TIR Treaty
Encyclopedia
The Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) was made at Geneva
on 14 November 1975 to simplify and harmonise the administrative formalities of international road transport
.
The TIR Convention or International Road Transport Convention was adopted under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE).
(TIR stands for French “Transports Internationaux Routiers” or "International Road Transports"). As at 1 January 2006, there were 66 parties to the Convention.
The TIR Convention establishes an international customs
transit system with maximum facility to move goods:
The TIR system not only covers customs transit by road but a combination is possible with other modes of transport (for example, rail
, inland waterway and even maritime transport), as long as at least one part of the total transport is made by road.
To date, more than 40,000 international transport operators had been authorized (by their respective competent national authorities) to access the TIR system, using more than 3.2 million TIR carnet
s per year.
In light of the expected increase in world trade, further enlargement of its geographical scope and the forthcoming introduction of an electronic TIR system (so-called “eTIR-system”), it is expected that the TIR system will continue to remain the only truly global customs transit system.
Due to the large blue and white TIR plates carried by vehicles using the TIR convention, the word "TIR" entered many languages as a neologism becoming the default generic name of a large truck.
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
on 14 November 1975 to simplify and harmonise the administrative formalities of international road transport
Road transport
Road transport or road transportation is transport on roads of passengers or goods. A hybrid of road transport and ship transport is the historic horse-drawn boat.-History:...
.
The TIR Convention or International Road Transport Convention was adopted under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters. It has 56 member states, and reports to the UN Economic and...
(UNECE).
(TIR stands for French “Transports Internationaux Routiers” or "International Road Transports"). As at 1 January 2006, there were 66 parties to the Convention.
The TIR Convention establishes an international customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
transit system with maximum facility to move goods:
- in sealed vehicles or containersIntermodal containerAn intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
; - from a customs office of departure in one country to a customs office of destination in another country;
- without requiring extensive and time-consuming borderBorderBorders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
checks at intermediate borders; - at a cost-effective price;
- while, at the same time, providing customs authorities with the required security and guarantees.
The TIR system not only covers customs transit by road but a combination is possible with other modes of transport (for example, rail
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, inland waterway and even maritime transport), as long as at least one part of the total transport is made by road.
To date, more than 40,000 international transport operators had been authorized (by their respective competent national authorities) to access the TIR system, using more than 3.2 million TIR carnet
ATA Carnet
The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows the holder to temporarily import goods without payment of normally applicable duties and taxes, including value-added taxes. The Carnet eliminates the need to purchase temporary import bonds. So long as the goods are re-exported...
s per year.
In light of the expected increase in world trade, further enlargement of its geographical scope and the forthcoming introduction of an electronic TIR system (so-called “eTIR-system”), it is expected that the TIR system will continue to remain the only truly global customs transit system.
Due to the large blue and white TIR plates carried by vehicles using the TIR convention, the word "TIR" entered many languages as a neologism becoming the default generic name of a large truck.
External links
- http://www.unece.org/trans/bcf/tir/welcome.html
- http://www.unece.org/trans/bcf/tir/tir-hb.html
- http://www.unece.org/Welcome.html