic sheath
Hard metal
end-piece
Hole for closing

by carrier 2. Side view: Back
Sketch No. 6
EXAMPLE OF SHEET LOCKING SYSTEM
(1) (2) (3)
Description
This sheet locking system is acceptable provided that it is fitted with at least one metal ring at each
gate end. The openings through which the ring passes are oval and of a size just sufficient to allow
the ring to pass through it. The visible part of the metal ring does not protrude more than twice the
maximum thickness of the fastening rope when the system is locked.
Sketch No. 7
EXAMPLE OF SHEETS FIXED TO SPECIAL-SHAPED FRAMES
a1
View of side section Eyelet Frame
Section a-a1
Frame Thong Ring Sheet

Description
The fastening device of the sheet to the vehicle is acceptable provided that the rings are recessed in
the profile and do not protrude more than the maximum depth of the profile. The width of the profile
shall be as narrow as possible.
Sketch No. 8
SHEET LOCKING SYSTEM AT OPENINGS FOR LOADING AND

UNLOADING
{Description see next page}
Sketch No.8.1
Sketch No.8.2
Sheet and Rivet

band of plastic Rivet
Hinge
Hem with rope
Sheet Front view Side view
Space
for hem Locking rod
Sheet Locking profile profile
Top view

Rivet
Rivet Locking rod
Metal
plate
Transparent
cap
Ring and
Fastening rope eyelet
Outside view Inside view

Description
In this locking system the two edges at the openings in the sheet used for loading and
unloading are united by means of an aluminium locking rod. The sheet openings are
provided with a hem over its entire length enclosing a rope (see sketch No. 8.1). This
makes it impossible to pull the sheet out of the locking rod's profile. The hem shall be on
the outside and be welded in accordance with Annex 2, Article 3, paragraph 4 of the
Convention.
The edges are to be passed into the open profiles on the aluminium locking rod and slid
into two parallel longitudinal channels which should be closed at their lower end. When
the locking rod is in its upper position the edges of the sheet are united.
At the upper end of the opening the locking rod is stopped by a transparent plastic cap
fixed by riveting to the sheet (see sketch No. 8.2). The locking rod consists of two
sections, joined by a riveted hinge, to allow folding for easy fitting and removal. This
hinge must be designed in such a way so as not to allow the removal of the swivel pin
once the system is locked (see sketch No. 8.3).
At the lower part of the locking rod is an opening through which the ring passes. The
opening is oval and of a size just sufficient to allow the ring to pass through it (see sketch
No. 8.4). The TIR fastening rope will be pulled through this ring to secure the locking rod.
Sketch No. 9
EXAMPLE OF A CONSTRUCTION OF A CONTAINER WITH SLIDING

SHEETS
Sketch No.9.1
Sketch No.9.2
Load
compartment
Pelmet floor Sheet
Tensioning straps
Fastening
Securing rope
ring
TIR-Cable
Sketch No.9.1
Sketch No.9.3
Distance between
tensioning straps

SHEET GUIDANCE AND OVERLAP-TOP SHEET OVERLAP-BOTTOM
Roof Tensioning
Tensioning strap runner device
Upper cantrail
Pelmet Upright
Sliding sheet
Tensioning strap
The sheet overlap shall
be at least ¼ of the Load compartment
distance between the floor
Upright runner tensioning straps
The sheet overlap
shall be at least
50mm
Sliding sheet Curtain eyelet
Upright Lower cantrail
Fastening rope
Ring on lower cantrail
Tensioning strap hook
ANNEX 7- PART II - 221 - TIR CONVENTION
Part II
PROCEDURES FOR THE APPROVAL OF CONTAINERS COMPLYING

WITH THE TECHNICAL CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED IN PART I
General
1. Containers may be approved for the transport of goods under Customs seal
either:
(a) at the manufacturing stage, by design type (procedure for approval at the
manufacturing stage); or
(b) at a stage subsequent to manufacture, either individually or in respect of a

specified number of containers of the same type (procedure for approval at a
stage subsequent to manufacture).
Provisions common to both approval procedures
2. The competent authority responsible for granting approval shall issue to

the applicant, after approval, a Certificate of Approval valid, as the case may be,
either for an unlimited series of containers of the approved type or for a specified
number of containers.
3. The beneficiary of approval shall affix an approval plate to the approved

container or containers before their use for the transport of goods under Customs
seal.
4. The approval plate shall be affixed permanently and in a clearly visible

place adjacent to any other approval plate issued for official purposes.
TIR CONVENTION - 222 - ANNEX 7 – PART II
Comments to paragraph 4
Fixing of approval plates
The use of strong glue to affix approval plates to containers made of

plastic satisfies the requirements of the Convention provided that the
approval plates are affixed in such a way as to preclude their easy
removal and as long as the requirements of Annex 7, part II of the
Convention are complied with.
Grouped data plate
The use of a base plate affixed permanently and in a clearly visible

place to the approved container on which the required approval plates
can be grouped together and are mounted in such a way as to preclude
their easy removal, is admissible as long as the requirements of Annex 7,
Part II of the Convention are complied with.
The use of decals next to and in addition to approval plates on
containers allowing for an easy identification of approval plates by
transport operators is admissible, but shall, under no circumstance, be
taken to substitute for the approval plates as described.
{TRANS/WP.30/133, paragraphs 18-24; TRANS/WP.30/135, paragraphs
15-19; TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/27, Annex 3}
5. The approval plate, conforming to model No. I reproduced in Appendix 1 to

this Part, shall take the form of a metal plate measuring not less than 20 cm by 10
cm. The following particulars shall be stamped into or embossed on the plate or
indicated on its surface in any other permanent and legible way, in at least the
English or the French language:
(a) the words "Approved for transport under Customs seal";
(b) an indication of the country in which approval was granted either by name
or by means of the distinguishing sign used to indicate the country of
registration of motor vehicles in international road traffic, and the number
(figures, letters, etc.) of the Certificate of Approval and the year (e.g.
"NL/26/73" means "Netherlands, Certificate of Approval No. 26, issued
in 1973");
(c) the serial number assigned to the container by the manufacturer

(manufacturer's number);
(d) if the container has been approved by type, the identification numbers of
letters of the type of container.
Explanatory Note to paragraph 5 (d)
If two sheeted containers, approved for transport under Customs seals

have been joined together in such a way that they form one container,
covered by a single sheet and fulfilling the conditions for transport under
Customs seal, a separate Certificate of Approval, or approval plate, shall
not be required for the combination.
6. If a container no longer complies with the technical conditions prescribed

for its approval, it shall, before it can be used for the transport of goods under
Customs seal, be restored to the condition which had justified its approval, so as to
comply again with the said technical conditions.
7. If the essential characteristics of a container are changed, the container

competent authority before it can be used for the transport of goods under
Customs seal.
Special provisions for approval by design type at the manufacturing stage
8. Where the containers are manufactured by type series, the manufacturer

may apply to the competent authority of the country of manufacture for approval
by design type.
Approval of containers in a country other than the country of

manufacture
While the wording of Annex 7, Part II, paragraph 8 does not allow
further interpretation, the problems related to the approval of containers
in a country other than the country of manufacture could be solved by
applying in a practical sense the provisions of Annex 7, Part II,
paragraphs 15 - 17 allowing for the approval of containers at a stage
subsequent to manufacture.
9. The manufacturer shall state in his application the identification numbers

or letters which he assigns to the type of container to which his application for
approval relates.
10. The application shall be accompanied by drawings and a detailed design

specification of the container type to be approved.
11. The manufacturer shall give an undertaking in writing that he will:
(a) produce to the competent authority such containers of the type concerned as
that authority may wish to examine;
(b) permit the competent authority to examine further units at any time during
the production of the type series concerned;
(c) advise the competent authorities of any change, of whatever magnitude, in

the design or specification before proceeding with such change;
(d) mark the containers in a visible place with, in addition to the markings
required on the approval plate, the identification numbers or letters of the
design type and the serial number of the container in the type series
(manufacturer's number);
(e) keep a record of containers manufactured to the approved design type.
12. The competent authority shall state what changes, if any, must be made to
the proposed design type so that approval may be granted.
13. No type-approval by design type shall be granted unless the competent

authority has satisfied itself by examination of one or more containers
manufactured to the design type concerned that containers of that type comply
with the technical conditions prescribed in Part I.
14. When a container type is approved there shall be issued to the applicant a
single Certificate of Approval conforming to model No. II reproduced in
appendix 2 to this Part and valid for all containers manufactured in conformity
with the specifications of the type so approved. Such Certificate shall entitle the
manufacturer to affix to every container of the type series an approval plate in the
form prescribed in paragraph 5 of this Part.
Special provisions for approval at a stage subsequent to manufacture
15. If approval has not been applied for at the manufacturing stage, the owner,
the operator, or the representative of either, may apply for approval to the
competent authority to which he is able to produce the container or containers and
for which he seeks approval.
16. An application for approval submitted under paragraph 15 of this Part

shall state the serial number (manufacturer's number) placed on each container by
the manufacturer.
17. When the competent authority has ascertained that the container or
containers comply with the technical conditions prescribed in Part I, by
examination of as many containers as it considers necessary, it shall issue a
Certificate of Approval conforming to model No. III reproduced in Appendix 3 to
this Part and valid solely for the number of containers approved. Such Certificate,
which shall bear the manufacturer's serial number or numbers assigned to the
container or containers to which it relates, shall entitle the applicant to affix to
each container so approved the approval plate prescribed in paragraph 5 of this
Part.
TIR CONVENTION - 226 - SKETCHES TO ANNEX 7 – PART II
Appendix 1
Model No. I
Approval plate
(English version)
≥ 200 mm
APPROVED FOR TRANSPORT

UNDER CUSTOMS SEAL
≥ 100 mm
NL/26/73
TYPE */ .......... MANUFACTURER'S No

OF THE CONTAINER ..........
Metal plate Container wall

*/
Only in case of approval by design type.
SKETCHES TO ANNEX 7- PART II - 227 - TIR CONVENTION
Appendix 1
Model No. I
Approval plate
(French version)
≥ 200 mm
AGREE POUR LE TRANSPORT

SOUS SCELLEMENT DOUANIER
≥ 100 mm
NL/26/73
TYPE */ .......... No. DE FABRICATION

DU CONTENEUR ..........
Metal plate Container wall

*/
Only in case of approval by design type.
Appendix 2
Model No. II
Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods
under cover of TIR Carnets (1975)
Certificate of approval by design type
1. Certificate No.*/ .....................................................................................................................................

2. This is to certify that the container design type described below has been approved and that
containers manufactured to this type can be accepted for the transport of goods under Customs seal.
3. Kind of container ..................................................................................................................................
4. Identification number of letters of the design type ................................................................................
5. Identification number of the working drawings ....................................................................................
6. Identification number of the design specifications ................................................................................
7. Tare weight ............................................................................................................................................
8. External dimensions in cm ....................................................................................................................
9. Essential characteristics of structure (nature of material, kind of construction, etc.)
...............................................................................................................................................................
10. This certificate is valid for all containers manufactured in conformity with the drawings and
specifications referred to above.
11. Issued to ................................................................................................................................................
(manufacturer's name and address)
who is authorized to affix an approval plate to each container of the approved design type
manufactured by him,
at .............................................................................. on ................................................. 20 .............
(place) (date)
by ..........................................................................................................................................................
(signature and stamp of issuing service or organization)
___________
*/
Insert the letters and figures, which are to be marked on the approval plate (see Annex 7, Part II,
paragraph 5 (b) to the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR
Carnets, 1975)
{Important notice overleaf}

IMPORTANT NOTICE
(Annex 7, Part II, paragraphs 6 and 7 to the Customs Convention

on the International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets, 1975)
6. If a container no longer complies with the technical conditions

goods under Customs seal, be restored to the condition which had justified its
approval, so as to comply again with the said technical conditions.
7. If the essential characteristics of a container are changed the container

Customs seal.
Appendix 3
Model No. III
Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods

under cover of TIR Carnets (1975)
Certificate of Approval
granted at a stage subsequent to manufacture
1. Certificate No.*/ .....................................................................................................................................

2. This is to certify that the container (containers) specified below has (have) been approved for the
transport of goods under Customs seal.
3. Kind of container(s) ..............................................................................................................................
4. Serial number(s) assigned to the container(s) by the manufacturer
...............................................................................................................................................................
5. Tare weight ...........................................................................................................................................
6. External dimensions in cm ....................................................................................................................
7. Essential characteristics of structure (nature of material, kind of construction, etc.)
...............................................................................................................................................................
8. Issued to ................................................................................................................................................
(applicants name and address)
who is authorized to affix an approval plate to each container of the approved design type
manufactured by him,
at .............................................................................. on ................................................ 20 .............
(place) (date)
by ...........................................................................................................................................................
(signature and stamp of issuing service or organization)
___________
*/
Insert the letters and figures, which are to be marked on the approval plate (see Annex 7, Part II,
paragraph 5 (b) to the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR
Carnets, 1975)
{Important notice overleaf}

IMPORTANT NOTICE
(Annex 7, Part II, paragraphs 6 and 7, to the Customs Convention

on the International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets, 1975)
6. If a container no longer complies with the technical conditions

goods under Customs seal, be restored to the condition which had justified its
approval, so as to comply again with the said technical conditions.
7. If the essential characteristics of a container are changed the container

Customs seal.
ANNEX 7- PART III - 233 - TIR CONVENTION
Part III
Explanatory Notes
Explanatory Notes
The Explanatory Notes to Annex 2 set out in Annex 6 to this Convention

apply mutatis mutandis to containers approved for transport under
Customs seal for the application of this Convention.
Note:
{Explanatory Notes appearing in Part III have been placed with the
provisions to which they are related. Sketches related to the Explanatory
Notes are included in Part III}
TIR CONVENTION - 234 - SKETCHES TO ANNEX 7 – PART III
DEVICE FOR AFFIXING SHEETS AROUND

CONTAINERS' CORNER CASTINGS
The device illustrated below meets the requirements of

Part I, Article 4, paragraph 6, subparagraph (a)
Application at corner post
Roof sheet Sheet retaining rope
Sectional view
SKETCHES TO ANNEX 7- PART III - 235 - TIR CONVENTION
Annex 8
COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE AND THE TIR EXECUTIVE BOARD /
Article 1
(i) The Contracting Parties shall be members of the Administrative

Committee.
(ii) The Committee may decide that the competent administrations of States
referred to in Article 52, paragraph 1 of this Convention which are not
Contracting Parties or representatives of international organizations may, for
questions which interest them, attend the sessions of the Committee as observers.
Article 1 bis */
1. The Committee shall consider any proposed amendment to the Convention

in accordance with Article 59, paragraphs 1 and 2.
2. The Committee shall monitor the application of the Convention and shall
examine any measure taken by Contracting Parties, associations and international
organizations under the Convention and their conformity therewith.
3. The Committee, through the TIR Executive Board, shall supervise and
provide support in the application of the Convention at the national and
international levels.
Article 2
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the Committee

with secretariat services.
Article 3
The Committee shall, at its first session each year, elect a chairman and a
vice-chairman.
/
Article 4
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene under the

auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe the Committee annually and
also at the request of the competent administrations of at least five States which
are Contracting Parties.
Article 5
Proposals shall be put to the vote. Each State which is a Contracting Party
represented at the session shall have one vote. Proposals other than amendments to
this Convention shall be adopted by the Committee by a majority of those present
and voting. Amendments to this Convention and the decisions referred to in
Articles 59 and 60 of this Convention shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of
those present and voting.
Article 6
A quorum consisting of not less than one third of the States which are
Contracting Parties is required for the purposes of taking decisions.
Article 7
Before the closure of its session, the Committee shall adopt its report.
Article 8
In the absence of relevant provisions in this Annex, the Rules of Procedure

of the Economic Commission for Europe shall be applicable unless the Committee
decides otherwise.
COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE

OF THE TIR EXECUTIVE BOARD /
Article 9 */
1. The TIR Executive Board established by the Administrative Committee in

accordance with Article 58 ter, shall be composed of nine members, each from
different Contracting Parties to the Convention. The TIR Secretary will attend the
sessions of the Board.
2. The members of the TIR Executive Board shall be elected by the

Administrative Committee by a majority of those present and voting. The term of
office of each member of the TIR Executive Board shall be two years. The
members of the TIR Executive Board may be re-elected. The Terms of Reference
for the TIR Executive Board shall be established by the Administrative
Committee.
Article 10 */
The TIR Executive Board shall:
(a) supervise the application of the Convention, including the operation of the
guarantee system, and fulfil the functions entrusted to it by the
Administrative Committee;
(b) supervise the centralized printing and distribution to the associations of TIR
Carnets which may be performed by an agreed international organization as
referred to in Article 6;
Explanatory Note to Article 10 (b)
8.10 (b) The agreement mentioned in the Explanatory Note to Article 6.2 bis shall
also apply to the responsibilities of the international organization set out
in (b) of this article, in case the centralized printing and distribution of
TIR Carnets is performed by the above-mentioned international
organization.
(c) coordinate and foster the exchange of intelligence and other information
among competent authorities of Contracting Parties;
/
(d) coordinate and foster the exchange of information between competent

authorities of Contracting Parties, associations and international
organizations;
(e) facilitate the settlement of disputes between Contracting Parties, associations,

insurance companies and international organizations without prejudice to
Article 57 on the settlement of disputes;
(f) support the training of personnel of Customs authorities and other interested
parties concerned with the TIR procedure;
(g) maintain a central record for the dissemination to Contracting Parties of

information to be provided by the international organizations as referred to
in Article 6, on all rules and procedures prescribed for the issue of TIR
Carnets by associations, as far as they relate to the minimum conditions and
requirements laid down in Annex 9;
(h) monitor the price of TIR Carnets.
Article 11 /
1. A session of the Board shall be convened by the TIR Secretary at the

request of the Administrative Committee or by at least three members of the
Board.
2. The Board shall strive to take decisions by consensus. If no consensus can

be reached, decisions shall be put to vote and shall be taken by a majority of those
present and voting. A quorum of five members is required for the purposes of
taking decisions. The TIR Secretary shall have no vote.
3. The Board shall elect a Chairman and shall adopt any additional rules of
procedure.
4. The Board shall report on its activities, including the submission of audited
accounts, to the Administrative Committee at least once a year or at the request of
the Administrative Committee. The Board will be represented in the
Administrative Committee by its Chairman.
/
5. The Board shall consider any information and queries transmitted to it by

the Administrative Committee, Contracting Parties, the TIR Secretary, national
associations and international organizations referred to in Article 6 of the
Convention. These international organizations shall have the right to attend the
sessions of the TIR Executive Board as observers unless its Chairman decides
otherwise. If necessary, any other organization may attend the sessions of the
Board as observer at the invitation of the Chairman.
Article 12 */
The TIR Secretary shall be a member of the secretariat of the United

Nations Economic Commission for Europe and shall execute the decisions of the
TIR Executive Board within the Terms of Reference of the Board. The TIR
Secretary will be assisted by a TIR secretariat, the size of which shall be
determined by the Administrative Committee.
Article 13 */
1. The operation of the TIR Executive Board and the TIR secretariat shall be
financed, until such time as alternative sources of funding are obtained, through
an amount per TIR Carnet distributed by the international organization as
referred to in Article 6. This amount shall be approved by the Administrative
Committee.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.28, entered into force on 1 January 2009}
Explanatory Notes to Article 13, paragraph 1 /
8.13.1-1 Financial arrangements
Following an initial period of two years, the Contracting Parties to the

Convention envisage the operation of the TIR Executive Board and the
TIR secretariat to be financed through the Regular Budget of the United
Nations. This does not preclude a prolongation of the initial financing
arrangement should financing from the United Nations or alternative
sources not be forthcoming.
/
8.13.1-2 Operation of the TIR Executive Board
The work of the members of the TIR Executive Board will be financed
by their respective Governments.
8.13.1-3 Amount
The amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be based on (a) the budget

and cost plan of the TIR Executive Board and TIR secretariat as
approved by the Administrative Committee and (b) the forecast of the
number of TIR Carnets to be distributed as established by the
international organization
2. The procedure to implement the financing of the operation of the TIR

Executive Board and the TIR secretariat shall be approved by the Administrative
Committee. /
8.13.2 Following consultations with the international organization as referred to

in Article 6, the procedure referred to in paragraph 2 shall be reflected in
the agreement between UNECE, as mandated by and acting on behalf of
the Contracting Parties, and the international organization as referred to
in Article 6. The agreement shall be approved by the Administrative
Committee.
/
For details of the procedure, please refer to ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/89, paragraph 38 and Annex II
Annex 9 /
ACCESS TO THE TIR PROCEDURE
Part I
AUTHORIZATION FOR ASSOCIATIONS TO ISSUE TIR CARNETS AND TO

ACT AS A GUARANTOR
Conditions and requirements
1. The conditions and requirements to be complied with by associations in

order to be authorized by Contracting Parties to issue TIR Carnets and act as
guarantor in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention are:
(a) Proven existence for at least one year as an association established in the
Contracting Party where the authorization is issued.
9.I.1 (a) Explanatory note has been deleted.

{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.29; entered into force on 1 January 2012}
(b) Proof of sound financial standing and organizational capabilities enabling the
association to fulfil its obligations under the Convention.
(c) Absence of serious or repeated offences against Customs or tax legislation.
/
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.19; entered into force on 17 February 1999; ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.29;
entered into force on 1 January 2012}
(d) Establishment of a written agreement or any other legal instrument between

the association and the competent authorities of the Contracting Party in
which it is established, including the acceptance by the association of its
duties as set out in paragraph 3.
2. A certified copy of the written agreement or any other legal instrument

referred to under paragraph 1(d) together, if necessary, with a certified translation
into English, French or Russian, shall be deposited with the TIR Executive Board.
Any changes shall be immediately brought to the attention of the TIR Executive
Board.
3. The duties of the association are to:
(i) comply with the obligations laid down in Article 8 of the Convention;
(ii) accept the maximum sum per TIR Carnet determined by the
Contracting Party which may be claimed from the association in
accordance with Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Convention;
(iii) verify continuously and, in particular, before requesting authorization

for access of persons to the TIR procedure, the fulfilment of the
minimum conditions and requirements by such persons as laid down in
Part II of this annex;
(iv) provide its guarantees for all liabilities incurred in the country in which
it is established in connection with operations under cover of TIR
Carnets issued by itself and by foreign associations affiliated to the
same international organization as that to which it is itself affiliated;
(v) cover its liabilities to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of the
Contracting Party in which it is established with an insurance company,
pool of insurers or financial institution. The insurance or financial
guarantee contract(s) shall cover the totality of its liabilities in
connection with operations under cover of TIR Carnets issued by itself
and by foreign associations affiliated to the same international
organization as that to which it is itself affiliated.
The time to give notice for the termination of the insurance or financial
guarantee contract(s) shall be not less than the time to give notice for
the termination of the written agreement or any other legal instrument
as referred to in paragraph 1(d). A certified copy of the insurance or
financial guarantee contract(s) as well as all subsequent modifications
thereto shall be deposited with the TIR Executive Board, including a
certified translation, if necessary, into English, French or Russian;
Comment to former paragraph 1(f) (v) has been deleted.

{ECE/TRANS/W.30/2010/3/Rev.1
ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2010/4/Rev.1 and
ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/105 paragraph32}
(vi) provide the TIR Executive Board, annually, as per 1 March, with the
price of each type of TIR Carnets it issues;
(vii) allow the competent authorities to verify all records and accounts kept
relating to the administration of the TIR procedure;
(viii) accept a procedure for settling efficiently disputes arising from the
improper or fraudulent use of TIR Carnets, whenever possible without
recourse to courts;
(ix) comply strictly with the decisions of the competent authorities of the
Contracting Party in which it is established concerning the revocation
or withdrawal of the authorization in line with Article 6 of the
Convention and Part II of this Annex or the exclusion of persons in line
with Article 38 of the Convention;
(x) agree to implement faithfully all decisions adopted by the

Administrative Committee and the TIR Executive Board in as much as
the competent authorities of the Contracting Party in which the
association is established have accepted them.
4. When a guaranteeing association is asked, in accordance with the

procedure set out in Article 11, to pay the sums referred to in Article 8,
paragraphs 1 and 2, it shall, in accordance with the written agreement referred to
in Explanatory Note 0.6.2 bis-1 to Article 6, paragraph 2 bis, inform the
international organization of the reception of the claim.
5. The Contracting Party in which the association is established shall revoke

the authorization to issue TIR Carnets and to act as guarantor in case of non-
compliance with these conditions and requirements. Should a Contracting Party
decide to revoke the authorization, the decision shall become effective at the
earliest three (3) months after the date of revocation.
6. The authorization of an association under the terms set out above shall be
without prejudice to that association's responsibilities and liabilities under the
Convention.
7. The conditions and requirements laid down above are without prejudice to
additional conditions and requirements Contracting Parties may wish to prescribe.
ANNEX 9 – PART II - 245 - TIR CONVENTION
Part II
AUTHORIZATION FOR NATURAL AND LEGAL PERSONS

TO UTILIZE TIR CARNETS
Minimum conditions and requirements
1. The minimum conditions and requirements to be complied with by persons

wishing to have access to the TIR procedure are:
(a) Proven experience or, at least, capability to engage in regular international

transport (holder of a licence for carrying out international transport, etc.).
(b) Sound financial standing.
(c) Proven knowledge in the application of the TIR Convention.
(d) Absence of serious or repeated offences against Customs or tax legislation.
(e) An undertaking in a written declaration of commitment to the association

that the person:
(i) will comply with all Customs formalities required under the
Convention at the Customs offices of departure, en route and of
destination;
(ii) will pay the sums due, mentioned in Article 8, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the
Convention, if requested to do so by the competent authorities in line
with Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Convention
(iii) will, as far as national legislation permits, allow associations to verify

information on the above minimum conditions and requirements.
2. Additional and more restrictive conditions and requirements for access to

the TIR procedure may be introduced by the competent authorities of Contracting
Parties and by the associations themselves unless the competent authorities decide
otherwise.
Procedure
3. Contracting Parties will decide, in line with national legislation, the

procedures to be followed for access to the TIR procedure on the basis of the
minimum conditions and requirements set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2.
9.II.3 Authorization Committee
It is recommended to establish national authorization committees

comprising representatives of the competent authorities, national
associations and other organizations concerned.
4. The competent authorities shall transmit within one week from the date of
authorization or withdrawal of authorization to use TIR Carnets, the particulars
of each person to the TIR Executive Board in conformity with the specimen
authorization attached (MAF).
5. The association shall transmit annually an updated list as per 31 December

of all authorized persons as well as of persons whose authorization has been
withdrawn. This list shall be transmitted one week following the 31 December to
the competent authorities. The competent authorities shall forward a copy thereof
to the TIR Executive Board.
6. The authorization for access to the TIR procedure does not constitute in
itself a right to obtain TIR Carnets from the associations.
7. Authorization of a person to utilize TIR Carnets under the minimum

conditions and requirements set out above, shall be without prejudice to that
person's responsibilities and liabilities under the Convention.
Comments to Part II, Procedure
Cooperation between competent authorities
With regard to the authorization of a person to utilize TIR Carnets in

line with Annex 9, Part II of the Convention, the competent authorities of
the Contracting Party where the person concerned is resident or
established should take into due account any information notified by
another Contracting Party in accordance with Article 38, paragraph 2
on serious or repeated offences against Customs legislation committed
by that person. Thus, in order to allow for efficient consideration of the
case by the Contracting Party where the person concerned is resident or
established, such notification should contain as many details as
possible.
Exclusion of a domestic transport operator from the TIR procedure
In order to exclude from the TIR regime a national transport operator

guilty of a serious offence against the Customs laws committed in the
territory of the country where he is resident or established, the Customs
authorities are recommended to use the provisions of Article 6,
paragraph 4 and Annex 9, Part II, paragraph 1 (d) rather than the
provisions of Article 38, paragraph 1.
MODEL AUTHORIZATION FORM (MAF)
Country: ...........................................
Name of association: ..................................................................
Competent authority: ................................................................
To be completed by national associations and/or competent authorities
ID- Name of Business Contact point and Business Earlier withdrawal Date of Date of Stamp/
number person(s)/ address access number registration or of authorization **/ authorization withdrawal signature
**/
enterprise (Tel, fax and licence number, of authori-
e-mail number) etc. */ zation **/
...
...
...
*/
if available.
**/
if appropriate.
For each person for which a request for authorization is transmitted by the
approved association, the following information shall, at least, be provided to the
competent authorities:
- Individual and unique identification (ID) number assigned to the person

by the guaranteeing association (in cooperation with the international
organization to which it is affiliated) in accordance with a harmonized
format. The format of an ID-number shall be determined by the
Administrative Committee.
{ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.26; entered into force on 1 April 2006}
- Name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) or enterprise (in case of a

business association, also the names of responsible managers).
- Contact point (natural person authorized to provide information on the

TIR operation to Customs authorities and associations) with complete
telephone, fax and e-mail numbers).
- Commercial registration No. or international transport licence No. or

other (if available).
- (if applicable) Earlier withdrawal of authorization, including dates,

length and nature of withdrawal of authorization.
Comment to Model Authorization Form (MAF)
Format of an individual and unique identification (ID) number

The Administrative Committee has established the following format of
an ID number for TIR Carnet holders being persons who have been
authorized to utilize TIR Carnets in accordance with Annex 9, Part II of
the TIR Convention:
“AAA/BBB/XX…X”,
whereby “AAA” represents a 3-letter code of the country where the

person utilizing TIR Carnets has been authorized, in line with the
classification system of the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). A full list of country codes of the Contracting
Parties to the TIR Convention is regularly published as an annex to the
agendas and official reports of the Administrative Committee,
whereby “BBB” represents a 3-digit code of the national association

through which the holder of the TIR Carnet has been authorized, in
accordance with the classification system established by the relevant
international organization to which the association is affiliated,
allowing for unequivocal identification of each national association. A
full list of country codes of the national associations is regularly
published as an annex to the agendas and official reports of the
Administrative Committee,
whereby “XX…X” represents consecutive numbers (maximum 10

digits), identifying the person authorized to utilize TIR Carnets in
accordance with Annex 9, Part II of the TIR Convention. Once an ID-
number has been assigned, it cannot be used again, even if the person to
whom it has been given has ceased to be a TIR Carnet holder.
ANNEX 9 – PART III - 251 - TIR CONVENTION
Part III
AUTHORIZATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, AS

REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6, TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF AN
INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEE SYSTEM AND TO PRINT AND
DISTRIBUTE TIR CARNETS
Conditions and requirements
1. The conditions and requirements to be complied with by an international

organization in order to be authorized, in accordance with Article 6.2 bis of the
Convention, by the Administrative Committee to take on the responsibility for the
effective organization and functioning of an international guarantee system and to
print and distribute TIR Carnets are:
(a) Proof of sound professional competence and financial standing for the
effective organization and functioning of an international guarantee system
and the organizational capabilities to fulfil its obligations under the
Convention by means of annual submissions of consolidated financial
statements duly audited by internationally recognized independent auditors;
(b) Absence of serious or repeated offences against Customs or tax legislation.
2. Pursuant to the authorization, the international organization shall:
(a) provide the Contracting Parties of the TIR Convention via the national
associations affiliated to the international organization with certified copies
of the global guarantee contract and proof of guarantee coverage;
(b) provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention with information on the
rules and procedures set out for the issue of TIR Carnets by national
associations;
(c) provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention, on a yearly basis, with
data on claims lodged, pending, paid or settled without payment;
(d) provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention with full and complete
information on the functioning of the TIR system, in particular, but not
limited to, timely and well founded information on trends in the number of
non-terminated TIR operations, claims lodged, pending, paid or settled
without payment that might give rise to concerns with regard to the proper
TIR CONVENTION - 252 - ANNEX 9 – PART III
functioning of the TIR system or that could lead to difficulties for the
continued operation of its international guarantee system;
(e) provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention with statistical data on
the number of TIR Carnets distributed to each Contracting Party, broken
down by type;
(f) provide the TIR Executive Board with details of the distribution price by the
international organization of each type of TIR Carnet;
(g) take all possible steps to reduce the risk of counterfeiting TIR Carnets;
(h) take the appropriate corrective action in cases where faults or deficiencies
with the TIR Carnet have been detected and report these to the TIR
Executive Board;
(j) fully participate in cases where the TIR Executive Board is called upon to
facilitate the settlement of disputes;
(k) ensure that any problem involving fraudulent activities or other difficulties
with regard to the application of the TIR Convention is immediately brought
to the attention of the TIR Executive Board;
(l) manage the control system for TIR Carnets, provided for in Annex 10 of the
Convention, together with national guaranteeing associations affiliated to the
international organization and the Customs authorities and inform the
Contracting Parties and the competent bodies of the Convention of problems
encountered in the system;
(m) provide the competent bodies of the TIR Convention with statistics and data
on the performance of Contracting Parties with regard to the control system
provided for in Annex 10;
(n) conclude, not less than two months before the provisional date of entry into
force or renewal of the authorization granted in accordance with Article
6.2bis of the Convention, a written agreement with the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe secretariat, mandated by and acting on
behalf of the Administrative Committee, which shall include the acceptance
by the international organization of its duties set out in this paragraph.
3. When the international organization is informed by a guaranteeing

association of a claim for payment, it shall, within a period of three (3) months
inform the guaranteeing association of its position concerning the claim.
ANNEX 9 – PART III - 253 - TIR CONVENTION
4. All information acquired, directly or indirectly, by the international

organization under the Convention, which is by nature confidential or which is
provided on a confidential basis, shall be covered by the obligation of professional
secrecy and shall not be used or processed neither for any commercial purpose nor
for any other purpose than for which it has been provided or disclosed to any third
party without the express permission of the person or authority that provided it.
Such information may, however, be disclosed without permission to competent
authorities of Contracting Parties to this Convention, where there is an
authorization or obligation to do so pursuant to provisions of national or
international law or in connection with legal proceedings. The disclosure or
communication of information shall take place in full compliance with data-
protection provisions in force.
5. The Administrative Committee shall have the right to revoke the

authorization granted in accordance with Article 6.2 bis in case of non-compliance
with the above conditions and requirements. Should the Administrative
Committee decide to revoke the authorization, the decision will become effective at
the earliest six (6) months after the date of revocation.
6. The authorization of an international organization under the terms set out

above shall be without prejudice to that organization’s responsibilities and
liabilities under the Convention.
Annex 10 /
INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED BY CONTRACTING PARTIES TO
AUTHORIZED ASSOCIATIONS (UNDER ARTICLE 42TER) AND AN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION (UNDER ARTICLE 6.2BIS)
By virtue of Article 6, paragraph 1 and Annex 9, Part I, paragraph 3 (iii) of

this Convention, authorized associations are required to give an undertaking that
they shall verify continuously that persons authorized to have access to the TIR
procedure fulfil the minimum conditions and requirements as laid down in Annex
9, Part II of the Convention.
On behalf of its member associations and in fulfilment of its responsibilities

as an international organization authorized under Article 6, paragraph 2 bis, an
international organization shall establish a control system for TIR Carnets to hold
data, transmitted by Customs authorities and accessible by the associations and
Customs administrations, about the termination of TIR operations at offices of
destination. To enable the associations to fulfil their undertaking effectively,
Contracting Parties shall provide information to the control system in accordance
with the following procedure:
(1) Customs authorities shall transmit to an international organization or to the

national guaranteeing associations, if possible via central or regional offices,
by the fastest available means of communication (fax, electronic mail, etc.)
and if possible on a daily basis, at least the following information in a
standard format in respect of all TIR Carnets presented at Customs offices of
destination, as defined in Article 1 (l) of the Convention:
(a) TIR Carnet reference number;
(b) Date and record number in the Customs ledger;
(c) Name or number of Customs office of destination;
(d) Date and reference number indicated in the certificate of termination of

the TIR operation (boxes 24-28 of voucher No. 2) at the Customs office
of destination (if different from (b));
/
(e) Partial or final termination;
(f) Termination of the TIR operation certified with or without reservation

at the Customs office of destination without prejudice to Articles 8 and
11 of the Convention;
(g) Other information or documents (optional);
(h) Page number.
(2) The Model Reconciliation Form (MRF) contained in the Appendix may be
addressed to Customs authorities by national associations or by an
international organization:
(a) in case of discrepancies between the data transmitted and those on the
counterfoils in the used TIR Carnet; or
(b) in case no data have been transmitted whereas the used TIR Carnet has
been returned to the national association.
Customs authorities shall reply to the reconciliation requests if possible by

returning the duly filled-in MRF as soon as possible.
(3) Customs authorities and national guaranteeing associations shall conclude an

agreement, in line with national law, covering the above data exchange.
(4) An international organization shall give Customs authorities access to the

database of terminated TIR Carnets and to the database of invalidated TIR
Carnets.
Appendix
To be filled-in by the initiator of the request for reconciliation

Destination:
Regional Customs office (optional): Customs office of destination:
Name: Name:
Received on: Received on:
Date: Date:
Stamp Stamp
Data to be confirmed
Data source: TIR Carnet Control system data
TIR Carnet Name or number Reference number indicated Date indicated in the Page Partial / final Termination of the TIR Number of
Reference of Custom in the certificate of certificate of number termination operation certified with packages
Number office of termination of the TIR termination of the or without reservation at (optional)
destination / operation (boxes 24-28 of TIR operation at the the Customs office of
voucher No. 2) at the Customs office of destination
Customs office of destination */
destination */
Attachments: Copy of TIR Carnet counterfoils Other: ____________________

Response from Customs office of destination
Confirmation Correction No reference found
(please insert the corrections below) on the termination of the TIR operation
TIR Carnet Name or number Reference number indicated Date indicated in the Page Partial / final Termination of the TIR Number of
Reference of Customs in the certificate of certificate of number termination operation certified with packages
Number office of termination of the TIR termination of the or without reservation at (optional)
destination */ operation (boxes 24-28 of TIR operation at the the Customs office of
voucher No. 2) at the Customs office of destination
Customs office of destination */
destination */
Comments:
Date: Stamp and signature

of Customs office
of destination:
Central Customs office (optional)
Comments:
Date: Stamp and/or signature
/
Please note that these data refer to the Customs office of destination where the TIR movement terminated.
- 259 - CONTRACTING PARTIES
3 CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE TIR CONVENTION, 1975
Contracting Parties Countries with which a TIR transit

operation can be established:
(as of 31 December2013) */
Afghanistan Afghanistan
Albania Albania
Algeria -
Armenia Armenia
Austria Austria
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
Belarus Belarus
Belgium Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria Bulgaria
Canada -
Chile -
Croatia Croatia
Cyprus Cyprus
Czech Republic Czech Republic
Denmark Denmark
Estonia Estonia
Finland Finland
France France
Georgia Georgia
Germany Germany
Greece Greece
Hungary Hungary
Indonesia -
Iran (Islamic Republic of) Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Ireland Ireland
Israel Israel
Italy Italy
Jordan Jordan
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
Kuwait Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan
Latvia Latvia
Lebanon Lebanon
Liberia -
Lithuania Lithuania
*/
Based on information provided by the IRU.
CONTRACTING PARTIES - 260 -
Contracting Parties Countries with which a TIR transit

operation can be established:
(as of 31 December 2013) */
Luxembourg Luxembourg
Malta Malta
Moldova Moldova
Mongolia Mongolia
Montenegro Montenegro
Morocco Morocco
Netherlands Netherlands
Norway Norway
Poland Poland
Portugal Portugal
Republic of Korea -
Romania Romania
Russian Federation Russian Federation
Serbia Serbia
Slovakia Slovakia
Slovenia Slovenia
Spain Spain
Sweden Sweden
Switzerland Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan Tajikistan
The Former Yugoslav Republic The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia of Macedonia
Tunisia Tunisia
Turkey Turkey
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan
Ukraine Ukraine
United Arab Emirates -
United Kingdom United Kingdom
United States of America -
Uruguay -
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan
European Union
*/
Based on information provided by the IRU.
- 261 - RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4 RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

RELATED TO THE TIR CONVENTION, 1975
RESOLUTION No. 49
SHORT-TERM MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SECURITY

AND THE EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING
OF THE TIR TRANSIT REGIME
adopted on 3 March 1995 by the

UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport
The Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport,
Emphasizing the importance of the smooth and efficient functioning of the

Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR
Carnets (TIR Convention, 1975) to facilitate international transport and trade,
Concerned about the amount of Customs fraud and smuggling in the framework
of the TIR transit system which may endanger the facilitation measures provided for in
the TIR Convention, 1975,
Determined to safeguard the TIR transit system which facilitates the

development of trade, in particular the international movement of goods,
Convinced that the TIR transit system can only be safeguarded through joint and
concerted action by all Parties of the TIR transit system (Customs authorities, national
guaranteeing and Carnet issuing associations and the IRU, and insurance companies),
whereby an open exchange of information on all aspect of the system is considered to
be essential,
Whilst awaiting the revision of the TIR Convention, 1975, decides unanimously
on the following short-term measures to be implemented as soon as possible by the
competent authorities of Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, 1975:
RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS - 262 -
1. In order to facilitate the detection of fraudulently discharged TIR Carnets and to

accelerate the discharge procedure, Contracting Parties may wish to create, as
far as possible and in line with national requirements, centralized offices or
procedures for the administration of TIR Carnets;
2. Contracting Parties should institute accelerated discharge and search procedures

for the transport of sensitive goods;
3. Contracting Parties and the IRU shall take all necessary steps to ensure the early
re-introduction of the "Tobacco/Alcohol" TIR Carnets together with guarantees
in a fixed sum which reflects the potential charges at risk;
4. Contracting Parties ensure, through appropriate national regulations, that

Customs offices of destination or exit return TIR Carnet vouchers No.2 to
centralized offices or Customs offices of departure or entry as soon as possible
and no later than five working days following the completion of the TIR
operation;
5. In order to facilitate Customs control for tobacco and alcohol consignments,

Contracting Parties may wish to limit, in line with national administrative
practices, the number of Customs offices authorized to accept
"Tobacco/Alcohol" TIR Carnets;
6. Contracting Parties ensure that for the transport of tobacco and alcohol as well
as for other sensitive goods as determined by the competent authorities, advance
information on the transport of such goods under Customs seal is forwarded
immediately by the Customs office of departure or entry to the Customs office
of destination or exit;
7. In accordance with Article 20 of the TIR Convention, 1975, Contracting Parties

prescribe time-limits and, to the extent possible, routes to be followed for road
vehicles and containers in case of transport under Customs seal of tobacco and
alcohol as well as of other sensitive goods as determined by the competent
authorities. Contracting Parties are urged to apply sanctions, in line with national
law, in case of non-respect of such prescriptions;
8. Contracting Parties ensure that the provisions of Article 38 of the TIR

Convention, 1975 should be applied, which provide the possibility to exclude
temporarily or permanently from the operation of the TIR Convention, 1975 any
person guilty of a serious offence against national Customs laws or the
regulations applicable to the international transport of goods;
9. Contracting Parties take all necessary measures to avoid the theft and misuse of
Customs stamps and may provide for the use of new technologies, such as
special security ink, to impede the falsification of Customs stamps;
10. Contracting Parties request that IRU and national guaranteeing associations
apply strictly agreed criteria and administrative controls when issuing TIR
Carnets, with a view to ensuring, as far as possible, the reliability and integrity
of transport operators;
11. Contracting Parties of the TIR transit regime intensify the exchange of
information and intelligence concerning the TIR transit system amongst
themselves, in accordance with national legislation. For that purpose they
establish focal points for the combat of fraud within the competent authorities.
Addresses, including telephone and telefax numbers of such focal points will be
transmitted, as soon as possible, to the UNECE secretariat for the setting up of
an international directory.
Invites Contracting Parties to study carefully the IRU proposals on the

introduction of electronic data interchange systems for the administration of TIR
Carnets which will be transmitted to them by the UNECE secretariat with a view to
their possible introduction;
Requests the Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, 1975 to notify the
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
by 1 June 1995, whether they accept the present resolution;
Requests the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission

for Europe (UNECE) to inform all Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, 1975
about the acceptance of this resolution.
Resolution No. 49 has been accepted by:
Austria Belarus
Belgium Bulgaria
Croatia Czech Republic
Denmark Estonia
Finland France
Germany Greece
Hungary Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Ireland Italy
Jordan Latvia
Lithuania Luxembourg
Netherlands Norway
Poland Portugal
Romania Russian Federation
Slovakia Slovenia
Spain Sweden
Switzerland Turkey
United Kingdom European Union
RECOMMENDATION
INTRODUCTION OF THE HS CODE OF GOODS IN THE TIR
CARNET
Recommendation adopted by the Administrative Committee
for the TIR Convention, 1975, on 31 January 2008 /
The Administrative Committee,

Stressing the need for the application of effective risk management and risk
assessment measures with regard to goods in transit;
Bearing in mind that a TIR transport is often preceded by an exportation
declaration containing the commodity code of the goods made in accordance with the
International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding
System (the so-called HS code);
Recognizing the importance of the twin objective of identifying those goods that
may pose a security risk and of facilitating the movement of other goods;
Convinced that, where access to the HS code is possible, its use in the TIR
Carnet in addition to a plain language description of the goods could contribute to this
objective;
Considering also that the inclusion of the HS code in the TIR Carnet would also
facilitate electronic data processing;
Recognizing that relevant amendments to the TIR Convention being prepared
under Phase III of the TIR revision process may take some time to enter into force;
1. Decides to recommend that TIR Carnet holders or any other persons
filling-in the TIR Carnet on their behalf are to indicate the HS code of the goods under
box 10 of the goods manifest on the voucher not for Customs use (yellow page) of the
TIR Carnet, in addition to a plain language description of the goods;
2. Urges the Customs authorities at the Customs office of departure to
check, where applicable, whether the HS code shown on the goods manifest tallies with
the HS code shown on the export Customs declaration and/or other commercial or
transport documents.
/
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/93, paragraphs 27-28 and annex II}
If the TIR Carnet has been accepted by the Customs office of departure without
indication of the HS code, the HS code should not be required either by subsequent
Customs offices en route or by Customs offices of destination.
The absence of the HS code of the goods in the TIR Carnet shall not lead to
delays during a TIR transport and shall not be an obstacle to the acceptance of TIR
Carnets. The absence of the HS code shall not be considered as an infringement of the
Convention and shall not lead to any liabilities of the TIR Carnet holder.
The same shall apply in those cases where the Customs authorities suspect that
the HS code may be incorrect or where there are inconsistencies between the plain
language description of the goods and the HS code.
Without prejudice to Article 8 paragraph 6 of the TIR Convention, the plain

language description of the goods will be deemed to be correct in cases where there is
an inconsistency between the plain language description and the description indicated
by the HS code.
The practical application of this Recommendation shall be reviewed 12 months

following the date of entry into force with a view to ensuring that it meets its objectives.
The present Recommendation will come into effect on 1 May 2008.

- 267 - BEST PRACTICES
5 EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICES /
5.1 INTRODUCTION
The examples of best practices prepared by the UNECE Working Party on

Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) and endorsed by the TIR
Administrative Committee should not be confused with comments or other
recommended practices adopted by the Working Party or the Administrative Committee
(TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/59, paragraph 47). These examples of best practices are included
into the TIR Handbook to facilitate the application of the Convention in countries that
have newly acceded to the Convention and/or in which TIR operations can be newly
undertaken.
5.2 PROCEDURE FOR THE TERMINATION OF A TIR OPERATION
1. The goods and the TIR Carnet relating thereto shall be produced to the Customs
office of destination or exit (en route) during the days and hours appointed for opening.
However, the said office may, at the request and expense of the party concerned, allow
the documents to be produced outside the appointed days and hours.
2. The office of destination or exit (en route) shall:
- carry out controls of the documents, the load compartments and the goods
contained therein, as appropriate;
- register the TIR Carnet;
- provide a certificate of termination by completion of boxes 24 to 28 of

voucher No. 2 of the TIR Carnet;
- complete the counterfoil and remove voucher No. 2 from the TIR Carnet;
return the TIR Carnet to the person presenting it;
/ It should be noted that Contracting Parties are under no legal obligation to comply with the
recommendations set out in Chapter 5 of the TIR Handbook {ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2007/4,
paragraph 9}.
BEST PRACTICES - 268 -
- create a record concerning the termination of the TIR operation in an

authorized international control system, such as the SafeTIR system operated
by the IRU, in accordance with Annex 10 of the Convention and in line with
article 42 ter of the Convention.
3. Besides voucher No. 2 and counterfoil No. 2 of the TIR Carnet, the Customs
office of destination or exit (en route) may issue additional documents to the person
presenting the TIR Carnet (e.g. a receipt on request to be completed in advance by the
person concerned) and may use complementary means of identification to facilitate
disclosure of false Customs stamps in TIR Carnets. In order to detect irregularities as
soon as possible the Customs authorities may verify the legality of counterfoil No. 2 of
the TIR Carnet and of other additional documents during the return trip of a vehicle
and/or upon exit from a country. These verifications should be carried out as soon as
possible.
Remark:
Operators often have difficulty in resolving inquiries sent to them by Customs

authorities about the non-discharge of TIR operations. Additional documents mentioned
in paragraph 3 are not acceptable as proof of termination, but they may be useful in
helping to resolve inquiries. Under the TIR procedure, the TIR Carnet is given back to
the operator, but he then sends it to the national association and may therefore have no
documentation that he can produce in the event of inquiries being made. Records about
termination of TIR operations found in an authorized international control system, such
as the SafeTIR system operated by the IRU, in accordance with Annex 10 of the
Convention and in line with article 42 ter of the Convention may also be considered
valid evidence of the termination of TIR operations.
5.3 PROCEDURE FOR THE DISCHARGE OF A TIR OPERATION
1. Customs offices processing TIR Carnets shall keep separate registers in their
Customs ledgers for TIR Carnets.
2. The Customs office of departure or entry (en route) shall retain voucher No. 1 of
the TIR Carnet. With a view to assisting in the return of voucher No. 2 it may enter in
the box "For official use" of voucher No. 2 the following text: "To be returned to ...."
followed by the name and full address of the Customs office to which voucher No. 2
must be returned (where applicable, via or to a centralized office). This text should, as
far as possible, be inserted by means of a stamp and must be clearly legible.
3. The Customs office of departure or entry (en route) shall ensure that box 22 in
voucher No. 1 contains the name of the Customs office of destination or exit (en route)
with a view to facilitating inquiry procedures.
4. The Customs office of departure or entry (en route) may inform preliminarily
the Customs office of destination or exit (en route) on the dispatch of the goods
transported within the TIR procedure, in order to hinder the improper or fraudulent
discharge of a TIR operation.
5. The Customs office of destination or exit (en route) shall detach and send
without delay (within 5 working days) following the termination of the TIR operation,
the part of voucher No. 2 relating to boxes 18 to 28 to the Customs office designated in
the box «For official use», where applicable, via or to a central office.
6. The Customs office of destination shall make available, without delay following
the termination of the TIR operation, all information concerning the termination of the
TIR operation in an authorized international control system, such as the SafeTIR system
operated by the IRU, in accordance with Annex 10 of the Convention and in line with
article 42 ter of the Convention.
7. A special e-mail or teletype message containing data from voucher No. 2 of the
TIR Carnet may be used as a confirmation of termination, instead of sending by mail
voucher No. 2 (or a return slip) from the Customs office of destination or exit (en route)
to the Customs office of departure or entry (en route).
8. Upon receipt of the voucher No. 2 referred to in paragraph 5 above or upon

receipt of the e-mail or teletype message referred to in paragraph 7 above, the Customs
office of departure or entry (en route) shall without delay compare the information
contained therein with the same contained in the retained voucher No. 1 of the TIR
Carnet referred to in paragraph 2 above.
9. In case of several Customs offices of departure or destination, the above

procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis.
10. In cases where the Customs office of destination or exit (en route) is different
from that mentioned in voucher No. 2 of the TIR Carnet, that office shall inform the
office mentioned in voucher No. 2 without delay.
11. With a view to detecting and preventing fraud, the office of departure or entry
(en route) (where applicable, the centralized office), apart from cases of doubt, shall
verify à posteriori a random proportion of 1 per thousand with a minimum of 6
documents per month of all returned vouchers No. 2.
12. The Customs authorities shall take necessary measures to protect their
telecommunications, ledgers, files, etc. from unauthorized access and to prevent the
possibility of sending falsified confirmations of discharge.
5.4 INQUIRY AND RECOVERY PROCEDURE /
1. The tables below succinctly show the recommended inquiry and recovery
procedures to be undertaken by the Customs offices of departure or entry (en route),
destination or exit (en route) or the central Customs office.
2. Table 1a outlines the inquiry and recovery procedure applicable in the European
Union if the respective electronic message is not returned by the Customs office of
destination or exit (en route).Table 1b is applicable in cases where the fallback
procedure is used, i.e. where the data processing technique is not available and only the
paper TIR carnet is used for transit.
3. Table 2 describes the inquiry and recovery procedure applicable in the Russian
Federation if the Customs office of departure or entry (en route) has not received an
electronic confirmation of the termination of a TIR operation from the Customs office
of destination or exit (en route).
/
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2012/4 and ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/111, paragraph 40}
Table 1a (European Union)
Actions by customs office of

departure or entry (en
route) Conditions Time-limit
(1) Send request for Before initiating the After the expiry of the time
information (“Status Inquiry procedure limit for presentation of the
request” message (IE904) to goods at the office of
office of destination or exit destination if the “Arrival
(en route) (Pre-inquiry Advice” message (IE006) has
action) not been received or 6 days
after the received “Arrival
Advice” message if the
“Control Results” message
(IE018) has not been received
(2) Verify the existence of a Same as above (1) and Same time as above (1)
record concerning the in addition to obtain
termination of the transport information needed to
operation in an authorized address the possible
international control system Customs office of
operated by the International destination or exit (en
Organization, in accordance route)
with Annex 10 of the TIR
Convention
(3) Initiate the Inquiry In the case of negative At the latest, 7 days after the
procedure - send the answer to (1) expiry of the time limits
“Inquiry Request” message referred to in (1). The office of
(IE142) to the office of destination or exit (en route)
destination or exit (en route) shall reply within 28 days
(4) Send the “Request on In the case of lack of At the latest 28 days after (3)
non-arrived Movement” response or insufficient
message (IE140) or a response (message)
notification letter to the TIR from the office of
carnet holder and inform the destination or exit (en
guaranteeing association to route)
furnish proof that the TIR
operation has been
terminated (pre-notification)
(5) Notify the guaranteeing After the period for response to
association and the TIR (4) (28 days which may be
Carnet holder of the non– extended for a further 28 days
discharge of the TIR at the request of the holder) has
Actions by customs office of

departure or entry (en
route) Conditions Time-limit
operation. expired
6) Determine person(s) In case the Customs After (5)
directly liable and/or the debt has been incurred
competent Customs
authorities to collect the
Customs debt
7) Request payment, as far In case the Customs After (6)
as possible, from person(s) debt has been incurred
directly liable
8) Send request for payment In case the 3 months after (5)
to the guaranteeing debtor/debtors have not
association paid after a period of
one month.
Table 1b
(European Union) – The fallback procedure
Actions by customs office of departure

or entry (en route) Conditions Time-limit
(1) Verify the existence of a record Before initiating the Appropriate part of
concerning the termination of the inquiry procedure the Voucher No. 2
transport operation in an authorized not received within
international control system operated 8 days after the
by the International Organization, in time limit for
accordance with Annex 10 of the TIR presentation at the
Convention Customs office of
destination or exit
(en route) has
expired.
(2) Send the “TIR Carnet – inquiry The TIR operation has Appropriate part of
notice” to the Customs office of not been terminated the Voucher No. 2
destination or exit (en route) not returned after 2
months (may be
started immediately
after (1) by
decision). The
Customs office of
destination or exit
(en route) shall
respond within 28
days.
(3) Inform the holder and the The TIR operation has After period for
guaranteeing association of possible not been terminated response to (2) has
non-termination and inform them to expired
furnish proof (pre-notification)
(4) Notify the guaranteeing association After the period for
and the TIR carnet holder of the non response to (3) (28
discharge of the TIR operation. days which may be
extended for a
further 28 days at
the request of the
holder ) has expired
(5) Determine person(s) directly liable In case the Customs After (4)
and/or the competent Customs debt has been incurred
authorities to collect the Customs debt
Actions by customs office of departure

or entry (en route) Conditions Time-limit
(6) Request payment, as far as In case the Customs After (5)
possible, from person(s) directly liable debt has been incurred
(7) Send request for payment to the In case the 3 months after (4)
guaranteeing association debtor/debtors have not
paid after a period of
one month.
Remarks applicable to both tables
The office–in–charge of the inquiry should inform the TIR Carnet holder
and the guaranteeing association within 3 months whether it has accepted the produced
alternative proof as an evidence of the discharge of the TIR procedure and also
communicate to the holder any evidence supporting the discharge which has been
discovered during the procedure.
Where during the inquiry procedure it is established that the TIR

operation was terminated correctly, the office in charge of the inquiry shall immediately
inform the TIR Carnet holder and the guaranteeing association and, where appropriate,
any Customs authorities that may have initiated a recovery procedure.
Table 2
Russian Federation
Conditions for Responsible

Action by Customs authorities application Customs authority
(1) Send an inquiry about the Non-receiving of an Customs office of
termination of the TIR operation to the electronic confirmation departure or entry
Customs office of destination or exit of the termination of the (en route)
(en route) TIR operation from the
Customs office of
destination or exit (en
route) within 5 working
days after the set
deadline for Customs
transit
(2) Inform the holder of the TIR Non-receiving of an Customs office of
Carnet about the absence of electronic confirmation departure or entry
information on delivery of the goods of the termination of the (en route)
and the beginning of the verification TIR operation from the
of the facts Customs office of
route) within 5 working
days after the set
deadline for Customs
transit
(3) Check the existence of information Receiving a notification Customs office of
concerning the termination of the TIR (electronic, written) on departure, of entry
operation in an authorized non-delivery of the (en route) or central
international control system, such as goods from the Customs office
the SafeTIR system operated by the Customs office of
IRU, in accordance with Annex 10 of destination or exit (en
the TIR Convention route)
(4) Start an investigation procedure on Immediately after Customs office of
the Customs infringement receiving a notification departure or entry
(electronic, written) on (en route)
non-delivery of the
goods from the
Customs office of
route)
Conditions for Responsible

Action by Customs authorities application Customs authority
(5) Give particular attention to Persons concerned have Customs office of
documents which may be presented as presented such departure or entry
proof of the proper discharge of the documents (en route) together
TIR operation with Customs
office of
destination or exit
(en route)
(6) If possible, hand over a request for Not later than 10 Customs office of
payment to an authorized working days from the departure or entry
representative of the TIR Carnet date of detection of (en route)
holder or send this request by mail non-payment or partial
payment of Customs
duties
(7) Send the payment request and A payment request is Customs office of
other relevant documents to a central not honoured by the departure or entry
body that monitors the application of TIR Carnet holder (en route)
the TIR procedure in a given country within 20 calendar days
from the date of receipt
of the request
(8) Notify the national guaranteeing A payment request is Central Customs
association of the non-termination or not honoured by the body
conditional termination and then lodge TIR Carnet holder
a claim in accordance with the
provisions of the TIR Convention
(9) Withdraw the notification or the The central body has Central Customs
claim, if the latter has been sent received, to its body
already satisfaction, proof of
proper discharge
Remark
The office in charge of the inquiry should inform the TIR Carnet holder
or the guaranteeing association whether it has accepted the alternative evidence of the
termination of the TIR operation as well as in cases where, in the meantime, the office
could discharge the operation by its own means (the certificate of termination has been
found, etc.).
4. A possible specimen inquiry notice form as well as a reminder letter to be

recommended for use by Customs authorities are contained below.
Specimen inquiry notice
TIR Carnet - Inquiry notice
I. To be completed by the Customs office of departure/office of entry (en route)

A. TIR Carnet No. B. Customs office of destination/exit
Copy of voucher No. 1 attached (en route)
C. Customs office of departure/entry (en route) D. Vehicle registration number
(name and full address) or name of vessel, if known
E. According to information available to
this Customs office, the consignment was
1. Produced to ............................................................................................................ on └──┴──┴──┘
DD MM YY
2. Delivered to ............................................................................................................ on
(name and address of person or firm) └──┴──┴──┘
DD MM YY
3. The TIR Carnet holder is unable to give any information about the whereabouts of the goods
Place and date: Signature: Stamp:

II. To be completed by the Customs office of destination/exit (en route)
Request for additional information
In order to carry out inquiries the Customs office of departure/entry (en route) is requested to send:
1. a precise description of the goods
2. a copy of the CMR consignment note
3. the following documents or information:

III. To be completed by the Customs office of departure/entry (en route)
Reply to the request for additional information
1. The information, copies or documents requested are annexed 1 2 3

2. The information, copies or documents referred to under numbers are not available
└─┴─┴─┘
IV. To be completed by the Customs office of destination/exit (en route)

1. Voucher No. 1 was returned on ; the duly endorsed copy of voucher No. 1 is attached
└──┴──┴──┘
DD MM YY
2. The duly endorsed voucher No. 2 is attached to this inquiry notice
3. Inquiries are being made and voucher No. 2 or a copy of voucher No. 1 will be returned as soon as possible
4. The consignment was produced here without the relative document
5. Neither the consignment nor the TIR Carnet were produced here and no information about these can be
obtained

Specimen reminder letter
TIR Carnet - Reminder letter
I. Customs office of departure/entry (en route) II. Authority to which addressed

(name and address) (name and address)
III. Reference/No.
IV. TIR Carnet (No. and date)
V. Inquiry notice (No. and date)
VI. Any details concerning the Customs office of destinations/exit (en route)
VII. Any other information
- Continued overleaf -
VIII. I have not yet received any answer to the above-mentioned inquiry notice
Would you please inform me on the present position of inquiries carried out
IX. Reply to the authority addressed
- Continued overleaf -
At ...................................................... , ........................................
Signature Stamp
Annexes: A copy of voucher No. 1 of the TIR Carnet

A copy of the inquiry notice
5.5 LIST OF DOCUMENTS TO SUBSTANTIATE CLAIMS FOR

NON-DISCHARGE
1. Basic documentation is necessary to substantiate the request for payment. In

general, such documentation should cover two main issues:
(a) Reasons establishing the liability of the national guaranteeing association;
(b) Amount of import or export duties and taxes to be paid by the national
guaranteeing association.
2. In order to establish the reasons for the transmission of claims the following
documents seem to be appropriate:
- a copy of voucher No. 1 duly filled-in and stamped by the Customs

authorities - as evidence for having commenced liability of the national
guaranteeing association in accordance with Article 8, paragraph 4 of the
Convention;
- some documents confirming that the Customs authorities have implemented

provisions of Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Convention, for instance, a copy
of the registered letter sent to the TIR Carnet holder and containing the
request for payment;
- a written statement (letter) by the Customs authorities outlining main points

of the infringement committed and including reasons why evidences of the
proper termination of the TIR operation, presented by persons concerned, if
any, are recognized to be insufficient.
3. In order to substantiate 1 (b) the detailed calculation of Customs duties and taxes
seems to be adequate, including determination of the Customs value of the goods and
applicable tariff rates.
5.6 INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION, OTHER THAN THE

TIR CARNET, THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY CUSTOMS OFFICES
EN ROUTE IN CONNECTION WITH A TIR TRANSPORT
For purposes of control, the Customs offices en route are recommended to use
mainly the TIR Carnet, being a Customs transit declaration. Where the Customs offices
en route require additional documentation in connection with a TIR transport, this
should not be required to contain more than the information necessary to identify the
goods and the road vehicles. The Customs authorities should base their requirements on
those set out in the relevant international transport agreements, such as, for instance, the
Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) of
19 May 1956 and should limit their information requirements to those available in
carriers’ normal documentation (CMR consignment note, packing list, if any, etc.)
(TRANS/WP.30/212/paragraph 21 and Annex 2).
5.7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNICATION

BETWEEN NATIONAL COMPETENT AUTHORITIES AND NATIONAL
GUARANTEEING ASSOCIATIONS
1. It is the competence of Contracting Parties to establish, in line with the

provisions of national legislation and established procedures, the content of the
communications, which are addressed to the national guaranteeing association in the
course of a claim procedure. However, in order to avoid any misunderstanding on
nature, amount and justification of any alleged irregularity, the competent authorities
and national guaranteeing associations of Contracting Parties are invited to review and
update their various communications to the extent that they refer at least to the stages
recognized by the TIR Convention and/or described in its best practices and contain, as
far as possible, the following minimum information (see tables below).
2. The stages recognized by the TIR Convention are:
(a) Notification: Within a period of one year from the date of acceptance of the
TIR Carnet, the competent authorities of the Contracting Party, in which the
TIR Carnet has not been discharged, have to notify the association in writing of
the non-discharge (Article 11, paragraph 1 (b) of the Convention);
(b) Claim for payment: Competent authorities dispose of a period between three
months and two years after the date on which the association has been informed
that the TIR operation has not been discharged (or that the certificate of
termination of the TIR operation has been obtained in an improper or fraudulent
manner), within which to submit a claim for payment to the association
(Article 11, paragraph 3 of the Convention).
3. Preceding these legal obligations, various Contracting Parties have introduced as

a best practice pre-notifications. Although not a legal requirement, they have become a
standing procedure in various Contracting Parties to inform the guaranteeing association
at the earliest possible stage of the fact that Voucher No. 2 has not been returned to the
Customs office of departure or entry en route, inviting it to furnish proof that the TIR
operation has been terminated. This communication, which has become known as “pre-
notification” is sent without prejudice to the notification to be made in accordance with
Article 11, paragraph 1 of the Convention. However, as not all Contracting Parties
apply this concept in the same way and/or at the same time, the degree of compliance
with the recommended elements may vary considerably from country to country.
Contracting Parties and national associations are recommended to bear this in mind
when applying the best practices of Chapter 5.7.
4. It should be noted that Contracting Parties are under no legal obligation to

comply with the recommendations set out in Chapter 5.7. Only the provisions of the
TIR Convention and national legislation decide on the legality of any communication
between the competent authorities of Contracting Parties and the national guaranteeing
associations.
5. In general, Customs authorities and national guaranteeing associations of

Contracting Parties are recommended:
- to limit any communication to one single TIR Carnet only;
- to make use at all times, but in particular before making enquiries, to the
extent possible, of any information available in an authorized international
control system, such as the SafeTIR system operated by the IRU, in
accordance with Annex 10 of the Convention.
Table I
Recommended elements for effective communication by

competent authorities to national guaranteeing associations
Data to be included, in as far as available at moment of issuance of Pre-notification of Notification of Claim for
communication non- discharge to non- discharge payment to
the guaranteeing to the guaranteeing
association guaranteeing association
(Best practice) association (Article 11.3)
(Article 11.1(b))
1 Clear and legible date and reference √ 2/ √ √
2 Name, address and unique ID number (as far as available in the TIR √ √ √
Carnet) of the TIR Carnet holder
3 TIR Carnet Number (2 letters and 8 digits) √ √ √
4 Date when the TIR Carnet was accepted by Customs √ √ √
5 Main points of infringement and legal references (justification) √ √ √
6 Return /reply address and recommended deadline for reaction (if √ √ √
appropriate)
7 Copy of voucher No. 1 √ √ √
8 List of possible/recommended documents to be provided by national √ √ -
associations, as mentioned under point 5 of Table II, including, if
possible, documentation with regard to other person(s) directly liable
9 Reaction to documents submitted i.e. acceptance, closure or refusal, - √ -
if any3/
10 Reference to and/or copy of the notification to the TIR Carnet holder - √ √
(Expl. Notes 0.11.1 and 0.11-2)
11 Reference to and/or copy of the request for payment from the - √ √
person(s) directly liable (Article 11.2) if available
12 Reference to and/or copy of the pre-notification to the guaranteeing - √ -
association if available
13 Reference to and/or copy of the notification to the guaranteeing - - √
association
14 Reference to existing guarantee agreement or any other type of legal - - √
instrument
15 Reference to indicative amount of the potential claim - √ -
16 Detailed calculation of Customs duties and taxes, including - - √
determination of the Customs value of the goods, tariff rates applied
and applicable default interest rates
17 Time limits for payment (Article 11.4) - - √
18 Payment particulars - - √
19 Information on possible appeal procedures - - √
2/
√ = Recommended element;
3/
acceptance = confirmation that authorities have accepted the information provided by the association at
an earlier stage; closure = information that authorities have decided not to pursue the alleged irregularity
and have closed the file; refusal = information that the information provided by the association at an
earlier stage has not been accepted by the authorities, including the reasons for refusal.
Table II
Recommended elements for effective communication by

national guaranteeing associations to competent authorities
Data to be included, in as far as available at moment of Reaction to Reaction to Reaction to
issuance of communication Pre-notification Notification of Claim for
of non- non- discharge payment to
discharge to the to the guaranteeing
guaranteeing guaranteeing association
association association (Article
(Best practice) (Article 11.3)
11.1(b))
1 Clear and legible date and reference √ √ √
2 Name, address and unique ID number (as far as available in √ √ √
the TIR Carnet) of the TIR Carnet holder
3 TIR Carnet Number (2 letters and 8 digits) √ √ √
4 Return address √ √ √
5 Documents indicating the regular termination of the concerned √ √ √
TIR operation, such as:
x any official certificate or confirmation of the
termination of a TIR operation covered by the same
transport made out by another Contracting Party
following the respective TIR operation or
confirmation of the transfer of the goods in question
to another Customs procedure or another system of
Customs control, e.g clearance for home use;
x the duly stamped corresponding counterfoils No. 1 or
No. 2 in the TIR Carnet by that Contracting Party or
a copy thereof provided by the international
organization;
x records about the termination of the TIR operation, as
found in the so-called ”IRU SafeTIR system”, in
accordance with Annex 10 of the Convention;
x any additional document, issued by the Customs
office of destination or exit (en route) to the person
presenting the TIR Carnet (e.g. receipt on request to
be completed in advance by the person concerned);
x any document allowing the identification of possible
person(s) directly liable4/.
6 Reference to the pre-notification to the guaranteeing √ - -
association if available
7 Reference to the notification to the guaranteeing association - √ -
8 Reference to the claim for payment to the association - - √
9 Reaction to claim for payment (acceptance or refusal) - - √
10 Reference to specific provisions in the existing guarantee - - √
agreement or any other type of legal instrument
4/
Submission of documents under point 5 is not limited to any of the three identified stages, but can take
place at any time, as soon as available.
/
Table III
Specimen pre-notification letter
Information letter to be sent to the TIR guaranteeing association and the TIR
Carnet holder
……………………………………..……………………………
(Full name of the Customs office/administration concerned) (Place and date)
Subject: Information concerning TIR Carnet No………………….
addressed to…………………………………………………
(full name, address and ID number of the TIR Carnet holder)
………………………………………………………………..
(full name of the guaranteeing association)
Dear Madam/Sir,
A TIR operation carried out under cover of TIR Carnet No……….has been
registered by the Customs office of………..(Copy of Voucher No. 1 attached) as
entering the territory of…………..(name of Contracting Party).
We kindly inform you that our Customs administration has not received
confirmation of the proper termination in the territory of ……….. (name of
Contracting Party) of the TIR operation carried out under cover of TIR Carnet
No……………
In addition, we have checked the status of this TIR Carnet in the control system
for TIR Carnets and:
(1) there is no information confirming the termination of this TIR operation in
the territory of ………..(name of Contracting Party),
(2) there is a record concerning this TIR operation. We have already contacted
the office of destination in……………………..(place, name of Contracting Party)
/
in order to confirm the information available in the control system for TIR Carnets
but have not yet received any confirmation.
Therefore, without prejudice to the notification to be made in accordance with
Article 11, paragraph 1(b) of the TIR Convention, we invite you to provide us
with the appropriate documents demonstrating that this TIR operation has been
correctly terminated in the territory of ……………….(name of Contracting Party)
within 28 days of the date of this letter.
The proof should be furnished in the form of one of the following documents,
identifying the goods:
- a document certified by the Customs authorities of the Customs office of
destination or exit (en route) of another Contracting Party establishing that the
goods have been presented at this Customs office, or
- a Customs document, issued in another Contracting Party confirming that
the goods have entered it Customs territory for a Customs approved treatment or
use, or
- a document, issued in another Contracting Party, endorsed by the Customs
authorities of that Contracting Party and certifying that the goods are considered to
be in free circulation in that Contracting Party.
- a copy or photocopy of abovementioned documents, certified as being true
copies by the body which endorsed the original documents, by the authorities of
the Contracting Party concerned or by the authority of another Contracting Party
to the TIR Convention, 1975.
Any of the above documents should be sent to
……………………………………………………………………
(stamp of the Customs office/signature of the person responsible)
Annex: Copy of Voucher No. 1 of the TIR Carnet

5.8 EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICE WITH REGARD

TO THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 38 /
A. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
1. Chapter IV "Irregularities" of the TIR Convention contains references to

national legislation of the Contracting Parties. In particular, in accordance with Article
36, "any breach of the provisions of this Convention shall render the offender liable, in
the country where the offence was committed, to the penalties prescribed by the law of
that country". Article 38 constitutes in itself a framework provision which also relies on
national legislation for practical implementation. For example, national law determines:
- gravity of an infringement ("serious offence against Customs laws or regulations

applicable to the international transport of goods");
- date when the exclusion according to Article 38 comes into force;
- appeal procedures and possible suspension of the exclusion in the course of
appeal.
2. In general, Article 38 should be considered as a tool to protect and prevent the

TIR procedure from abuses, rather than as an automatic mechanism of sanction in any
circumstances. The application of Article 38 should be justified according to the gravity
of the infringement.
3. Article 38 is closely linked to the provisions of Article 6 and of Annex 9, part II

which govern the procedure of access of physical and legal persons to the TIR
procedure. This relation is highlighted by two comments to Article 38 "Cooperation
between competent authorities" and "Exclusion of a domestic transport operator from
the TIR procedure".
4. Apart from the person being excluded, the following actors are mentioned in
Article 38:
- the competent authorities of the Contracting Party where the offence has been
committed and where Article 38.1 is implemented;
/
{ ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/93, paragraphs 28-30 and annex III; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2012/14
and ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/111, paragraph 42}
- the competent authorities of the Contracting Party on whose territory the

excluded person is established or resident;
- the association(s) in the country where the offence has been committed;
- the TIR Executive Board.
In addition, the national association of the Contracting Party where the excluded
person is established or resident is involved in the implementation of Article 38,
although not mentioned explicitly in the text.
5. The application of Article 38 is limited to the exclusion of TIR Carnet holders.
6. Because of the involvement of various actors, the close cooperation between

them is indispensable for the smooth application of Article 38. Such cooperation should
be based on two major elements:
- due fulfilment by the actors involved of their respective functions;

- a fast and transparent exchange of information.
An example of best practices in this respect is given below.5/
B. EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICE6
7. The competent authorities of the Contracting Party where an infringement

against the Customs laws or regulations applicable to the international transport of
goods (including but not limited to the TIR Convention) was committed, should
consider, in line with national legislation, whether this infringement constitutes "a
serious offence against Customs laws or regulations applicable to the international
transport of goods" and whether the TIR Carnet holder should be excluded from the TIR
procedure according to Article 38.1.
8. If a decision is taken to implement Article 38.1, the person being excluded

should be informed without delay. Such information should preferably be made in any
of the three official languages of the TIR Convention (English, French or Russian) and
should contain at least the following particulars:7/
5/
According to the comment "Exclusion of a domestic transport operator from the TIR procedure", the
Customs authorities are recommended to use the provisions of Article 38.1 against foreign transport
operators guilty of a serious offence of the Customs laws. The proposed example of best practice
addresses such a situation.
6
7/
A specimen of information is given in the appendix to the present document. If a language other than
the three official languages of the Convention is used to fill-in the form, at least the titles of the boxes
should also be given in English, French or Russian.
- Date and place of issuance of the document;

- Name and official address of the competent authority;
- Name, address, country and ID-number of the person being excluded;
- TIR Carnet reference number (if applicable);
- Registration No(s) of road vehicle(s) (if applicable);
- Identification No(s) of container(s) (if applicable);
- Description of the goods (according to the goods manifest) (if applicable);
- Date and place of the infringement;
- Detailed description of the infringement;
- Reasons for the application of Article 38.1;
- Type of the exclusion (temporary or permanent) and the date of its entry into
force;
- Duration of the exclusion (for temporary exclusions only);
- Information on possible appeal procedures (deadline, appeal bodies, possible
suspension of the exclusion in case of appeal, etc.).
Where applicable, a copy of the TIR Carnet should be attached.
9. The information should be transmitted to the excluded person by the fastest

available means of communication (fax, electronic mail, etc.). Within one week, where
provided for in national legislation, this information should also be forwarded by
registered mail to the person being excluded or should be handed over to his legal
representative against signature on receipt.
10. Within one week, the same information should also be transmitted by the fastest
available means of communication (fax, electronic mail, etc.) to the competent
authorities of the Contracting Party on whose territory the person concerned is
established or resident, to the association(s) in the country or Customs territory where
the offence has been committed, to the TIR Executive Board and, as far as possible, to
the association of the Contracting Party where the excluded person is established or
resident (issuing association).
11. In case of any changes in the status of the original exclusion (e.g., cancellation
or suspension, etc.), the competent authorities, which have excluded the person, should
keep the addressees mentioned in paras. 9 and 10 above informed of these changes.
12. The competent authorities of the Contracting Party on whose territory the
excluded person is established or resident should consider whether the committed
infringement can affect the minimum conditions and criteria set out in Annex 9, part II,
that persons have to meet in order to have access to the TIR procedure. If the person
concerned no longer fulfils these requirements, his authorization should be withdrawn.
Such a withdrawal should be reported within one week to the TIR Executive Board. It is
also recommended to inform the competent authorities which have issued the exclusion.
13. Irrespective of the possible decision on withdrawal of authorization by the

competent authorities of the Contracting Party on whose territory the person concerned
is established or resident, the issuing association should assess the reliability of the
holder and may impose on him some restrictions or sanctions in compliance with the
association's internal rules, for example, suspend the issuance of TIR Carnets.
APPENDIX
INFORMATION OF EXCLUSION FROM THE TIR PROCEDURE

(in accordance with Article 38, para.1 of the TIR Convention)
To:
(name, address, country and ID-number of the person being excluded)
This is to notify that you have been excluded from the TIR procedure on the territory of
______________________________________ (name of the country)

This exclusion comes into force on __________ (date)
and is permanent temporary until __________ (date)
Appeal against the exclusion can be launched with

____________________________________
(name of appeal body)
Within ____________________ (deadline for appeal in accordance with national legislation).
The exclusion has been a result of the infringement whose details are given below:
TIR Carnet reference number (if applicable)
Registration No(s) of road vehicle(s) (if applicable)
Identification No(s) of container(s) (if applicable)
Description of goods (according to the goods manifest) (if applicable)
Date and place of the infringement
Description of the infringement:
Reasons for the application of Article 38.1:
Attachments (if any)

Name and official address of the competent authority:
Signature Stamp (if applicable)

Date and place
5.9 EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICE WITH REGARD TO THE

APPLICATION OF ARTICLES 39 AND 40 /
1. At departure, when the holder of the TIR Carnet signs off boxes 13-15 of
vouchers No. 1 and No. 2 of the TIR Carnet, he takes on the responsibility for the
correctness of data on the goods manifest. In addition, in line with Article 19 and the
Explanatory Note thereto, the Customs office of departure has to apply strict controls
with a view to ensuring the accuracy of the goods manifest. This idea is stressed in the
comment to Article 19 "Inspection at the office of departure: "… for the TIR system to
operate smoothly it is essential that the Customs inspection at the office of departure
should be stringent and complete, since the functioning of the TIR procedure depends
upon it"."
2. Nevertheless, the Customs authorities en route and at destination might reveal

discrepancies between the particulars on the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet and the
actual content of the load compartment. In such situations, before considering those
facts as infringements committed by the holder of the TIR Carnet, the Customs
authorities should take into due account the provisions of Articles 39 and 40 of the TIR
Convention:
“Article 39
When TIR operations are accepted as being otherwise in order:
1. …
2. Likewise, discrepancies between the particulars on the goods manifest of

the TIR Carnet and the actual contents of a road vehicle, combination of vehicles
or container shall not be considered as infringements of the Convention by the
holder of the TIR Carnet when evidence is produced to the satisfaction of the
competent authorities that these discrepancies were not due to mistakes committed
knowingly or through negligence at the time when the goods were loaded or
dispatched or when the manifest was made out.”
/
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2009/2, paragraph 15; ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/97, paragraph 29}
0.39 The expression "mistakes committed through negligence" is to be taken

to mean acts which, although not committed deliberately and in full
knowledge of the facts, are due to a failure to take reasonable and
necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of the facts in any particular case.
“Article 40
The Customs administrations of the countries of departure and of

destination shall not consider the holder of the TIR Carnet responsible for the
discrepancies which may be discovered in those countries, when the discrepancies
in fact relate to the Customs procedures which preceded or followed a TIR
transport and in which the holder was not involved.”
3. Therefore, when deciding on the possible responsibility of the TIR Carnet holder
in such situations, the Customs authorities are first to investigate the following issues:
- May the TIR transport be accepted as being otherwise in order (preamble to

Article 39)? In particular, have the Customs seals remained intact?
- Have these discrepancies been due to mistakes committed by the holder

knowingly or through negligence (Article 39, paragraph 2)?
- Do these discrepancies relate to the Customs procedures which preceded or

followed the TIR transport and in which the holder was not involved
(Article 40)?
4. As underlined in Article 39, paragraph 2 and Explanatory Note 0.39, when

filling-in the TIR Carnet, the holder is supposed to take reasonable and necessary steps
to ensure the accuracy of the facts in any particular case. As regards his contractual
responsibility, the holder is likely to avail himself of the provisions of the CMR
Convention8/ to which most TIR countries are also Contracting Parties. According to
Article 8, paragraph 1 of the CMR Convention,
"1. On taking over the goods, the carrier shall check:
8/
Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), of
19 May 1956
(a) The accuracy of the statements in the consignment note as to the number of
packages and their marks and numbers, and
(b) The apparent condition of the goods and their packaging."
5. However, there may be situations where the holder is not in a position to make
effective checks. For example, if the holder takes over a sealed non-TIR container at a
seaport and starts a TIR transport, he is probably not able to check the goods and has to
rely on accompanying documents (bill of lading, packing list, etc.) only. Under those
circumstances, the holder is strongly advised to make a reservation on the CMR
consignment note, as provided for in Article 8, paragraph 2 of the CMR Convention:
"2. Where the carrier has no reasonable means of checking the accuracy of the
statements referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of this article, he shall enter his
reservations in the consignment note together with the grounds on which they are
based…such reservations shall not bind the sender unless he has expressly agreed
to be bound by them in the consignment note."
6. Article 11 of the CMR Convention further specifies that for the purpose of the
Customs or other formalities, the sender shall attach the necessary documents to the
consignment note or place them at the disposal of the carrier. Moreover, this article
clearly states that:
“2. The carrier shall not be under any duty to inquire either the accuracy or
the adequacy of such documents or information. The sender shall be liable to the
carrier for any damage caused by the absence, inadequacy or irregularity of such
document and information, except in the case of some wrongful act or neglect on
the part of the carrier.”
7. The effect of Articles 8 and 11 of the CMR Convention on the contractual

relationship between sender and carrier is one of the factors which Customs should take
into account.
8. According to Article 39, paragraph 2 of the TIR Convention, in case of

discrepancies, the holder has to prove to the competent authorities that these
discrepancies were not due to mistakes committed knowingly or through negligence at
the time when the manifest was made out. In other words, the holder should prove that
he was not in a position to verify the particulars on the goods manifest. According to
Article 39, paragraph 2, it is up to the Customs authorities to accept or decline the
holder's explanations or evidence. In case of prohibited goods, it should also be borne in
mind that specific provisions of national legislation may become applicable, as
mentioned in Article 47.
9. In many situations, the TIR procedure is preceded by export formalities where

an export cargo declaration is made out. Therefore, the particulars of the goods, as they
appear on the TIR Carnet, should correspond to the data from the export cargo
declaration. If in doubt about the particulars on the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet, a
Customs office en route and the Customs office of destination may send an enquiry to
the Customs office of departure or to the exporter. In line with Article 42 of the TIR
Convention, on receipt of such a request, the Customs office of departure must furnish
the inquirer with all the available information regarding the TIR transport in question, in
particular, a copy of the export goods declaration.
10. In the case of discrepancies, the responsibilities of the TIR Carnet holder could
be two-fold:
- liability for payment of Customs duties and taxes for the missing goods, if any.
If the holder or any other person directly liable fails to pay the sums due, the
Customs have the right to request payment from the national guaranteeing
association;
- responsibility in terms of administrative/penal law, in particular, fines and/or

other pecuniary sanctions. It should be noted that the guarantee of the national
guaranteeing association does not cover this component of the holder's
responsibilities.
11. Discrepancies between the particulars on the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet
and the actual content of the load compartment do not necessarily imply that some
goods have been taken out from or added to the sealed load compartment illegally, put
into circulation and that the Customs duties and taxes are due. It may well happen that
the transport operator has fulfilled his responsibilities and delivered all the goods with
the Customs seals intact, but that a mistake was made in the goods manifest of the TIR
Carnet before the beginning of the TIR transport. Therefore, the Customs authorities
concerned have to prove that these goods have indeed been illegally withdrawn from
Customs control on the territory of their country.
12. The applicability of Articles 39 and 40 is highlighted in five practical situations

below. For each example, the Customs seals have remained intact, the road vehicle
contains no places of concealment and no evidences of smuggling have been found.
Situation 1 (Article 39)
A TIR truck (a tractor unit and a semi-trailer) arrived at the Customs office of
destination with no traces of tampering with the Customs seals. The load was packed in
carton boxes and correctly described on the goods manifest, but there were fewer boxes
in the load compartment than indicated: 95 instead of 100. The driver argued that he had
picked up the already sealed semi-trailer at a port where it had arrived by ferry. For this
reason, the driver was not in a position to check the accuracy of the goods manifest and
made a corresponding reservation on the CMR consignment note. The Customs office
of destination certified the termination of the TIR operation with reservation, started an
inquiry procedure and got in touch with the sender of the goods who confirmed in
writing that the missing packages were not loaded at departure by his fault. On this
basis, the Customs office came to the conclusion that the inaccuracy in the goods
manifest could not be considered as a holder's "mistake committed knowingly or
through negligence". In line with Article 39, paragraph 2, the holder of the TIR Carnet
was released from responsibility.
A TIR truck arrived at the Customs office of destination with no traces of

tampering with Customs seals. The load was packed in carton boxes and correctly
described on the goods manifest, but there were fewer boxes in the load compartment
than indicated: 98 instead of 100. According to the driver, he had overlooked this fact.
The Customs office of destination believed that he should have monitored the stuffing
of his vehicle and should have counted the boxes and considered this case as "a mistake
committed through negligence" and imposed a fine on the transport operator for non-
authentic declaring. However, as the Customs authorities accepted that only 98 boxes
had been loaded, no claim for Customs duties and taxes was raised.
Situation 3 (Articles 39 and 40)
A TIR truck arrived at the Customs office of destination with intact Customs seals. The
load, including the number of boxes, was correctly described on the goods manifest.
However, behind the boxes, next to the front wall of the semi-trailer, the Customs
authorities discovered some pieces of furniture which were mentioned neither on the
TIR Carnet nor on the CMR consignment note. The driver (vehicle's owner, at the same
time) explained that he had bought this furniture for private purposes in the country of
departure, and that the consignor was not aware of this fact. The driver felt that the
furniture was personal, rather than commercial cargo, and that, therefore, there was no
need to indicate the furniture in the goods manifest which should correspond to the
CMR consignment note and to the export goods declaration lodged by the consignor.
The Customs office of destination did not share this view, fined the driver for non-
authentic declaring and instructed him to declare the furniture for importation on his
own behalf. In the above situation, neither the exemptions of Article 39 nor of Article
40 apply to the holder of the TIR Carnet.
The goods under cover of a TIR Carnet were delivered to the Customs office of
destination. According to the goods manifest on the TIR Carnet, the load (shoes) was
packed in 100 carton boxes. The Customs seals were intact. The Customs office took
off the seals and terminated the operation without reservation, although it did not carry
out a Customs inspection. The goods were unloaded and placed under temporary
storage in a warehouse. Following that, the importer lodged an import declaration for
the same quantity of the goods as described on the manifest of the TIR Carnet. But
during physical examination of the consignment, the Customs office discovered not
100, but 150 boxes with shoes. The importer explained that he had based his import
declaration on the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet and, therefore, not he, but the
holder was responsible for this infringement. However, in this case the holder fulfilled
his obligations and presented the sealed goods, TIR Carnet and vehicle at the office of
destination, and the operation had been terminated. The goods were kept for some
period of time in the warehouse, after termination of the TIR procedure, and the holder
does not bear any responsibility for what could have happened with the consignment
during storage. It is the responsibility of the importer to check the goods before lodging
the import declaration. Therefore, according to Article 40, the holder of the TIR Carnet
was not considered liable.
In the country of departure, there existed restrictions (tariff and non-tariff) for the
exportation of raw materials, including copper. At the same time, no such restrictions
were imposed on articles made of copper. At the Customs office of departure, the
exporter lodged an export cargo declaration where the goods were declared as "copper
bushings". Following export formalities, the goods were sealed and placed under the
TIR procedure. In both the TIR Carnet and CMR consignment note, the goods
description coincided with the one from the export declaration. The TIR truck arrived at
the Customs office of exit (en route) with intact Customs seals. Nevertheless, the
Customs office of exit decided to make a physical inspection of the goods suspecting
that the goods description was deliberately falsified in order to avoid the applicable
export restrictions. Technical expertise proved that the articles could not be used as
bushings and were actually foundry products (copper billets). Thus, the goods should
have been declared as "raw copper". The exporter faced charges of non-authentic
declaration, evasion of Customs payments and breaching export regulations. As the
underlying infringement was essentially linked to the preceding export procedure, the
holder of the TIR Carnet was not considered responsible, in line with Article 40.
5.10 EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICE WITH REGARD

TO THE APPLICATION OF ANNEX 9, PART II /
1. Controlled access to the TIR procedure for natural and legal persons is one of
the five pillars of the TIR Convention which distinguishes the TIR procedure from
many other systems of Customs transit. Controlled access was introduced into the TIR
Convention in 1999 with a view to safeguarding the system against fraudulent activities
by means of the careful selection of transport operators on the basis of a set of minimum
conditions and requirements laid down in Annex 9, Part II of the Convention. The
practical application of these criteria is based on national legislation.
2. There are two major players involved in the authorization procedure: the
competent authorities (Customs, Ministry of Transport, etc.) and the national TIR
issuing association. Their close cooperation is indispensable and could be organized, for
example, through the establishment of a national authorization committee, as
recommended by Explanatory Note 9.II.3 of the Convention. According to Annex 9,
Part I of the Convention, the association shall verify continuously and, in particular,
before requesting authorization for access of persons to the TIR procedure, the
fulfilment of the minimum conditions and requirements by such persons as laid down in
Part II of this annex.
3. However, only the competent authorities representing the Government can

validate any finding by the association in this respect and take a legal decision
concerning the access to the TIR procedure. In addition, information that is
indispensable for the purposes of authorization can only be available within the
competent authorities. Thus, the competent authorities should not outsource their
official functions and responsibilities to the association.
I. VERIFYING MINIMUM CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
4. The table below shows the distribution of labour between the competent
authorities and the association when checking the minimum conditions and
requirements to be fulfilled by persons applying for access to the TIR procedure. With
regard to natural persons, this table should apply as far as applicable in accordance with
national legislation.
/
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/91, paragraph 28}
Documents/information to be provided Actions by association Actions by competent

authorities
1.1 Proven experience or, at least, capability to engage in regular international transport
Official registration
Licence for carrying out international

transport
Plate numbers and approval certificates of

road vehicles Collect documents,
analyze information and
Certificates of Professional Competence pass on to the competent Verify, analyze and
(CPC) of the senior management authorities assess
Proof of past business operations, CMR,

orders and other documents
1.2 Sound financial standing
Proof of financial viability, e.g. bank As far as national

reference, credit rating, etc. legislation permits,
collect documents,
Financial status as reported by the national
tax authorities, commercial registers analyze information and
pass on to the competent Verify, analyze and
Annual accountancy reports, balance sheets authorities assess
1.3 Proven knowledge in the application of the TIR Convention
Knowledge of the transport operator Verify CPC's and/or Verify, analyze and
certificates issued by assess
Customs, interview
Training for the management and staff Provide, if required Co-operate
Changes in the management and staff Monitor and check Be informed

authorities

authorities
1.4 Absence of serious or repeated offences against Customs or tax legislation
1. Monitor, as far as 1. Collect and consider

national legislation relevant information
permits, and transmit from local Customs
relevant information to offices, establish a
competent authorities. database.
2. Monitor the 2. If necessary, verify

performance of transport relevant information
Absence of serious or repeated Customs operators via SafeTIR. from the national
offences association.
3. Take into due

accounts any
information on
Customs offences
committed abroad.
Absence of serious or repeated tax offences Request and consider,

both on a case-by-case
Absence of previous offences against Monitor, as far as and regular basis,
Customs and tax legislation by the national legislation information from tax
management and shareholders – obtain permits, and transmit and other authorities. If
positive evidence of a "clean record" relevant information to necessary, verify
competent authorities relevant information
from the national
association
Active research for reputation Collect and monitor Be informed
1.5 Undertakings in a written declaration of commitment of the Association
Insertion of the appropriate undertakings Make the transport Verify, if necessary

(Annex 9, part II, para. 1 (e)) into a written operator sign the
declaration (Deed of Engagement) declaration
5. Additional and more restrictive conditions and requirements for access to the
TIR procedure may be introduced by the competent authorities of Contracting Parties
and by the associations themselves unless the competent authorities decide otherwise.
The competent authorities, in cooperation with the national association, have to publish
all additional conditions and requirements at national level.
6. The authorization for access to the TIR procedure does not constitute in itself a
right to obtain TIR Carnets from the associations. For this reason, any authorized person
must follow the regulations established by the national association and/or international
organization to which it is affiliated.
7. The fulfilment of the above conditions and requirements must be insured not
only before requesting authorization for access to the TIR procedure, but also
continuously after such authorization has been granted. These à posteriori checks should
be done on a regular basis and not only if there is information on some problems
(infringements, insolvency, etc.). It is up to the competent authorities to arrange a
procedure for regular checks.
II. PROCEDURE
8. The competent authorities, together with the national association, should

determine, in line with national legislation, the procedures to be followed for access to
the TIR procedure on the basis of the above conditions and requirements. These
procedures should in particular specify a deadline for consideration of applications for
access to the TIR procedure, following which the applicant should be informed in
writing of the decision taken. In case of refusal, the applicant should also be informed of
possible appeal procedures.
5.11. RECOMMENDED PRACTICE ON THE APPLICATION OF THE

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TIR
CARNETS, REFERRED TO IN ANNEX 10 OF THE CONVENTION9
I. INTRODUCTION
1. On 20 October 1995, the TIR Administrative Committee adopted a

recommendation on the introduction of a control system for TIR Carnets. The purpose
of the recommendation was to furnish the international organization rapidly with data
on the termination of all TIR Carnets at the Customs offices of destination, thus
allowing it to apply timely risk management within the guarantee chain. The
recommendation, in an amended form, was later codified and, since 12 August 2006,
constitutes Annex 10 to the TIR Convention. According to the introductory text “an
international organization shall establish a control system for TIR Carnets to hold data,
transmitted by Customs authorities and accessible by the associations and Customs
administrations, about the termination of TIR operations at offices of destination.” To
enable the associations to fulfil this mandate effectively, Customs authorities shall
transmit in a standard format a fixed set of data to the guarantee chain (international
organization or national association).
II. SCOPE
2. The aim of this recommended practice is to provide national Customs and other
competent authorities with guidelines how to best organize a speedy (or, ultimately, real
time) transmission of required data to the international organization’s control system for
TIR Carnets. The final objective of this recommended practice is to have the electronic
data transmitted to the international organization’s system immediately following
termination at Customs offices of destination, once the Customs authorities have
stamped counterfoil No. 2 of Voucher No. 2 of the TIR Carnet.
III. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

AT NATIONAL LEVEL
3. The recommended practice on the transmission of Annex 10 data from a

Customs office of destination to the control system of the international organization is
based on the precondition that national Customs authorities operate a computerized
system, covering the start, termination and, possibly, the discharge of TIR operations at
the national level, or that such data are captured through appropriate software, which
enables the formatting and sending of the required data to the international organization.
9
{ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/2010/6 and ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/101, paragraph 29 }
IV. PROCEDURE
4. In order to launch the transmission procedure:
(a) The Customs authorities of the Customs office of destination report the
termination of a TIR operation to their local or regional server,
including those data required under application of Annex 10;
(b) Within a given time frame, the data sets are sent from the local
or regional server to the central national server;
(c) The selected data will be converted into either:
(i) The designated EDI standard and create a record file;

a. The file name will be changed, in accordance with the
given standard;
b. At various intervals and, if possible, on a daily basis, a
connection will be established between the Virtual
Private Network (VPN) and the server of the
international organization;
c. The file will be sent;
d. Checks will be made to ensure that the file has reached
the intended addressee;
e. The VPN connection will be closed;
f. A procedure report will be saved and stored in the log-file
for control and consultation purposes; or
(ii) An XML message corresponding to the data to be sent in
accordance with the provisions of Annex 10 (see below). For
the Contracting Parties using (or willing to use) the
international organization’s web services, the message is then
sent to the international organization via the agreed web
services through a VPN connection.
V. DATA TO BE SENT
5. In accordance with the provisions of Annex 10, Customs authorities shall

transmit, at least, the following information in a standard format in respect of all
TIR Carnets presented at Customs offices of destination, as defined in Article 1 (l)

of the Convention:
(a) TIR Carnet reference number;
(b) Date and record number in the Customs ledger;
(c) Name or number of Customs office of destination;
(d) Date and reference number indicated in the certificate of termination of the
TIR operation (boxes 24-28 of voucher No. 2) at the Customs office of
destination (if different from (b));
(e) Partial or final termination;
(f) Termination of the TIR operation certified with or without reservation at

the Customs office of destination without prejudice to Articles 8 and 11 of
the Convention;
(g) Other information or documents

(optional);
(h) Page number.
VI. ALTERNATIVE TRANSMISSION PROCEDURES
6. The above recommended practice, established by the international

organization in close cooperation with a number of their member associations and
interested national Customs administrations, should be considered without prejudice
to the right of national Customs administrations to develop their own transmission
procedure, as long as the following criteria, set by Annex 10, are met:
(a) Information shall be sent to the international organization or to the
national association;
(b) If possible via central or regional offices;

(c) By the fastest available means of communication (fax, electronic mail, etc);
(d) If possible on a daily basis;
(e) In a standard format;
(f) At least containing the data, mentioned in Part V. of this

recommended practice;
(g) Customs authorities and national guaranteeing associations shall conclude

an agreement, in line with national law, covering the data exchange.
VII. FALL-BACK SCENARIO
7. In case of persistent failures in the electronic transmission of data, Customs

authorities should resort to the best possible alternative solution to transmit the
data, thus ensuring that the requirements of Annex 10 of the Convention, as listed
in Part VI. of this recommended practice, are met.
VIII. FURTHER INFORMATION
8. Contracting Parties wishing to benefit from the available web services for the
purpose of the implementation of Annex 10,are invited to contact the UNECE
secretariat or the international organization.
5.12 PROCEDURE PRIOR TO SUSPENSION OF THE GUARANTEE

COVERAGE IN THE TERRITORY OF A CONTRACTING PARTY /
1. In accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Convention, each

Contracting Party may authorize national associations to issue TIR Carnets and act as
guarantors, as long as the conditions and requirements, as laid down in Annex 9, Part I,
are complied with. Pursuant to Annex 9, Part I, para. 1 (d), the establishment of a
written agreement or any other legal instrument between the association and the
competent authorities of the Contracting Party in which it is established constitutes one
of these conditions and requirements. The guarantee coverage in this country can only
be suspended by either party to the above written agreement by means of termination of
the agreement or through revocation of the authorization.
2. In case the national association wishes or finds itself compelled (e.g. due to the
large number of claims or undischarged TIR operations) to suspend its guarantee in that
given country, it can do so by means of a written notification to the competent
authorities informing of its intention to terminate the written agreement, in accordance
with Annex 9, Part I, para. 3 (v).
3. Competent authorities can either terminate the agreement, in accordance with

Annex 9, Part I, para. 3 (v) or revoke the authorization, in accordance with Annex 9,
Part I, para. 1 (b), in case they decide that the national association can no longer fulfil
its obligations under the Convention.
4. The time to give notice for the termination of the agreement shall be longer than
the time to give notice for the termination of the insurance or financial guarantee
contract as referred to Annex 9, Part I, para. 3 (v). However, in order to limit the
financial exposure of the national association (and the international organization,
referred to in Article 6 of the Convention), the time to give notice for the termination of
the written agreement should be short, and should preferably, in accordance with
national law, not exceed a period of three months;
5. The time to give notice for the revocation of the authorization is determined by
provisions of national law.
6. Prior to entering into the formalities leading up to the termination of the

agreement or the revocation of the authorization, it is recommended to apply the
following procedure:
- Whenever in a Contracting Party the number of undischarged TIR operations

has increased to a level where, according to the national association, there is a potential
/
threat that the association would be no longer in a position, if so required, to provide its
guarantees, the association (possibly upon initiative or with the support of the
international organization) shall immediately send an official letter to the national
competent authorities, highlighting the data of all relevant cases and substantiating how
they might jeopardize its obligation to provide guarantee. Further to the regular enquiry
procedures conducted by them, national competent authorities have to meticulously
follow each individual case reported by the national association. In parallel, the national
association shall inform the Administrative Committee (AC.2) and TIRExB;
- TIRExB shall study each and every potential emerging crisis situation without
delay (possibly by means of questionnaires, information from national associations,
national competent authorities, the international guarantee chain or others) and report its
findings to AC.2; in parallel, AC.2 shall monitor the information submitted to it by the
national association.
- If despite examinations by Customs authorities and TIRExB, the national

association still feels compelled to initiate the termination of the agreement, it shall
inform the international organization of this intention, in order to allow the latter to take
appropriate actions to maintain, in accordance with Article 6.2 bis, the effective
organization and functioning of the guarantee system at the national and international
level. Pending termination of the agreement or revocation of the authorization, the
international organization, in close cooperation with the Customs authorities concerned,
shall undertake all efforts to find a new national guaranteeing association which meets
all established criteria, in order to ensure uninterrupted guarantee coverage in that
Contracting Party. AC.2 shall closely monitor the situation and take all measures to
ensure continuation of the authorization granted to the international organization to take
on responsibility for the effective organization and functioning of an international
guarantee system, pursuant to Article 6.2 bis of the Convention;
- The above procedure is without prejudice to the right of Contracting Parties to

apply, at any time, the provision of Article 38 or Article 6, paragraph 4 as well as
Annex 9, Part II, para. 1 (d), with the aim to maintain the sustainability of the TIR
procedure on their territory.
- 309 - AUTHORIZATION AND AGREEMENT
6 EXAMPLE AUTHORIZATION OF ASSOCIATIONS TO ISSUE

TIR CARNETS AND TO ACT AS GUARANTOR
AND EXAMPLE AGREEMENT /
6.1 EXAMPLE AUTHORIZATION OF ASSOCIATIONS

TO ISSUE TIR CARNETS AND
TO ACT AS GUARANTOR
1. In accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Customs Convention on the

International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention, 1975)
done at Geneva on 14 November 1975 as later amended (hereafter referred to as
TIR Convention), the …. (name of competent authorities) …. of .... (name of
country/Customs or Economic Union) .... hereby authorize the .... (name of association)
.... to issue TIR Carnets covered by the TIR Convention and to act as guarantor in ....
(name of country/Customs or Economic Union) .... as long as the minimum conditions
and requirements as stipulated in Annex 9, Part I of the TIR Convention are fully
complied with.
2. In particular, the .... (name of association) .... has:
(a) proved existence for at least one year as an established association in the
Contracting Party where the authorization is issued;
(b) provided proof of sound financial standing and organizational capabilities

enabling it to fulfil its obligations under the TIR Convention;
(c) absence of serious or repeated offences against Customs or tax legislation;
(d) established a written agreement/legal instrument with the …. (name of

competent authorities) …. of .... (name of country/Customs or Economic Union)
.... and an undertaking herein in conformity with the provisions of Annex 9,
Part I, paragraph 3 (v) of the TIR Convention (enclosed);
(e) accepted the following additional conditions and requirements (if any):….
3. In the event of any serious or repeated non-compliance with the minimum

conditions and requirements stated in Annex 9, Part I of the TIR Convention, this
/
Example has been updated to reflect the changes to Annex 9, Part I, as introduced by Amendment 31,
which entered into force on 10 October 2013.
AUTHORIZATION AND AGREEMENT - 310 -
authorization shall be revoked by the …. (name of competent authorities) …. of ....

(name of country/Customs or Economic Union).
4. Authorization under the terms set out above shall be without prejudice to the
responsibilities and liabilities of the .... (name of association) .... under the
TIR Convention. This means that revocation of the authorization to issue TIR Carnets
and to act as guarantor shall not affect the liabilities incurred by the .... (name of
association) .... in .... (name of country/Customs or Economic Union) .... in connection
with operations under cover of TIR Carnets accepted by the…. (name of competent
authorities) …. before the date of revocation of this authorization and issued by itself
and by foreign associations affiliated to the same international organization as that to
which it is itself affiliated.
5. This authorization comes into force at the date when the written agreement/legal
instrument referred to in paragraph 2 (e) above comes into effect.
6.2 EXAMPLE AGREEMENT 10 /
In accordance with Annex 9, Part I, paragraph 1 (d) of the Customs Convention

on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention,
1975) done at Geneva on 14 November 1975, as later amended (hereafter referred to as
TIR Convention) the …. (name of competent authorities) .… of …. (name of
country/Customs or Economic Union) …. and the …. (name of association) …. hereby
agree as follows:
A. UNDERTAKING
1. By accepting this agreement in the appropriate form, in accordance with national

legislation and administrative practice, the .... (name of association) .... undertakes, in
accordance with Annex 9, Part I of the TIR Convention, to:
(a) comply with the obligations laid down in Article 8 of the TIR Convention,
particularly those contained in Section B below;
(b) accept the maximum sum per TIR Carnet determined by .... (name of
country/Customs or Economic Union) .... which may be claimed from .... (name
of association) .... in accordance with Article 8, paragraph 3 of the
TIR Convention, as indicated in detail in Section C below;
(c) verify continuously and, in particular, before requesting authorization for access
of persons to the TIR procedure, the fulfilment of the minimum conditions and
requirements by such persons as laid down in Part II of Annex 9 of the
TIR Convention;
(d) provide its guarantee for all liabilities incurred in …. (name of country/Customs
or Economic Union) …. In which it is established in connection with operations
under cover of TIR Carnets issued by itself and by foreign associations affiliated
to the same international organization as that to which it is itself affiliated;
/
Or any other legal instrument in accordance with Annex 9, Part I, paragraph 1 (d)
(e) cover its liabilities to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of …. (name
of country/Customs or Economic Union) …. In which it is established with an
insurance company, pool of insurers or financial institution. The insurance or
financial guarantee contract(s) shall cover the totality of its liabilities in
connection with operations under cover of TIR Carnets issued by itself and by
foreign associations affiliated to the same international organization as that to
which it is itself affiliated;
(f) allow the competent authorities to verify all records and accounts kept relating
to the administration of the TIR procedure;
(g) accept a procedure for settling efficiently disputes arising from the improper or
fraudulent use of TIR Carnets /;
(h) agree that any serious or repeated non-compliance with the present minimum
conditions and requirements shall lead to the authorization to issue TIR Carnets
being revoked (as stipulated in paragraph 3 of the example authorization);
(j) comply strictly with the decisions of the competent authorities of …. (name of
country/Customs or Economic Union) …. in which it is established concerning
the exclusion of persons in line with Article 38 and Annex 9, Part II of the
TIR Convention;
(k) agree to implement faithfully all decisions adopted by the TIR Administrative
Committee and the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) in as much as the competent
authorities of .... (name of country/Customs or Economic Union) .... in which the
association is established have accepted them.
B. LIABILITY
(see Section A, paragraph 1 (a))
2. The .... (name of association) .... undertakes to pay import /or export duties and
taxes, together with any default interest, due under the Customs laws and regulations of
.... (name of country/Customs or Economic Union) ... if an irregularity has been noted in
connection with a TIR operation. It shall be liable, jointly and severally with the persons
from whom the sums mentioned above are due, for payment of such sums.
3. The liability of the association follows from the provisions of the

TIR Convention. In particular, the liability of the association shall commence at the
times specified in Article 8, paragraph 4 of the TIR Convention.
/
May be annexed to the agreement
C. MAXIMUM GUARANTEE PER TIR CARNET

(see Section A, paragraph 1 (b))
4. The maximum amount that may be claimed by the competent authorities of ....
(name of country/Customs or Economic Union) ..... from .... (name of association) ....
shall be limited to a sum equal to $US 50,000 - (fifty-thousand) per TIR Carnet. /
5. In the case of transport of alcohol and tobacco, details of which are given in
Annex 6, Explanatory Note 0.8.3 of the TIR Convention and which exceeds the
threshold levels mentioned therein, the maximum amount that may be claimed by the
competent authorities of .... (name of country/Customs or Economic Union) ..... from ....
(name of association) .... shall be limited to a sum equal to $US 200,000.- (two-
hundred-thousand) per "Alcohol/Tobacco" TIR Carnet.
6. The value of the above amounts in national currency shall be determined ....
(daily/monthly/annually) .... on the basis of .... (conversion rate) .... .
D. ENTRY INTO FORCE
7. This agreement shall enter into force on .... (date) .... (month) .... (year) ..... on
condition that documentary evidence for coverage of all liabilities incurred in .... (name
of country/Customs or Economic Union) ..... by .... (name of association) .... as referred
to in Part A.1 (e) above is produced. In case documentary evidence is not provided by
this date, the agreement shall enter into force on the date at which such documentary
evidence is provided.
/
In accordance with Explanatory Note 0.8.3
E. TERMINATION
8. The termination of this agreement shall be without prejudice to the

responsibilities and liabilities of the ..... (name of association) ..... under the
TIR Convention. This means that termination of the agreement shall not affect the
liabilities incurred by the .... (name of association) .... in .... (name of country/Customs
or Economic Union) .... in connection with operations under cover of TIR Carnets
accepted by the…. (name of competent authorities) …. before the date of termination of
this agreement and issued by itself and by foreign associations affiliated to the same
international organization as that to which it is itself affiliated.
9. Date and signature of competent authorities and association.

- 315 - TIR CARNET
7 TIR CARNET
7.1 EXAMPLE OF A TIR CARNET DULY FILLED-IN
1. The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB), in cooperation with the Customs

authorities of Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey as well as with the IRU, prepared
in 2002-2003 an example of a TIR Carnet duly filled-in, which could serve as a model
for transport operators and Customs authorities for the correct filling-in of the
TIR Carnet. The example takes into account the modifications to the layout of the
TIR Carnet (Annex 1 to the Convention) which came into force in 2002
(ECE/TRANS/Amend.21; entered into force on 12 May 2002).
2. It is common knowledge that some of the major complications in the procedures

of Customs clearance are a result of situations which rarely occur in practice. As far as
the TIR procedure is concerned, such non-standard situations refer to TIR transports
covering several Customs offices of departure and/or destination (Article 18 of the
Convention) or including a suspension of the TIR procedure in line with Article 26 of
the Convention. To address all such issues, the TIRExB has developed a complex
example, which combines such features as:
(a) it represents a typical transport operation;
(b) it covers the maximum permissible number of Customs offices of departure and
destination, i.e. four.
(c) two Customs office of departure are situated in the same country;
(d) two Customs offices of destination are located in different countries;
(e) it includes a suspension of the TIR procedure during a non-road leg of the TIR
transport.
Details of the itinerary are given in the table below:

TIR CARNET - 316 -
Status Comment
Customs office, country
Trabzon, Turkey Office of
departure (1)
Erenköy, Turkey Office of departure (2)
Haydarpasa, Turkey Office of exit TIR transport is suspended
The goods are transported by sea from Turkey to Italy under suspension of the TIR procedure.
Porto of Trieste, Italy Office of entry TIR transport is resumed
Porte, Chiasso, Italy Office of exit
Chiasso-Strada, Switzerland Office of entry
Bern, Switzerland Office of destination (1) Partial termination. / In accordance
with Annex 10 of the Convention,
the Customs office should transmit
to an international control system
for TIR Carnets the required data
on the partial termination of the
TIR operation. For details, please
refer to Chapter 5 of the TIR
Handbook.
Basel, Switzerland Office of exit
Weil Am Rhein, Germany Office of entry
Freiburg, Germany Office of destination (2) Final termination.*/ In accordance
with Annex 10 of the Convention,
the Customs office should transmit
to an international control system
for TIR Carnets the required data
on the final termination of the TIR
operation. For details, please refer
to Chapter 5 of the TIR Handbook.
3. The example of a TIR Carnet duly filled-in is given below.
/
For definitions, please refer to the comment to Article 21 "Termination of a TIR operation at the
Customs office of exit (en route) and at the Customs office of destination"
- 317 - TIR CARNET
IRU - Union Internationale

des Transports Routiers
CARNET TIR*
14 vouchers No
1. Valable pour prise en charge par le bureau de douane de départ jusqu'au 01.07.2003 inclus
2. Délivré par Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Maritime Commerce

Issued by
and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (UCCIMCCE)
3. Titulaire TÜRKSPED MEHMET PøR MilletlerarasÕ Nakliyat A.ù.

Holder
Merkez Mah. De÷irmenbahçe Sok. No:19 Yenibosna BakÕrköy øSTANBUL TUR/042/8

association:
Signature of Secretary-General of IRU
Stamp and signature of UCCIMCCE
6. Pays de depart Turkey

7. Pays de destination Switzerland, Germany


34 ZH 6945

No. 118932.2645 of 02.10.2002


Remarks

(1)
Biffer la mention inutile Signature of the TIR Carnet holder
TIR CARNET - 318 -

2. Customs office(s) of departure 3. Name of the international organization
1. Trabzon 2. Erenköy
IRU - International Road Transport Union
3.
For official use
and country)
TÜRKSPED MEHMET PøR MilletlerarasÕ Nakliyat A.ù.
Merkez Mah. De÷irmenbahçe Sok. No:19 Yenibosna
BakÕrköy øSTANBUL TUR/042/8
Turkey Switzerland, Germany
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
(b) Marks and Nos. of Trabzon Customs office in kg marks
For Bern: (number,
identification)
AB 1 - 800 Towels, boxes, 800 packages 5600
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 11
CD 1 - 500 Linen, collies, 500 packages 4300
Destination:
1300
and complete date stamp
14. Place and date
1. Customs office Bern 800 15. Signature of holder or agent
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 28.05.2003
2. Customs office Freiburg 500 Stamp and signature
Signature (Trabzon)
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route) Trabzon

found to be intact 31.05.2003

Trabzon 006494
Erenköy
office date stamp
28.05.2003
Stamp and signature (Trabzon)

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Trabzon Customs office date stamp
2. Under No. 006494
3. Seals or identification marks applied One seal No. 11


produced, etc.) Erenköy 28.05.2003
- 319 - TIR CARNET

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 11
Destination:
1300
14. Place and date
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 28.05.2003
Signature
(Trabzon)
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) Trabzon of exit en route or of destination) Erenköy
found to be intact 31.05.2003 X
Trabzon 006494
No
TIR CARNET
Erenköy
office date stamp Customs office date stamp 30.05.2003
28.05.2003
PAGE 2
Stamp and signature (Erenköy)


1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Erenköy Customs office date stamp
2. X Seals or Identification marks found to be intact

5. Reservations
30.05.2003
TIR CARNET - 320 -

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
CMR 1584 of 29.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
Erenköy Customs office
For Freiburg:
EF 001 - 1000 T-Shirt, boxes, 1000 packages 3600
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
30.05.2003
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 Stamp and signature
2. Customs office Freiburg 1500
Signature (Erenköy)
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route) Erenköy


Erenköy 072564
Haydarpaúa
office date stamp
30.05.2003

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Erenköy Customs office date stamp
2. Under No. 072564
3. Seals or identification marks applied One seal No. 693


produced, etc.) Haydarpaúa 30.05.2003
- 321 - TIR CARNET

3.
For official use 4. Holder of the carnet (identification number, name, address
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST CMR 1584 of 29.05.2003
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
For Freiburg:
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 30.05.2003
Signature
(Erenköy)
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) Erenköy of exit en route or of destination) Haydarpaúa
Erenköy 072564
No

TIR CARNET
Haydarpaúa
30.05.2003
PAGE 4
Stamp and signature (Haydarpaúa)


1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Haydarpaúa Customs office date stamp

5. Reservations
The TIR transport is suspended for the sea leg and is to be resumed 31.05.2003 Stamp and
signature (Haydarpaúa)
in Italy.
TIR CARNET - 322 -

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
CMR 1584 of 29.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
For Freiburg:
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
30.05.2003
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route) Porto of Trieste, 121109

X found to be intact 10 hours as from 16.00

Porto of Trieste A/5 n.7
Ponte Chiasso
office date stamp
02.06.2003
Stamp and signature (Trieste)

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Porto of Trieste Customs office date stamp
2. Under No. A/5 n.7

4. X Seals or identification marks found to be intact

produced, etc.) Ponte Chiasso 02.06.2003
- 323 - TIR CARNET

3.
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
For Freiburg:
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 30.05.2003
Signature
(Erenköy)
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) Porto of Trieste, 121109 of exit en route or of destination) Ponte Chiasso, 075140
X found to be intact 10 hours as from 16.00 X
Porto of Trieste A/5 n.7
No
TIR CARNET
Ponte Chiasso
02.06.2003
PAGE 6
Stamp and signature (Ponte Chiasso)


1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Ponte Chiasso Customs office date stamp

5. Reservations
03.06.2003 Stamp and

signature (Ponte Chiasso)
TIR CARNET - 324 -

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
CMR 1584 of 29.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
For Freiburg:
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
30.05.2003
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route) Chiasso-Strada, 418

X found to be intact

Chiasso-Strada
Bern
office date stamp
03.06.2003
Stamp and signature (Chiasso-Strada)

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Chiasso-Strada Customs office date stamp
2. Under No.

produced, etc.) Bern 03.06.2003 Stamp and
signature (Chiasso-Strada)
- 325 - TIR CARNET

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
For Bern: (number,
identification)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
For Freiburg:
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 30.05.2003
Signature
(Erenköy)
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) Chiasso-Strada, 418 of exit en route or of destination) Bern, 166
X found to be intact X
Chiasso-Strada operation is certified 800
No
TIR CARNET
Bern
03.06.2003
PAGE 8
Stamp and signature (Bern)

Stamp and signature (Chiasso-Strada)

1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Bern Customs office date stamp

specified in the manifest) 800

5. Reservations
04.06.2003
TIR CARNET - 326 -

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
CMR 1584 of 29.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
For Bern: (number,
04.06.2003 identification)
AB 001 - 800 Towels, boxes, 800 packages Stamp and 5600
signature (Bern)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
One seal
No. I/27F
signature (Bern)
For Freiburg:
Stamp and
04.06.2003
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
30.05.2003
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route) Bern, 166


Bern
Basel/Weil am Rhein-Autobahn
office date stamp
04.06.2003

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Bern Customs office date stamp
2. Under No.
3. Seals or identification marks applied One seal No. I/27F


produced, etc.) Basel/Weil am Rhein-Autobahn 04.06.2003 Stamp and
signature (Bern)
- 327 - TIR CARNET

3.
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
For Bern: (number,
signature (Bern)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
One seal
Erenköy Customs office No. I/27F
signature (Bern)
For Freiburg:
Stamp and
04.06.2003
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 30.05.2003
Signature
(Erenköy)
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) Bern, 166 of exit en route or of destination) Basel, 180
Bern
No
TIR CARNET
Basel/Weil am Rhein-Autobahn
PAGE 10
04.06.2003 Stamp and signature (Basel)

COUNTERFOIL No 2 PAGE 10 of TIR No

1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Basel/Weil am Rhein-Autobahn, 180 Customs office date stamp

5. Reservations
04.06.2003
Stamp and signature (Basel)
TIR CARNET - 328 -

3.
For official use
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
CMR 1584 of 29.05.2003
GOODS MANIFEST
For Bern: (number,
signature (Bern)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
One seal
No. I/27F
signature (Bern)
For Freiburg:
Stamp and
04.06.2003
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
30.05.2003
3. Customs office

departure or of entry en route) Weil Am Rhein-Autobahn

X found to be intact 06.06.2003

Weil Am Rhein-Autobahn 0639
Freiburg
office date stamp
04.06.2003
Stamp and signature (Weil Am Rhein)

1. Accepted by the Customs office at Weil Am Rhein - Autobahn Customs office date stamp
2. Under No. 0639


produced, etc.) Freiburg 04.06.2003 Stamp and
signature (Weil Am Rhein)
- 329 - TIR CARNET

3.
and country)
34 ZH 6945 CMR 0658 of 28.05.2003
CMR 0754 of 28.05.2003
For Bern: (number,
signature (Bern)
One seal
For Freiburg:
No. 693
One seal
Erenköy Customs office No. I/27F
signature (Bern)
For Freiburg:
Stamp and
04.06.2003
Destination:
2300
14. Place and date
Trabzon, 28.05.2003 30.05.2003
Signature
(Erenköy)
3. Customs office
departure or of entry en route) Weil Am Rhein/Autobahn of exit en route or of destination) Freiburg
Weil Am Rhein 0639 operation is certified 1500
No
TIR CARNET
Freiburg
PAGE 12
04.06.2003 Stamp and signature (Freiburg)

Stamp and signature (Weil Am Rhein)

1. Arrival certified by the Customs office at Freiburg Customs office date stamp

specified in the manifest) 1500

5. Reservations
05.06.2003 Stamp and
signature (Freiburg)
- 331 - TIR CARNET
7.2 BEST PRACTICES WITH REGARD TO THE USE OF

THE TIR CARNET /
I. GENERAL RULES REGARDING THE USE OF THE TIR CARNET

(ANNEX 1 TO THE TIR CONVENTION)
1. Issue: The TIR Carnet may be issued either in the country in which the holder is
established or resident or in the country of departure.
2. Language: The TIR Carnet is printed in French, except for page 1 of the cover
where the items are also printed in English; the TIR Carnet contains the «Rules regarding
the use of the TIR Carnet» in French on page 2 of the cover and in English on page 3 of
the cover. Additional sheets giving a translation of the printed text may also be inserted.
Carnets used for TIR transports within a regional guarantee chain may be printed
in any other official language of the United Nations except for page 1 of the cover where
items are also printed in English or French. The "Rules regarding the use of the TIR
Carnet" are printed on page 2 of the cover in the official language of the United Nations
used and are also printed in English or French on page 3 of the cover.
3. Validity: The TIR Carnet remains valid until the completion of the TIR transport
at the Customs office of destination, provided that it has been taken under Customs control
at the Customs office of departure within the time-limit set by the issuing association (item
1 of page 1 of the cover).
4. Number of Carnets: Only one TIR Carnet need be required for a combination of
vehicles (coupled vehicles) or for several containers loaded either on a single vehicle or on
a combination of vehicles (see also rule 10 d) below).
5. Number of Customs offices of departure and Customs offices of destination:
Transport under cover of a TIR Carnet may involve several Customs offices of departure
and destination but the total number of Customs offices of departure and destination shall
not exceed four. The TIR Carnet may only be presented to Customs offices of destination
if all Customs offices of departure have accepted the TIR Carnet (see also rule 10 e)
below).
6. Number of forms: Where there is only one Customs office of departure and one
Customs office of destination, the TIR Carnet must contain at least 2 sheets for the country
of departure, 2 sheets for the country of destination and 2 sheets for each country
traversed. For each additional Customs office of departure (or destination) 2 extra sheets
shall be required.
7. Presentation at Customs offices: The TIR Carnet shall be presented with the road
vehicle, combination of vehicles, or container(s) at each Customs office of departure,
Customs office en route and Customs office of destination. At the last Customs office of
departure, the Customs Officer shall sign and date stamp item 17 below the manifest on all
vouchers to be used on the remainder of the journey.
/ {ECE/TRANS/WP.30/AC.2/97, paragraph 30}

TIR CARNET - 332 -
II. HOW TO FILL-IN THE TIR CARNET
8. Erasures, over-writing: No erasures or over-writing shall be made on the TIR Carnet.

Any correction shall be made by crossing out the incorrect particulars and adding, if
necessary, the required particulars. Any change shall be initialled by the person making it and
9. Information concerning registration: When national legislation does not provide for
registration of trailers and semi-trailers, the identification or manufacturer’s No. shall be
shown instead of the registration No
10. The manifest:
(a) The manifest shall be completed in the language of the country of departure, unless the
Customs authorities allow another language to be used. The Customs authorities of the other
countries traversed reserve the right to require its translation into their own language. In order
to avoid delays which might ensue from this requirement, carriers are advised to supply the
driver of the vehicle with the requisite translations.
(b) The information on the manifest should be typed or multicopied in such a way as to be
clearly legible on all sheets. Illegible sheets will not be accepted by the Customs authorities.
(c) Separate sheets of the same model as the manifest or commercial documents providing
all the information required by the manifest, may be attached to the vouchers. In such cases,
all the vouchers must bear the following particulars:
(i) The number of sheets attached (box 8);
(ii) The number and type of the packages or articles and the total gross
weight of the goods listed on the attached sheets (boxes 9
to 11).
(d) When the TIR Carnet covers a combination of vehicles or several containers, the
contents of each vehicle or each container shall be indicated separately on the manifest. This
information shall be preceded by the registration no. of the vehicle or the identification no. of
the container (item 9 of the manifest).
(e) Likewise, if there are several Customs offices of departure or of destination, the entries
concerning the goods taken under Customs control at, or intended for, each Customs office
shall be clearly separated from each other on the manifest.
11. Packing lists, photographs, plans, etc: When such documents are required by the
Customs authorities for the identification of heavy or bulky goods, they shall be endorsed by
the Customs authorities and attached to page 2 of the cover of the Carnet. In addition, a
12. Signature: All vouchers (items 14 and 15) must be dated and signed by the holder of the
Carnet or his agent.
- 333 - TIR CARNET
13. Instructions how to fill-in individual boxes of the TIR Carnet are given in
Annex 1.
III. HANDLING THE VOUCHERS OF THE TIR CARNET BY VARIOUS

CUSTOMS OFFICES IN THE COURSE OF A TIR TRANSPORT
A. Yellow sheet not for Customs use
14. The yellow sheet has no legal value, as it is not part of the TIR Convention. It is
included into the TIR Carnet for two reasons: (i) to provide a translation of the names of
boxes on vouchers No.1/ No.2 and counterfoils No.1/No.2 into the language of the country of
departure and (ii) to keep record of data from the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet after all
vouchers of the TIR Carnet have been taken off in the course of a TIR transport. The yellow
sheet is filled-in by the holder of the TIR Carnet in the same way as he fills in the vouchers.
The Customs authorities are not supposed to fill-in and/or stamp the yellow sheet, except for
situations where the holder of the TIR Carnet requests endorsement of changes that have been
made. The yellow sheet may not be detached.
B. Vouchers No.1/ No.2 and counterfoils No.1/No.2
15. Below, the use of the vouchers of the TIR Carnet is illustrated for the following
simplest example: a TIR transport starts at the Customs office of departure in country A, goes
to the Customs office of exit (en route), enters country B through the Customs office of entry
(en route) and ends at the Customs office of destination in country B. Later, the use of the
vouchers is explained for more complicated situations.
(a) Customs office of departure in country A 1/
The Customs office of departure completes the following boxes on voucher No. 1 (page 1 of
the TIR Carnet) and on voucher No. 2 (page 2): "For official use" (where applicable 2/), 18,
20 to 23. It also fills-in boxes 16 and 17 on all pages of the TIR Carnet and completes boxes
1-3 and 5, 6 on counterfoil No.1 (page 1). Then the office of departure removes voucher No.
1 (page 1) and returns the TIR Carnet to the holder to begin the TIR transport.
1/ The descriptions below focus on the filling-in and handling of the vouchers of a TIR Carnet, rather than
on controls performed by various Customs offices. For details of Customs controls, please refer to the Articles
of the TIR Convention as well as Explanatory Notes and comments. For example, controls to be performed by
the Customs office of departure are listed in Article 19.
2/ Here and below, to see if these boxes should be filled-in in a particular situation, please refer to the
descriptions in Table 1.
TIR CARNET - 334 -
(b) Customs office of exit (en route) from country A
The Customs office of exit completes the following boxes on voucher No. 2 (page 2 of the
TIR Carnet): 24, 25 (where applicable), 27 (where applicable), 28. It also fills-in boxes 1, 2
(where applicable), 4 (where applicable), 5 (where applicable) and 6 on counterfoil No. 2
(page 2). Then the office of exit removes voucher No. 2 (page 2) and returns the TIR Carnet
to the holder to continue the TIR transport. Following this, the office of exit should proceed
with the discharge of the TIR operation (please refer to the example of best practice in
Chapter 5.3 of the TIR Handbook).
(c) Customs office of entry (en route) in country B
The Customs office of entry completes the following boxes on voucher No. 1 (page 3 of the
TIR Carnet) and on voucher No. 2 (page 4): "For official use" (where applicable), 18, 19
(where applicable) and 20 to 23. It also fills-in boxes 1, 2, 3 (where applicable), 4 (where
applicable), 5 and 6 on counterfoil No.1 (page 3). Then the office of entry removes voucher
No. 1 (page 3) and returns the TIR Carnet to the holder to continue the TIR transport.
(d) Customs office of destination in country B
The Customs office of destination completes the following boxes on voucher No. 2 (page 4 of
the TIR Carnet): 24, 25 (where applicable), 26, 27 (where applicable), 28. It also fills-in
boxes 1, 2 (where applicable), 3, 4 (where applicable), 5 (where applicable) and 6 on
counterfoil No.2 (page 4). Then the office of destination removes voucher No.2 (page 4) and
returns the TIR Carnet to the holder. Following this, the office of destination should proceed
with the discharge of the TIR operation (please refer to the example of best practice in
Chapter 5.3 of the TIR Handbook).
(e) Several transit countries
In the case of several transit countries, each Customs office of exit or entry (en route) acts
according to the procedures from, respectively, paras. (b) and (c) above. For each transit
country, an additional pair of pages (voucher No. 1/counterfoil No. 1 and voucher No.
2/counterfoil No. 2) is used.
(f) Several Customs offices of departure
In the case of several Customs offices of departure, the procedure contained in para. (a)
above should be adjusted as follows. Only the last Customs office of departure fills-in boxes
16 and 17 on all remaining pages of the TIR Carnet, while the preceding Customs office(s) of
departure complete(s) these boxes only on the respective pair of vouchers No.1/No.2. Except
for the first Customs office of departure, any subsequent office of departure first acts as a
Customs office of exit (en route) in line with para. (b) and only then as Customs office of
departure as such, in line with para (a) above. For each additional office of departure, an extra
pair of pages (voucher No. 1/counterfoil No. 1 and voucher No. 2/counterfoil No. 2) is
required.
(g) Several Customs offices of destination
In the case of several Customs offices of destination, only the last Customs office of
destination follows the procedure from para. (d) above. Any preceding office of destination
first acts as Customs office of destination, according to the procedure from para. (d), and only
then as Customs office of entry (en route) in line with para. (b) above. The unloaded goods
- 335 - TIR CARNET
and removed Customs seals should be struck through on the remaining vouchers in the TIR
Carnet, and the new Customs seals affixed should be inserted. For each additional office of
destination, an extra pair of pages (voucher No. 1/counterfoil No. 1 and voucher No.
2/counterfoil No. 2) is required.
C. Unused vouchers of the TIR Carnet
16. If, following the end of the TIR transport at the (last) Customs office of destination,
some unused vouchers remain in the TIR Carnet, the Customs authorities should visibly
invalidate them (cross out, punch, etc.), with a view to avoiding their possible use for
fraudulent purposes.
TIR CARNET - 336 -
IV. USE OF THE TIR CARNET IN NON-STANDARD SITUATIONS
A. Incidents or accidents, certified report
17. In the event of Customs seals being broken or goods being destroyed or damaged by
accident en route, the carrier shall immediately contact the Customs authorities, if there are
any near at hand, or, if not, any other competent authorities of the country he is in. The
authorities concerned shall draw up with the minimum delay the certified report (last page of
the TIR Carnet). If authorities other than Customs have drawn up the certified report, on the
first occasion the holder must inform Customs about the incident or accident, as only
Customs can decide whether the road vehicle is suitable for further transport under Customs
seal and affix such seals for the remainder of the journey. In addition, only Customs can
ensure the proper control over the transported goods.
18. In the event of an accident necessitating transfer of the load to another vehicle or
another container, this transfer may be carried out only in the presence of one of the
authorities mentioned in para. 17 above. The said authority shall draw up the certified report.
Unless the TIR Carnet carries the words « Heavy or bulky goods », the vehicle or container
substituted must be one approved for the transport of goods under Customs seals.
Furthermore, it shall be sealed and details of the seals affixed shall be indicated in the
certified report. However, if no approved vehicle or container is available, the goods may be
transferred to an unapproved vehicle or container, provided it affords adequate safeguards. In
the latter event, the Customs authorities of succeeding countries shall judge whether they,
too, can allow the transport under cover of the TIR Carnet to continue in that vehicle or
container.
19. In the event of imminent danger necessitating immediate unloading of the whole or of
part of the load, the carrier may take action on his own initiative, without requesting or
waiting for action by the authorities mentioned in rule 17 above. It shall then be for him to
furnish proof that he was compelled to take such action in the interests of the vehicle or
container or of the load and, as soon as he has taken such preventive measures as the
emergency may require, he shall notify one of the authorities mentioned in rule 17 above in
order that the facts may be verified, the load checked, the vehicle or container sealed and the
certified report drawn up.
20. The certified report shall remain attached to the TIR Carnet. If necessary, the Customs
offices of succeeding countries can make copies of the certified report for their own files.
21. In addition to the model form inserted in the TIR Carnet itself, associations are
recommended to furnish carriers with a supply of certified report forms in the language or
languages of the countries of transit.
22. The filling-in of the certified report of the TIR Carnet is shown in Annex 2.
- 337 - TIR CARNET
B. Seizure of the TIR Carnet
23. Exceptionally, the competent authorities may seize a TIR Carnet, for example, if it is
invalid or for purposes of investigation. In such situations, the numbered corner (slip) on the
back cover of the TIR Carnet, which is easily detachable, shall be returned to the holder. The
slip shall be stamped and signed by the authority who has seized the TIR Carnet. In addition,
particulars of the authority, place and date should be indicated. At the first opportunity, the
TIR Carnet should be returned to the national association of the country where it has been
seized.
C. Heavy or bulky goods
24. In the case of heavy or bulky goods, the cover and all vouchers of the TIR Carnet shall
bear the endorsement "heavy or bulky goods" in bold letters in English or in French.
D. Consecutive use of two TIR Carnets
25. A transport operator may consecutively use two TIR Carnets for one transport
operation in exceptional cases, for example, if the number of vouchers in one TIR Carnet is
not sufficient to carry out a total transport or with a view to increasing the maximum allowed
number of loading and unloading places. In these cases the first TIR Carnet may be
terminated at a Customs office and a new Carnet may be accepted by the same office and
used for the remainder of the journey. Thus, this Customs office becomes the office of
destination for the first TIR Carnet and the office of departure for the second one. Cross-
references shall be made in both TIR Carnets to reflect this fact. To fulfil the conditions laid
down in Article 2 of the Convention, it is essential that both TIR Carnets are used across at
least one border.
E. Simultaneous use of several TIR Carnets
26. In line with Article 17, paragraph 1 of the TIR Convention, a separate TIR Carnet may
be issued for each road vehicle or container, even if they travel together as a combination of
vehicles or as several containers loaded on to a single road vehicle. In such cases, the
Customs office(s) of departure should indicate all reference numbers of these TIR Carnets in
box "For official use" on all vouchers of each TIR Carnet accepted. For the transport of a
mixed cargo consisting of both normal goods and heavy or bulky goods, a separate TIR
Carnet is required to cover the transport of normal goods (see also para. 24 above). The same
rule should apply if a road vehicle, which is exported and therefore itself considered as
goods, travels on its own wheels and also carry other normal goods.
F. Suspension of a TIR transport
27. If a TIR transport is suspended in line with the provisions of Article 26 of the TIR
Convention, the last Customs office before the suspension should make a proper inscription
about it in box 5 on the respective counterfoil No. 2 of the TIR Carnet.
TIR CARNET - 338 -
G. Simultaneous use of a pair of vouchers No.1 and No.2 by one Customs office
28. In exceptional circumstances, the holder of a TIR Carnet may not be in a position to
continue a TIR transport, for example, if he enters a country of destination where he has been
previously excluded according to Article 38. Despite the fact that a TIR operation cannot be
started in the country of destination, in such a situation the office of entry should act as the
last office of destination and should ensure the proper end of the whole TIR transport. To do
so, the Customs office of entry should start and immediately terminate a TIR operation by
simultaneous treatment of vouchers No. 1 and No. 2, in line with sections III B. (a) and (d)
above. Also the required termination data should be reported to the international control
system, as foreseen by Annex 10 to the Convention.
H. Physical examination en route
29. If, in line with Article 24, the Customs authorities conduct an examination of the load
of a road vehicle, combination of vehicles or the container in the course of the journey or at a
Customs office en route, they shall record on the vouchers and the corresponding counterfoils
used in their country, and on the vouchers remaining in the TIR Carnet, particulars of the new
seals affixed and of the controls carried out.
I. Escorts
30. If road vehicles are escorted at the carrier's expense in line with Article 23, Customs
authorities are recommended, at the request of the carrier, to insert into counterfoil No.1 of
the TIR Carnet under item 5 “Miscellaneous” the word “Escort”, followed by a short
indication of the reasons which led to the requirement fur such escort.
J. Treatment of TIR carnet in case TIR Carnet is refused entry3
31. It may occur that for reasons not related to the application of the provisions of the TIR
Convention, the competent authorities of a country decide not to allow a TIR transport to
enter the territory of their country. In case this occurs, Customs authorities of the Customs
office of entry en route are strongly recommended to apply the following procedure:
(a) Fill-in, stamp and tear off Voucher No.1 and 2, certifying the start and termination
of the TIR operation for their country;
(b) Indicate in Box “For official use” of all remaining Vouchers No. 1/2, the precise
reason for the decision to refuse entry to the TIR transport. A reference to the
decision leading to the refusal should be indicated as well as to the provisions of
national or international law on which this decision is based;
(c) Indicate in Box 5 of the concerned counterfoils No. 1 and 2 “Access refused”.
(d) Upon return at the Customs office of exit en route, Customs authorities should
endorse the changes made to Box 6 (Country/countries of destination) in the
3
- 339 - TIR CARNET
remaining Vouchers No. 1/2 and proceed to open the TIR Carnet for a TIR
operation in the territory of their country.
32. TIR Carnet holders are advised that they can use the remaining pages of the TIR Carnet
to pursue the TIR transport. In case the number of remaining pages is not enough to carry out
the total TIR transport, a second TIR Carnet can be used. In line with the text of the relevant
comment to Article 28 of the Convention, the first part of the TIR transport has to be ended in
accordance with Article 27 and 28 of the Convention and a new TIR Carnet has to be
accepted by the same Customs office having certified the termination of the previous TIR
operation and used for the remainder of the TIR transport. Proper inscription shall be made in
both TIR Carnets to reflect this fact.
V. Recommendation for TIR carnet holders to select the proper type of a TIR
Carnet 4;5
33. TIR Carnet holders (or their representatives) are recommended to carefully select the
type of TIR Carnet (4, 6, 14 or 20 pages), which best corresponds with the requirements of
the specific TIR transport for which the TIR Carnet will be opened;
34. TIR Carnet holders (or their representatives) are recommended to fill-in as many
vouchers as possible, if not all, of the TIR Carnet and date and sign boxes 14 and 15, in
accordance with Rule 12 of the “Rules regarding the use of the TIR Carnet”;
35. At the last Customs office of departure, Customs should sign and date stamp box 17 on
all vouchers which have previously been filled-in by the holder (or his representative), in
accordance with Rule 7 of the “Rules regarding the use of the TIR Carnet”;
36. Any remaining voucher in the TIR Carnet which has not previously been filled-in by
the holder (or his representative), should be cancelled by Customs6, at the risk of the TIR
Carnet holder for not having a sufficient number of filled-in, signed and date-stamped
vouchers available in the TIR Carnet to complete the specific TIR transport for which it had
been opened.
4
In case of consecutive use of two TIR Carnets, please refer to paragraph 25 of this Chapter.
5
6
Please refer to paragraph 16 above.
ANNEX I
TIR CARNET
FILLING-IN OF BOXES OF THE TIR CARNETS
Box number and description Filled-in by Data/information to be indicated
Page 1 of the cover
1. Valid for the acceptance of Association A final date of validity (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy) after which
goods by the Customs office the TIR Carnet may not be presented for acceptance at the Customs office of
of departure up to and departure. Provided that it has been accepted by the Customs office of departure
including on or before the final date of validity, the TIR Carnet remains valid until the
termination of the TIR operation at the Customs office of destination. [Remark:
no corrections in this box are allowed]
2. Issued by International Name of the national issuing association
organization or
association
3. Holder Association Identification (ID) number, name, address and country of the TIR Carnet holder.
An individual and unique identification (ID) number is assigned to the holder by
- 340 -
the guaranteeing association (in cooperation with the international organization
to which it is affiliated) in accordance with the following harmonized format:
“AAA/BBB/XX…X”,
whereby “AAA” represents a 3-letter code of the country where the person
utilizing TIR Carnets has been authorized, in line with the classification system
of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). A full list of country
codes of the Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention is regularly published as
an annex to the agendas and official reports of the Administrative Committee,
whereby “BBB” represents a 3-digit code of the national association through
which the holder of the TIR Carnet has been authorized, in accordance with the
classification system established by the relevant international organization to
which the association is affiliated, allowing for unequivocal identification of
each national association. A full list of country codes of the national associations
is regularly published as an annex to the agendas and official reports of the
Administrative Committee,
whereby “XX…X” represents consecutive numbers (maximum 10 digits),

identifying the person authorized to utilize TIR Carnets in accordance with
Annex 9, Part II of the TIR Convention. Once an ID-number has been assigned,
it cannot be used again, even if the person to whom it has been given has ceased
- 341 -
to be a TIR Carnet holder.
4. Signature of authorized Association Stamp and signature of the issuing association
official of the issuing
association and stamp of that
association
5. Signature of the secretary of International Signature (stamped) of the secretary of the international organization
the international organization organization
6. Country/Countries of Holder Country (countries) (name or code) where the TIR transport of a load or part
departure load of goods begins
destination load of goods ends
8. Registration No(s). of road Holder Registration number or numbers of the road vehicle(s), not only that of a motor-
vehicle(s) driven vehicle (e.g. tractor unit), but also the registration number of a trailer or
TIR CARNET
semi-trailer towed by such a vehicle. When national legislation does not provide
for registration of trailers and semi-trailers, the identification or manufacturer’s
No. shall be shown instead of the registration No.
TIR CARNET
9. Certificate(s) of approval of Holder Number and date of issuance (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy) of the
road vehicle(s) (No. and date) TIR approval certificate(s)
10. Identification No(s). of Holder Number(s) of the container(s), if applicable
container(s)
11. Remarks Association or Various observations, e.g. the endorsement ”Heavy or bulky goods”
holder
12. Signature of the Carnet Holder Signature of the TIR Carnet holder or his/her representative, certifying that the
holder information in boxes 6-11 on page 1 of the cover is correct
Voucher No. 1 (white)
1. TIR Carnet No. International TIR Carnet reference number
organization
2. Customs office(s) of Holder Name and, if appropriate, location of the office(s) where the TIR transport of a load
departure or part load of goods begins. The number of offices of departure can vary from 1 to 3
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depending on the number of offices of destination (item 12 below). The total number
of Customs offices of departure or destination must not exceed four
3. Name of the international International Name and/or logo of the international organization
organization organization
For official use Any Customs Any information to facilitate Customs control, e.g. the number of the previous
authority Customs document, the name and full address of the Customs office to which
voucher No. 2 must be returned, etc.
4. Holder of the Carnet Holder Identification (ID) number, name, address and country of the TIR Carnet holder.
(identification number, name, For details, please refer to box 3 of page 1 of the cover
address and country)
departure load of goods begins
destination load of goods ends
7. Registration No(s). of road Holder Registration number or numbers of the road vehicle(s), not only that of a motor-
vehicle(s) driven vehicle, but also the registration number of a trailer or semi-trailer towed
by such a vehicle. When national legislation does not provide for registration of
trailers and semi-trailers, the identification or manufacturer’s No. shall be shown
instead of the registration No.
8. Documents attached to the Holder In line with No. 10 (c) or No. 11 of the Rules regarding the Use of the TIR
manifest Carnet, additional documents may be attached to the TIR Carnet. In this case, the
Customs office of departure should attach them to the TIR Carnet by means of
staples or other devices and by stamping them in such a way that their removal
would leave obvious traces on the TIR Carnet. To avoid the documents being
replaced, the office of departure should stamp each page of the attached
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documents. The documents should be attached to the cover (or yellow sheet) and
to every voucher of the TIR Carnet.
Particulars of these documents are to be indicated in box 8
9. (a) Load compartment(s) or Holder a) Identification number(s) of the load compartment(s) or container(s) (where
container(s) applicable)
packages or articles b) Identification marks or numbers of packages or articles
10. Number and type of packages Holder Number and type of packages or articles, description of goods. The goods'
or articles; description of description should include their trade name (televisions, videos, CD players, etc.) and
goods must enable their clear identification for Customs purposes. Generic indications, such
as electronics, household appliances, clothes, interior supplies, shall not be accepted
as goods description. In addition, the number of packages related to each description
of goods must be shown in the goods manifest. In respect to bulky goods, the
TIR CARNET
quantity of the goods must be declared. The same applies to liquids.
TIR CARNET
11. Gross weight in kg Holder Gross weight in kg.
General remark concerning boxes 9-11 of the Goods Manifest:
When the TIR Carnet covers a combination of vehicles or several containers, the
contents of each vehicle or each container shall be indicated separately on the
manifest. This information shall be preceded by the registration No. of the
vehicle or the identification No. of the container (item 9 of the manifest).
Likewise, if there are several Customs offices of departure or of destination, the
entries concerning the goods taken under Customs control at, or intended for,
each Customs office shall be clearly separated from each other on the manifest.
12. Total number of packages Holder Numbers of packages intended for delivery at each Customs office of
entered on the manifest. destinations, the total number of packages and names and, if appropriate,
Number. Destination: locations of the said offices. The number of offices of destination can vary from
Customs office(s) 1 to 3 depending on the number of offices of departure (item 2 above). The total
- 344 -
number of Customs offices of departure and destination must not exceed four.
13. I declare the information in Holder Place and date (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy) as well as the
items 1-12 above to be signature of the TIR Carnet holder or his agent. By filling-in this box the TIR
correct and complete Carnet holder assumes the responsibility for the authenticity of the information
14. Place and date filled-in on the TIR Carnet. These entries should be made on all vouchers of the
15. Signature of holder or agent TIR Carnet.
16. Seals or identification marks Customs office of Number and identification particulars of the seals or identification marks
applied (number, identification) departure applied. The last Customs office of departure shall indicate this information on
all remaining vouchers
17. Customs office of departure Customs office of Date (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy), stamp and signature of a
Customs officer's signature departure competent official at the Customs office of departure.
and Customs office date At the last Customs office of departure, the Customs officer shall sign and date
stamp stamp item 17 below the manifest on all remaining vouchers
18. Certificate for goods taken Customs office of Name and, if appropriate, location of the Customs office of departure or of entry
under control (Customs office departure or of en route
of departure or of entry en entry en route
route)
19. Seals or identification marks Customs office of An "X" should be entered in the appropriate box if seals or other identification
found to be intact departure or of marks are found to be intact at the start of a TIR operation. The first Customs
entry en route office of departure does not fill in this box
20. Time-limit for transit Customs office of Where applicable, a time-limit for transit (deadline - date according to the format
departure or of dd/mm/yyyy and time, if appropriate) within which the TIR Carnet together with
entry en route the road vehicle, the combination of vehicles or the container must be presented
at the Customs office of exit en route or destination
21. Registered by the Customs Customs office of Identification particulars of the Customs office of departure or of entry en route,
office at _______ under departure or of followed by the registration No. assigned to the TIR operation in the Customs
- 345 -
No. _______ entry en route ledger
22. Miscellaneous (itinerary Customs office of Miscellaneous, e.g. the name and, if appropriate, the location of the office en
stipulated, Customs office at departure or of route or office of destination at which the goods must be presented. When
which the load must be entry en route necessary, the prescribed route may be indicated here, in line with national
produced, etc.) regulations
23. Customs officer's signature Customs office of Date (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy), stamp and signature of a
and Customs office date departure or of competent official of the Customs office of departure or of entry en route
stamp entry en route
TIR CARNET
TIR CARNET
Counterfoil No.1
1. Accepted by the Customs Customs office of Identification particulars of the Customs office of departure or of entry en route
office at departure or of
entry en route
2. Under No. Customs office of Registration number assigned to the TIR operation in the Customs ledger
departure or of
entry en route
3. Seals or identification marks Customs office of Where applicable, number and identification particulars of the seals or
applied departure or of identification marks applied
entry en route
found to be intact departure or of marks are found to be intact at the start of a TIR operation. The first Customs
entry en route office of departure does not fill in this box
5. Miscellaneous (route Customs office of Miscellaneous, e.g. the name and, if appropriate, the location of the office en
- 346 -
prescribed, Customs office at departure or of route or office of destination at which the goods must be presented. When
which the load must be entry en route necessary, the prescribed route may be indicated here
produced, etc.)
and Customs office date departure or of competent official of the Customs office of departure or of entry en route
stamp entry en route
Voucher No.2 (green)
Filling-in of boxes 1-23 of voucher No.2 is similar to the filling-in of the
corresponding boxes of voucher No.1. As a general rule, the particulars in boxes
1-23 of voucher No.2 should coincide with the respective particulars on the
preceding voucher No.1 (for details, please refer to Section II)
24. Certificate of termination of Customs office of Identification particulars of the Customs office of destination or of exit en route
the TIR operation (Customs exit en route or of
office of exit en route or of destination
destination)
found to be intact exit en route or of marks are found to be intact
destination
26. Number of packages for Customs office of Number of unloaded packages1/. Filled-in only by Customs offices of
- 347 -
which the termination of the destination destination and not by the offices of exit en route 2/
TIR operation is certified
27. Reservations Customs office of This box should be filled-in only in cases where irregularities, accidents or
exit en route or of incidents have been detected in connection with the TIR transport. In those
destination situations, an “R” should be inserted, followed by a clear description of any
reservation. The Customs authorities should not certify the termination of TIR
operations subject to systematic unspecified reservations, without giving reasons
and Customs office date exit en route or of competent official of the Customs office of destination or of exit en route
stamp destination
ounterfoil No.2
TIR CARNET
1/ Reference is made to the comment "Unloading of the goods" to Explanatory Note 0.18.2.
2/ Reference is made to the comment "Filling-in of box 26 of voucher No.2 and item 3 on the counterfoil No.2 of the TIR Carnet" to Annex 1.
TIR CARNET
1. Arrival certified by the Customs office of Identification particulars of the Customs office of destination or of exit en route
Customs office at exit en route or of
destination
found to be intact exit en route or of marks are found to be intact
destination
3. Number of packages for Customs office of Number of unloaded packages. 1/ Filled-in only by Customs offices of
which the termination of the destination destination and not by the offices of exit en route 2/
TIR operation is certified (as
4. New seals affixed Customs office of Where applicable, number and identification particulars of the new seals or new
exit en route or of identification marks applied
destination
5. Reservations Customs office of As item 27 of voucher No.2, this box should be filled-in only in cases where
- 348 -
exit en route or of irregularities, accidents or incidents have been detected in connection with the
destination TIR transport. In those situations, an “R” should be inserted, followed by a clear
description of any reservation. The Customs authorities should not certify the
termination of TIR operations subject to systematic unspecified reservations,
without giving reasons
and Customs office date exit en route or of competent official of the Customs office of destination or of exit en route
stamp destination
Annex II
FILLING-IN OF THE CERTIFIED REPORT OF THE TIR CARNET
Box number and description Data/information to be indicated

1. Customs office(s) of departure Name and, if appropriate, location of the Customs office(s) of departure, as appear in
box 2 of vouchers No.1 and No.2
2. TIR Carnet No. TIR Carnet reference number
3. Name of the international organization Name and/or logo of the international organization
4. Registration No(s). of road vehicle(s), Registration No(s). of road vehicle(s). Where applicable, identification No(s). of
identification No(s). of container(s) container(s)
5. Holder of the carnet (identification Identification (ID) number, name, address and country of the TIR Carnet holder. For
number, name, address and country) details, please refer to box 3 of page 1 of the cover
- 349 -
6. The Customs seal(s) is/are Condition of the Customs seals. An ”X” should be entered in the appropriate box: in the
intact left box, if the seals are intact; in the right box, if the seals are not intact
not intact
7. The load compartment(s) or Condition of the load compartment (s) or container(s). An ”X” should be entered in the
container(s) is/are appropriate box: in the left box if the load compartment (container) is intact; in the right
intact box if the load compartment (container) is not intact
not intact
8. Remarks Observations/findings, if any
9. No goods appeared to be missing The box must be completed by entering an “X” in the left box, if no goods are missing, or
The goods indicated in items 10 to 13 in the right box, if goods are missing. In the latter case, boxes 10 to 13 must also be
are missing (M) or have been destroyed completed showing which goods are missing or destroyed
(D) as indicated in column 12
TIR CARNET
10. (a) Load compartment(s) or container(s) a) Identification number(s) of the load compartment(s) or container(s) (where
(b) Marks and Nos. of packages or applicable)
articles b) Identification marks or numbers of packages or articles
TIR CARNET
11. Number and type of packages or Particulars as appear in box 10 of vouchers No.1 and No.2
articles; description of goods
12. M or D М – missing, D - destroyed
13. Remarks (give particulars of quantities Remarks, particulars of quantities missing or destroyed
missing or destroyed)
14. Date, place and circumstances of the Date(in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy), place and description of the
accident circumstances of the accident
15. Measures taken to enable the TIR An ”X” should be entered in the appropriate box, and where appropriate, other items
operation to continue should be completed
affixing of new seals:
number
- 350 -
description
other
16. If the goods have been transferred:
description of road
vehicle(s)/container(s) substituted
(a) vehicle a) Vehicle registration number. If the vehicle has been approved for TIR transport, an
Registration No., Approved (Yes, No) ”X” should be entered in the left box, if not, an ”X” should be entered in the right box.
No. of certificate of approval, number Where applicable, the number of the certificate of approval and the number and
and particulars of seals affixed particulars of the seals affixed should be inserted.
(b) container b) Identification number(s) of the container(s). If the container(s) has(have) been
Identification No. approved for TIR transport, an ”X” should be entered in the left box, if not, an ”X”
should be entered in the right box. Where applicable, the number and particulars of the
seals affixed should be inserted.
17. Authority which drew up this certified report Name/title and particulars of the authority who has completed the certified report;
Place/Date/Stamp/Signature place, date (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy), stamp and signature
18. Endorsement of next Customs office reached Date (in accordance with the format dd/mm/yyyy), stamp and signature of the next
by the TIR transport Customs office reached by the TIR transport
Signature
_________________________________
- 351 -
TIR CARNET
Information Service
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations

CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +41(0)22 917 44 44
Fax: +41(0)22 917 05 05
E-mail: info.ece@unece.org
Website: http://www.unece.org
Printed at United Nations, Geneva – GE.13-26675 – January 2014 – 500 – ECE/TRANS/TIR/6/Rev.10

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UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

CUSTOMS CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT OF GOODS

Tenth Revised Edition

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

CUSTOMS CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT OF GOODS

Tenth Revised Edition

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this

-ECE/TRANS/TIR/1 – First revised edition, 1989;

The third section provides information on the application of the TIR

1. The TIR Customs Transit System ....................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1

1.1.1 Background ............................................................................................. 1

1.2.1 Approval of road vehicles and containers ............................................... 7

1.3. Administrative structure................................................................................... 11

1.3.1 The TIR Administrative Committee ....................................................... 14

1.4 The TIR system in operation ............................................................................. 15

1.5 Future development of the TIR System ........................................................... 18

1.5.1 World-wide application of the TIR system ............................................. 18

1.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 20

1.7 Information about the TIR system ................................................................... 22

1.8 TIR carnets distributed by the IRU to national associations............................ 23

1.9.1 Responsibility of the Government (non-exhaustive list) ........................ 25

2. The TIR Convention, 1975 ................................................................................... 35

Annex 1 Model of the TIR carnet .............................................................. 101

Part I and sketches ........................................................................ 197

3. Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, 1975 ............................................. 259

5. Examples of best practices ................................................................................... 267

6. Example authorization of associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act

6.1 Example authorization of associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act as

7. TIR Carnet............................................................................................................. 315

1 THE TIR CUSTOMS TRANSIT SYSTEM

A Review Conference convened in November 1975 under the auspices of the

These new combined or multimodal transport techniques necessitated the

1.1.2 GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE

As a result of the expanding East-West European trade, particularly since 1989,

1.1.3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TIR CONVENTION

1.1.4 OBJECTIVE AND ADVANTAGES

(a) Advantages for Customs administrations

As regards Customs control measures at frontiers, the TIR system undoubtedly

The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB), as an inter-governmental organ, ensures

(b) Advantages for the transport industry

Finally, reducing the impediments to international traffic by road caused by

A short description of the principles of the TIR Customs transit regime as

(1) Goods should travel in Customs secure vehicles or containers;

(3) Goods should be accompanied by an internationally accepted Customs

(5) Access to the TIR procedure for

- national associations to issue TIR Carnets and to act as guarantor;

- natural and legal persons to utilize TIR Carnets; and

- international organizations to take on the responsibility for the effective

shall be authorised by competent national authorities or the TIR Administrative

Figure 1: Principles of the TIR System

The five pillars of the TIR Customs transit system

Secure vehicles International TIR Carnet Mutual Controlled

1.2.1 APPROVAL OF ROAD VEHICLES AND CONTAINERS

Concerning the requirement of security, the TIR Convention stipulates that

If national approval or inspection authorities are in doubt as to whether new

1.2.2 INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEE SYSTEM

The operation of the TIR guarantee system is straightforward. Every national