The aim of the changes is to modernise and simplify procedures in international freight transport within the TIR system. These reforms are intended to benefit both carriers and customs administrations.
One of the most important changes is the extension of the validity period of certificates of approval to three years (previously two years). Additionally, the regulations governing their validity beyond this period have been revised:
“If the TIR transport has started before the expiry date of the certificate of approval, or on the date of its expiry, the said document shall remain valid until the TIR transport is terminated at the customs office of destination,” the amendments state.
What is a certificate of approval?
In accordance with the security requirements of the TIR Convention, goods must be transported in containers or in the cargo compartments of road vehicles constructed in such a way that, once sealed, customs officers cannot access the interior without leaving visible traces.
To this end, the TIR Convention specifies construction standards and approval procedures. Goods may only be transported under cover of a TIR Carnet if the vehicle’s cargo compartment or container has been officially recognised as meeting the Convention’s requirements, and a certificate of approval has been issued by the relevant authorities.
This document must be recognised by all parties to the TIR Convention. In cases of doubt about whether new design solutions meet technical requirements, national authorities may, through their government, refer the matter to bodies such as:
- the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB),
- the TIR Secretariat,
- the TIR Administrative Committee, or
- the Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) of the UNECE.
These bodies may publish explanatory commentaries or, in the case of major new technical solutions, propose formal amendments to the Convention to incorporate the new designs into the regulations.
