1. UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Economic Commission for Europe Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transport under the TIR system Introduction to the TIR Convention and its administration and status

2. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 2 OVERVIEW UNECE Background and main characteristics Objectives Public-Private Partnership Geographical Scope Advantages for Customs and industry Structure of the TIR Convention, the Five Pillars Future Management structure Summary

3. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 3 THE UNECE Regional branch of the United Nations 55 States Members, including all European States, CIS, USA and Canada Neutral, Euro-Asian, Trans-Atlantic Intergovernmental cooperation in areas of economy, including Transport UNECE secretariat located in Geneva: 200 people 55 Agreements and Conventions in field of transport Recommendations, Resolutions

4. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 4 The UNECE International Infrastructure Networks International Highway Code Regulations for Safe and Clean Vehicles Border Crossing Facilitation Rules for Safe Carriage of Dangerous Goods Other main Agreements and Conventions

5. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 5 BACKGROUND & CHARACTERISTICS BACKGROUND & CHARACTERISTICS History: First Convention 1958, revision 1975 From 6 countries to 64 countries (Operational: 55) Objective: Facilitation Revenue protection + Customs checks Only global transit procedure Intermodal (trucks and containers) Public/Private Partnership

6. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 6 OBJECTIVES Customs Authorities Efficient Customs procedures for transit traffic Provision of an international guarantee Transport Sector Simplification and harmonization of Customs formalities Reduced transport costs

7. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 7 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) Public sector : Contracting Parties, Convention Bodies, UNECE – Supervising accession, implementation and admission – Focus on support / training / capacity building Private sector: IRU (National Associations, Holders) – Document and guarantee administration – Extensive & harmonized admission procedures – Training

8. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 8 GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE Original countries (1948)Contracting Party where Convention is applied (2003) Contracting Party where Convention is not applied (2003) Contracting Party where Convention is applied (2003) Contracting Party where Convention is not applied (2003) Potential Contracting Party

9. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 9 ADVANTAGES Customs Authorities No physical inspection of goods in transit (in principle) No national guarantee system No national Customs documentation and control system Efficient control procedures for goods in transit

10. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 10 ADVANTAGES (cont’d) Transport/Trade Industry Minimum of procedures at borders Reduced delays at borders No restriction in the modes of transport Lower transport costs (reduced export and import costs)

11. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 11 STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION TIR Convention, 1975 5 pillars of the TIR system

12. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 12 Approval of road vehicles and containers No goods can be removed without leaving obvious traces or breaking the Customs seal Customs seals can be simply and effectively affixed to them STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

13. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 13 Approval of road vehicles and containers Secure loading units and sealing Annexes to Convention on technical construction of loading units Annex 2 on Vehicles Annex 7 on Containers (intermodal) Sealing requirement STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

14. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 14 International guarantee National guaranteeing association guarantees duties and taxes; Covers all TIR operations in a country, both by national or foreign transport operators; Associations linked through international chain administered by International Road Transport Union (IRU) Limit equal to US $ 50.000 per TIR Carnet STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

15. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 15 The TIR Carnet Customs document replaces any other national Customs transit documents Guarantee document which itself proves the existence and validity of the guarantee Annex 1: Model STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

16. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 16 Number of TIR Carnets issued STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

17. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 17 Mutual recognition of Customs control Principle: Customs control measures taken in the country of departure should be accepted by the countries of transit and destination No examination of sealed load compartments, except in special cases Customs inspection at the office of departure crucial Only documentary control en route (exceptions) STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

18. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 18 Controlled access to the TIR System By Administrative Committee of International organization (Article 6.2bis) By national Customs authority of national Associations, issuing and guaranteeing TIR Carnets (Annex 9, part I) By national Customs authority of Transport Operators (Annex 9, part II)b STRUCTURE OF THE TIR CONVENTION

19. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 19 FUTURE: TIR COMPUTERIZATION FUTURE: TIR COMPUTERIZATION Present: IRU SAFETIR with termination data Efficient tool for – international intermodal transit – risk management and advanced cargo information, i.e. supply chain security – Revenue protection Future: Fully computerized TIR procedure, –interface for national Customs systems

20. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 20 TIR MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE TIR MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE TIR Administrative Committee TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) UNECE Working Party (WP.30) TIR Contact Group UNECE/TIR secretariat International Organization - IRU

21. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 21 TIR Management Structure (cont’d)

22. UNECE Sub-regional Seminar on Facilitation of International Road Transit Transport under the TIR system, Beijing, 22-23 September 2005 22 SUMMARY SUMMARY TIR = International intermodal transit system (regional, inter-regional and intercontinental) Provides cost efficient transit procedures Ensures revenue protection Boosts competitiveness & global integration Builds on Public/Private partnership model Provides free access for all UN members Enhances transit and supply chain security through TIR computerization