TIR Convention: best instrument to implement WCO Safe Framework, including AEO status

Istanbul - The International Road Transport Union’s (IRU) General Assembly today unanimously adopted a Resolution on the use of the UNECE TIR Convention to implement the World Customs Organisation SAFE Framework of Standards, which incorporates technical guidance to the implementation of all requirements to obtain the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status, which will become fundamental in international trade once WCO Member States implement their AEO national programmes as of January 2009.

IRU President, Janusz Lacny, stressed, “After 9/11, security has become one of the highest priorities for those involved in the international movement of goods. However, the facilitation of trade, hence road transport, cannot be ignored, even when security considerations are high on the agenda. This is why the IRU has always advocated striking a sound balance between facilitating formalities and procedures at borders and providing the highest level of security for the whole supply chain, which is why we give our full support to the WCO Safe Framework. However, the challenge is how to implement this “framework”. We and others have concluded that the TIR Convention is currently the most suitable multilateral legal instrument in the world to fully achieve this objective. ”

Various analyses, including a study recently commissioned by the US Chamber of Commerce, concluded that the TIR Convention, as the only convention providing mutual recognition of all customs controls between its 56 Contracting Parties, is the best security and facilitation multilateral legal instrument to implement all the security requirements of the WCO SAFE Framework – including those concerning the AEO status.

While reiterating the full commitment of the IRU and its Member Associations to implement the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, the Resolution highlights that it is essential to avoid the proliferation of restrictive regulations and uncoordinated national and regional security initiatives.

The Resolution also calls upon governments, competent authorities, and international institutions and organisations such as the EU Commission, the WCO and the UNECE, as well as road transport’s commercial partners, such as Chambers of Commerce, shippers and forwarders to promote the use of the TIR Convention and expedite the introduction of the necessary minor adjustments to the TIR Convention and its annexes to fully cover all the requirements of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, including those relating the AEO Status.

[ top ]