TIR Convention
Traditionally, in the course of international road transport, customs authorities apply national control systems and procedures when goods transit through the territory of one or more States. These systems differ from State to State, but often involve inspection of the goods at each national frontier and the application of national guarantee requirements (guarantees, customs bonds, deposits) in order to cover the potential amount of duties and taxes during the transit of goods through each territory.
The application of such measures in each successive transit country leads to significant costs, delays and interruptions in transport operations. For this reason, the TIR system was developed with the aim of reducing the difficulties encountered by carriers while at the same time providing customs authorities with an international control system capable of replacing traditional national procedures, while ensuring the proper protection of the revenue of each State through whose territory goods are transported.
Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets
(TIR Convention)
The Contracting Parties,
desiring to facilitate the international carriage of goods by road vehicles,
considering that the improvement of transport conditions is one of the essential factors in the development of cooperation between them,
advocating the simplification and harmonization of administrative formalities, particularly at borders, in the field of international transport,
have agreed as follows:
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) Definitions
Article 1
For the purposes of this Convention:
(a) the term “TIR operation” shall mean the transport of goods from a customs office of departure to a customs office of destination under the procedure known as the TIR procedure, laid down in this Convention;
(b) the term “import or export duties and taxes” shall mean customs duties and all other charges, taxes, fees and other amounts levied 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;
(c) the term “road vehicle” shall mean not only a motor road vehicle but also any trailer or semi-trailer designed to be coupled thereto;
(d) the term “combination of vehicles” shall mean coupled vehicles which travel on the road as a single unit;
(e) the term “container” shall mean an article of transport equipment (lift-van, removable tank or other similar structure):
fully or partially enclosed to constitute a compartment intended for containing goods;
of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;
specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods, by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading;
designed for ready handling, particularly when being transferred from one mode of transport to another;
designed to be easy to load and unload;
having an internal volume of one cubic metre or more.
Swap bodies shall be regarded as containers;
(f) the term “customs office of departure” shall mean any customs office of a Contracting Party where a TIR operation for all or part of a consignment of goods begins;
(g) the term “customs office of destination” shall mean any customs office of a Contracting Party where a TIR operation for all or part of a consignment of goods ends;
(h) the term “intermediate customs office” shall mean any customs office of a Contracting Party through which a road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container enters or leaves in the course of a TIR operation;
(i) the term “person” shall mean both natural and legal persons;
(j) the term “heavy or bulky goods” shall mean any heavy or bulky object which, because of its weight, dimensions or nature, is not normally carried in a closed road vehicle or in a closed container;
(k) the term “guaranteeing association” shall mean an association approved by the customs authorities of a Contracting Party as a guarantor for persons using the TIR procedure.
(b) Scope
Article 2
This Convention shall apply to the transport of goods, without intermediate reloading, in road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or containers, across one or more frontiers, from a customs office of departure of one Contracting Party to a customs office of destination of another Contracting Party or of the same Contracting Party, provided that some portion of the TIR operation between its beginning and its end is carried out by road.
Article 3
The provisions of this Convention shall apply provided that:
(a) the transports are carried out:
in road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or containers previously approved for transport under the conditions set out in Chapter III, paragraph (a); or
in other road vehicles, other combinations of vehicles or other containers under the conditions set out in Chapter III, paragraph (c);
(b) the transports are guaranteed by associations approved in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 and are carried out under cover of a TIR carnet conforming to the model contained in Annex 1 to this Convention.
(c) Basic provisions
Article 4
Goods carried under cover of the TIR procedure shall be exempt from the payment or deposit of import or export duties and taxes at intermediate customs offices.
Article 5
Goods carried under cover of the TIR procedure in sealed road vehicles, sealed combinations of vehicles or sealed containers shall, as a general rule, not be subject to customs examination at intermediate customs offices.
Nevertheless, in order to prevent abuses, customs authorities may, in exceptional cases and particularly where there is suspicion of irregularities, carry out an examination of the goods at such customs offices.
Chapter II
Issue of TIR Carnets. Liability of Guaranteeing Associations
Article 6
Each Contracting Party may, subject to the provision of appropriate guarantees and under prescribed conditions, authorize certain associations to issue TIR carnets, either directly or through associations acting as their correspondents, and to furnish guarantees.
An association may be recognized in a given country only if the guarantee furnished by it also covers the liability assumed by that association in that country in respect of operations carried out under cover of TIR carnets issued by foreign associations belonging to the same international organization of which the association is a member.
Article 7
Blank TIR carnets sent to guaranteeing associations by foreign guaranteeing associations acting as their correspondents or by international organizations shall be exempt from import and export duties and taxes and shall not be subject to any import or export prohibitions or restrictions.
Article 8
The guaranteeing association shall undertake to pay the import or export duties and taxes due, together with any default interest payable under the customs laws and regulations of the country in which an irregularity in connection with a TIR operation has been established. The guaranteeing association shall be liable, jointly and severally with the persons from whom such sums are due, for the payment of the said amounts.
Where the laws and regulations of a Contracting Party do not provide for the payment of import or export duties and taxes as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the guaranteeing association shall undertake, under similar conditions, to pay an amount equal to the import or export duties and taxes and any default interest.
Each Contracting Party shall fix the maximum amount which may be claimed from the guaranteeing association in respect of one TIR carnet on the basis of the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.
The guaranteeing association shall become liable to the competent authorities of the country in which the customs office of departure is situated as from the time when the TIR carnet is accepted by that customs office for customs clearance. In each subsequent country through whose territory the goods are carried under the TIR procedure, such liability shall arise as from the time when the goods are imported or, where the TIR operation is terminated in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 26, as from the time when the TIR carnet is accepted for customs clearance by the customs office at which the TIR operation is resumed.
The guaranteeing association shall be liable not only for the goods listed in the TIR carnet but also for any goods which, although not listed therein, are contained in the sealed part of the road vehicle or in the sealed container. The guaranteeing association shall not be liable for any other goods.
For the purpose of determining the amounts of duties and taxes referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the particulars relating to the goods entered in the TIR carnet shall be deemed to be valid unless the contrary is proved.
When the amounts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article become due, the competent authorities shall, as far as possible, require payment from the person or persons directly liable before making a claim against the guaranteeing association.
Article 9
The guaranteeing association shall fix the period of validity of the TIR carnet by indicating the date of its expiry, after which the carnet may no longer be presented to the customs office of departure for customs clearance.
If the TIR carnet is accepted for customs clearance by the customs office of departure on or before the date of expiry referred to 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
The customs clearance of a TIR carnet may be effected with or without reservations. Where reservations are entered, they shall relate only to facts connected with the TIR operation itself. Such facts shall be entered in the TIR carnet.
Where the customs authorities of a country have cleared a TIR carnet without reservations, they may no longer claim payment from the guaranteeing association of the sums referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 8 of this Convention, except where the certificate of customs clearance was obtained illegally or fraudulently.
Article 11
Where a TIR carnet has not been discharged or has been discharged with reservations, the competent authorities shall not be entitled to claim payment from the guaranteeing association of the sums referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 8 of this Convention unless, within one year from the date on which the TIR carnet was accepted for customs clearance, they have notified the guaranteeing association in writing of the refusal to discharge or of the discharge with reservations. This provision shall also apply in cases where the discharge was obtained illegally or fraudulently; however, in such cases, the time limit shall be two years.
The claim for payment of the sums referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 8 of this Convention shall be made against the guaranteeing association not earlier than three months after the date on which the association was notified of the refusal to discharge, the discharge with reservations or the illegal or fraudulent discharge, and not later than two years from that same date. However, in cases brought before the courts within the said two-year period, the claim for payment shall be made within one year from the date on which the court decision becomes final.
The guaranteeing association shall have a period of three months from the date of notification of the claim to pay the sums due. The sums paid shall be reimbursed to the association if, within two years from the date of the claim for payment, the customs authorities are furnished with conclusive proof that no irregularity occurred in connection with the transport concerned.
Chapter III. Carriage of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets
a) Approval of road vehicles and containers
Article 12
In order to qualify for the application of the provisions of sections (a) and (b) of this Chapter, every road vehicle shall, with regard to its construction and equipment, comply with the conditions laid down in Annex 2 to this Convention and shall be approved for transport in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex 3 to this Convention.
The certificate of approval shall conform to the model set out in Annex 4 to this Convention.
Article 13
In order to qualify for the application of the provisions of sections (a) and (b) of this Chapter, containers shall be constructed in accordance with the conditions laid down in Part I of Annex 7 and shall be approved for transport in accordance with the procedure laid down in Part II of that Annex.
Containers approved for the transport of goods under customs seals in accordance with:
the Customs Convention on Containers of 1956,
international agreements concluded under the auspices of the United Nations,
the Customs Convention on Containers of 1972,
or any international instruments replacing or amending the latter Convention,
shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of paragraph 1 of this Article and shall be accepted for transport under the TIR procedure without further approval.
Article 14
Each Contracting Party reserves the right not to recognize the validity of the approval of road vehicles or containers which do not comply with the conditions set out in Articles 12 and 13 of this Convention. However, Contracting Parties shall not delay transport operations where the defects found are of a minor nature and do not give rise to a risk of smuggling.
Before being used again for the transport of goods under customs seals, any road vehicle or container which no longer meets the conditions on which its approval was based shall either be restored to its original condition or be subjected anew to the approval procedure.
b) TIR transport procedure
Article 15
In the case of the temporary importation of a road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container used for the transport of goods under the TIR procedure, no special customs document shall be required, nor shall any guarantee be required in respect of the road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container.
The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not prevent a Contracting Party from requiring, at the customs office of destination, compliance with the formalities prescribed by its national legislation in order to ensure that the road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container is re-exported after completion of the TIR operation.
Article 16
When a TIR operation is carried out by a road vehicle or a combination of vehicles, rectangular plates bearing the inscription “TIR”, conforming to the requirements set out in Annex 5 to this Convention, shall be affixed to the vehicle.
One plate shall be fixed at the front and another identical plate at the rear of the road vehicle or combination of vehicles.
These plates shall be so placed as to be clearly visible and shall be removable.
Article 17
One TIR Carnet shall be issued for each road vehicle or container.
However, a single TIR Carnet may be issued for a combination of vehicles or for several containers loaded on one road vehicle or on a combination of vehicles.
In such cases, the cargo manifest of the TIR Carnet shall indicate separately the contents of each vehicle forming part of the combination of vehicles or of each container.A TIR Carnet shall be valid for one transport operation only.
It shall contain at least the number of detachable vouchers required for acceptance of the Carnet for customs purposes and for its completion during the transport operation concerned.
Article 18
A TIR operation may be carried out through several customs offices of departure and destination.
However, except in cases where special authorization has been granted by the interested Contracting Parties or by the Contracting Parties concerned:
a) the customs offices of departure shall be situated in one country only;
b) the customs offices of destination shall be situated in not more than two countries;
c) the total number of customs offices of departure and destination shall not exceed four.
Article 19
The goods and the road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container shall be presented at the customs office of departure together with the TIR Carnet.
The customs authorities of the country of departure shall take the necessary measures to:
verify the accuracy of the cargo manifest;
affix customs seals and stamps; or
supervise customs seals and stamps affixed under the responsibility of those customs authorities by duly authorized persons.
Article 20
The customs authorities may fix a time limit for transport operations carried out within their territory and may require that the road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container follow a prescribed route.
Article 21
At each intermediate customs office and at the customs offices of destination, the road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container shall be presented to the customs authorities for control, together with the goods contained therein and the corresponding TIR Carnet.
Article 22
Except in cases where goods are inspected by the customs authorities in accordance with the provisions of Article 5, paragraph 2, of this Convention, the officials of the intermediate customs offices of each Contracting Party shall, as a general rule, recognize the customs seals and stamps affixed by the customs authorities of other Contracting Parties, provided that they are intact.
However, such officials may, where the requirements of control so demand, add their own customs seals and stamps.Customs seals and stamps recognized by the Contracting Parties shall enjoy, in their territory, the same legal protection as national customs seals and stamps.
Article 23
The customs authorities may only in exceptional cases:
require that road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or containers be escorted at the expense of the carriers while passing through their territory;
carry out checks or inspections of the goods while in transit in road vehicles, combinations of vehicles or containers.
Article 24
Where the customs authorities carry out an inspection of the goods transported in a road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container during transit or at an intermediate customs office, they shall:
record the particulars of any new customs seals and stamps affixed;
indicate the nature of the control carried out
on the detachable vouchers of the TIR Carnet used in their country, on the corresponding counterfoils, and on the sheets of the TIR Carnet.
Article 25
If customs seals or stamps are damaged during transport under circumstances other than those provided for in Articles 24 and 35 of this Convention, or if the goods are lost or damaged without the seals or stamps being damaged, the procedure laid down in Annex 1 to this Convention concerning the use of the TIR Carnet shall be followed.
This shall be without prejudice to the application of national legislation, and, in addition, the report contained in the TIR Carnet shall be completed.
Article 26
Where part of a transport operation under cover of a TIR Carnet is carried out in the territory of a State which is not a Contracting Party to this Convention, the TIR operation shall be suspended for that part of the journey.
In such cases, the customs authorities of the Contracting Party in whose territory the transport subsequently continues shall accept the TIR Carnet for the resumption of the TIR operation, provided that the customs seals and stamps and/or identification marks are intact.The same provision shall apply to that part of the route during which the TIR Carnet is not used by the holder in the territory of a Contracting Party as a result of the application of simplified customs transit procedures, or where the application of a customs transit procedure is not required.
In such cases, the customs offices at which the TIR operation is suspended or resumed shall be regarded as intermediate customs offices, respectively upon entry into or exit from the country.
Article 27
Subject to compliance with the provisions of this Convention and, in particular, Article 18, the customs office of destination initially indicated may be replaced by another customs office of destination.
Article 28
Upon arrival of the goods at the customs office of destination and provided that the goods are placed under another customs procedure or released for home use, the customs clearance of the TIR Carnet shall be carried out without delay.
c) Provisions relating to the transport of heavy or bulky goods
Article 29
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply only to the transport of heavy or bulky goods as defined in subparagraph (f) of Article 1 of this Convention.
Where the provisions of this Chapter apply, the transport of heavy or bulky goods may, at the discretion of the customs authorities of departure, be carried out using unsealed vehicles or containers.
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply only where, in the opinion of the customs authorities of departure, the heavy or bulky goods, as well as any accessories transported at the same time:
can be easily identified by their description, or
can be fitted with customs seals and stamps and/or identification marks in such a manner as to prevent any substitution or removal of the said goods without leaving visible traces.
Article 30
All provisions of this Convention, except for those from which derogations are expressly provided for by the special provisions of this Chapter, shall apply to the transport of heavy or bulky goods under the TIR procedure.
Article 31
The liability of the guaranteeing association shall extend not only to the goods listed in the TIR Carnet, but also to goods which, although not listed in the Carnet, are carried on the platform or placed between the goods listed in the TIR Carnet.
Article 32
A clear inscription in bold characters stating: “Heavy or bulky goods”
shall be entered on the cover and on all detachable vouchers of the TIR Carnet in English or French.
Article 33
The customs authorities of departure may require that packing lists, photographs, drawings, etc., deemed necessary for the identification of the goods transported, be attached to the TIR Carnet.
In such cases, the customs authorities shall certify these documents;
one copy of the said documents shall be attached to the inside cover of the TIR Carnet, and
references to these documents shall be entered in all manifests of the TIR Carnet.
Article 34
The customs authorities of intermediate customs offices of each Contracting Party shall recognize the customs seals and stamps and/or identification marks affixed by the competent authorities of other Contracting Parties.
They may, however, affix additional customs seals and stamps and/or identification marks. In such cases, they shall:
make appropriate entries concerning the newly affixed seals and stamps and/or identification marks
on the detachable vouchers of the TIR Carnet used in their country,
on the corresponding counterfoils,
as well as on the remaining detachable vouchers of the TIR Carnet.
Article 35
Where, during the journey or at an intermediate customs office, the customs authorities carrying out an inspection of the goods are obliged to remove customs seals and stamps and/or identification marks, they shall:
affix new customs seals and stamps and/or identification marks; and
record the details thereof
on the detachable vouchers of the TIR Carnet used in their country,
on the corresponding counterfoils,
and on the remaining detachable vouchers of the TIR Carnet.
Chapter IV. BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION
Article 36
Any breach of the provisions of this Convention shall render the offender liable in the country in which the breach occurred, and shall give rise to the application of the penalties provided for under the legislation of that country.
Article 37
Where it is impossible to determine in which territory a breach occurred, it shall be deemed to have occurred in the territory of the Contracting Party where it was detected.
Article 38
Each Contracting Party shall have the right temporarily or permanently to exclude any person from the benefits of the provisions of this Convention, where that person is found guilty of a serious breach of the customs laws or regulations applicable to the international transport of goods.
Such exclusion shall be immediately notified to:
the customs authorities of the Contracting Party in whose territory the person resides or has a place of permanent establishment; and
the guaranteeing association or associations in the country where the breach occurred.
Article 39
Where TIR operations are otherwise found to have been properly carried out:
The Contracting Parties shall disregard minor discrepancies relating to compliance with prescribed time limits or designated routes.
Likewise, discrepancies between the particulars entered in the goods manifest of the TIR Carnet and the actual contents of the road vehicle, combination of vehicles or container shall not be regarded as breaches of this Convention by the holder of the TIR Carnet, provided that satisfactory evidence is furnished to the competent authorities that such discrepancies:
did not result from intentional acts; and
were not due to negligence during the loading or dispatch of the goods or in the preparation of the said manifest.
Article 40
The customs authorities of the country of departure and the country of destination shall not hold the holder of the TIR Carnet responsible for discrepancies which may be established in those countries, where such discrepancies relate to customs regimes applied before or after the TIR operation, and with which the holder of the Carnet was in no way concerned.
Article 41
Where the customs authorities are satisfied by evidence that the goods listed in the TIR Carnet manifest:
have been destroyed or irretrievably lost as the result of a road traffic accident; or
have been lost as a result of circumstances arising from force majeure; or
are missing due to the nature of the goods themselves,
they shall waive the payment of import or export duties and charges which would normally be payable.
Article 42
Upon receipt of a request from a Contracting Party stating the relevant reasons, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties concerned with the TIR operation shall provide that Party with all information at their disposal necessary for the application of the provisions of Articles 39, 40 and 41 of this Convention.
Chapter V. EXPLANATORY NOTES
Article 43
The Explanatory Notes contained in Annexes 6 and 7 (Part III) provide interpretations of certain provisions of this Convention and its Annexes.
They also describe certain recommended practices.
Chapter VI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Article 44
Each Contracting Party shall grant the interested guaranteeing associations facilities in respect of:
a) the transfer of currency required for the payment of sums claimed by the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties pursuant to the provisions of Article 8 of this Convention; and
b) the transfer of currency required for the payment of TIR Carnet forms sent to the guaranteeing associations by foreign associations acting as their correspondents or by international organizations.
Article 45
Each Contracting Party shall publish a list of the customs offices of departure, intermediate customs offices and customs offices of destination designated by it for the conduct of TIR operations.
The Contracting Parties whose territories are adjacent to one another shall consult each other with a view to determining the appropriate frontier customs offices and their hours of operation.
Article 46
The performance by customs officers of the formalities referred to in this Convention shall not give rise to the collection of any charges, except where such formalities are carried out outside the normal working days, hours or places designated for that purpose.
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to facilitate customs operations relating to the transport of perishable goods.
Article 47
The provisions of this Convention shall not prevent the application of prohibitions or restrictions imposed by national regulations and based on considerations of:
public morality;
public security;
public health or hygiene;
veterinary or phytosanitary reasons,
nor shall they prevent the collection of charges due under such regulations.
The provisions of this Convention shall not prevent the application of other national or international regulations governing transport.
Article 48
Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the right of Contracting Parties which form a customs or economic union to apply special provisions concerning transport operations whose point of departure or destination lies within their territories, or which are carried out in transit through their territories, provided that such provisions do not restrict the facilities provided for in this Convention.
Article 49
The provisions of this Convention shall not prevent the application of more favourable facilities which Contracting Parties grant or may wish to grant, whether:
unilaterally; or
pursuant to bilateral or multilateral agreements,
provided that such facilities do not impede the application of the provisions of this Convention, and in particular the conduct of TIR operations.
Article 50
The Contracting Parties shall, upon request, exchange information necessary for the application of the provisions of this Convention, in particular information relating to the approval of road vehicles or containers, as well as their technical construction characteristics.
Article 51
The Annexes to this Convention shall form an integral part thereof.
Chapter VII. Final Provisions
Article 52
Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession
This Convention shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations, or members of any specialized agency or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and to any other State invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Contracting Party to this Convention, by:
a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval;
b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by the deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c) deposit of an instrument of accession.
This Convention shall be open for signature by the States referred to in paragraph 1 of this article at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1 January 1976 until 31 December 1976 inclusive. Thereafter, it shall be open for accession.
Customs or economic unions may also, in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, become Contracting Parties to this Convention concurrently with all their member States or at any time after all their member States have become Contracting Parties to this Convention.
Such unions shall not have the right to vote.Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article 53
Entry into force
This Convention shall enter into force six months after the date on which five of the States referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 52 have signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, or have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
For each State subsequently becoming a Contracting Party, after five States referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 52 have signed the Convention without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Convention shall enter into force six months after the date of deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
Any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited after the entry into force of amendments to this Convention shall be deemed to apply to the Convention as amended.
Any such instrument deposited after the adoption of an amendment but before its entry into force shall be deemed to apply to the Convention as amended from the date on which such amendment enters into force.
Article 54
Denunciation
Any Contracting Party may denounce this Convention by notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Denunciation shall take effect fifteen months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary-General.
The validity of TIR Carnets accepted for customs clearance by the customs authorities of the country of departure prior to the date on which the denunciation takes effect shall not be affected by such denunciation, and the guarantees of the guaranteeing associations shall remain in force 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 falls below five for any continuous period of twelve months, this Convention shall cease to have effect at the end of that twelve-month period.
Article 56
Termination of the 1959 TIR Convention
Upon the entry into force of this Convention, it replaces and supersedes, in relations between the Contracting Parties to this Convention, the TIR Convention of 1959.
Certificates of approval issued in respect of road vehicles and containers under the provisions of the 1959 TIR Convention shall be accepted by the Contracting Parties to this Convention for the period of their validity or any extension thereof for the transport of goods under customs seals, provided that such road vehicles and containers continue to comply with the requirements under which they were originally approved.
Article 57
Settlement of disputes
Any dispute between two or more Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention shall, as far as possible, be settled by negotiation between the parties to the dispute or by other means of settlement.
Any dispute which cannot be settled by the means provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall, at the request of one of the parties, be submitted to arbitration, constituted as follows: each party to the dispute shall appoint an arbitrator, and the arbitrators so appointed shall appoint another arbitrator who shall be the Chairman.
If, within three months from the date of receipt of the request, one of the parties has not appointed an arbitrator, or if the arbitrators have not been able to agree upon the Chairman, any of the parties may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint an arbitrator or the Chairman of the arbitral tribunal.The decision of the arbitral tribunal, appointed in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be binding on the parties to the dispute.
The arbitral tribunal shall determine its own rules of procedure.
Decisions of the arbitral tribunal shall be taken by a majority vote.