Brussels, 2.3.2005

SEC(2005) 274 final

Draft

DECISION OF THE EC/EFTA JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMON TRANSIT

amending the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure

- Draft common position of the Community -(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The common transit Convention of 20 May 1987 [1] establishes the measures and formalities facilitating the movement of goods between the EC and the EFTA countries.

Annex D2 to Appendix III of the Convention contains the list of the package codes based on Annex V of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Recommendation n° 21/rev 1 of August 1994. In order to allow economic operators to use the most updated information and, therefore, to harmonise as far as possible the commercial and administrative practices in the countries applying the Convention, it is important to ensure that the package codes which are used to reflect the kind of packages in a transit declaration should correspond to the latest version of Annex V of the UNECE Recommendation n° 21/rev 1 of August 1994.

Annex D2 to Appendix III of the Convention also contains the reference to the ISO alpha-2 country codes as specified in ISO-3166 of 1 January 1996, which has been updated in several occasions and, therefore, it should be ensured that the list of country codes used in a transit declaration corresponds to the latest version of the ISO – 3166 available.

This is the object of the draft decision n° XX/2005 of the EC-EFTA Joint Committee. This draft decision received the favourable opinion from the EC-EFTA Working group on Common Transit.

This draft decision is submitted to the Council in order to establish a Community position with a view to its final adoption by the EC-EFTA Joint Committee "Common transit" by way of the written procedure.

Draft

DECISION OF THE EC/EFTA JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMON TRANSIT

amending the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure

THE JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure[2], and in particular Article 15(3) (a) thereof,

Whereas

(1) Annex D2 to Appendix III of the Convention contains the list of the package codes based on Annex V of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Recommendation n° 21/rev 1 of August 1994.

(2) Annex V of the aforementioned Recommendation concerning the list of the package codes has been revised several times since its introduction in order to better meet the requirements in the development of practises in trade and transport.

(3) The latest revision (revision 4) of the aforementioned Recommendation was published on May 2002.

(4) In order to allow economic operators to use the most updated information and, therefore, to harmonise as far as possible the commercial and administrative practices in the countries applying the Convention, it is important to ensure that the package codes which are used to reflect the kind of packages in a transit declaration should correspond to the latest version of Annex V of the UNECE Recommendation n° 21/rev 1 of August 1994.

(5) Annex D2 to Appendix III of the Convention also contains the reference to the ISO alpha-2 country codes as specified in ISO-3166 of 1 January 1996, which has been updated in several occasions and, therefore, it should be ensured that the list of country codes used in a transit declaration corresponds to the latest version of the ISO – 3166 available.

(6) The concerned provisions should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Annexes D1 and D2 to Appendix III of the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure is amended as shown in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

1. This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

2. It shall be applicable from 1 July 2005.

Done at Brussels,

For the Joint Committee

The President

ANNEX A

Appendix III of the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure is amended as follows:

1. In Annex D1, Title II, Section B the explanatory text of the attribute 'Kind of packages' is replaced by the following:

"Type/length: an2

The package code presented in Annex D2 shall be used."

2. Annex D2, Section 1 is replaced by the following:

"1. COUNTRY CODES (CNT)

The "ISO alpha-2 Country Code" as specified in ISO - 3166 – 1 of 1997 and subsequent updates shall apply."

3. Annex D2, Section 5 is replaced by the following:

"5. PACKAGE CODE

(UNECE Recommendation n° 21/Rev. 4 of May 2002)

Aerosol | AE |

Ampoule, non-protected | AM |

Ampoule, protected | AP |

Atomizer | AT |

Bag | BG |

Bag, flexible container | FX |

Bag, large | ZB |

Bag, multiply | MB |

Bag, paper | 5M |

Bag, paper, multi-wall | XJ |

Bag, paper, multi-wall, water resistant | XK |

Bag, plastic | EC |

Bag, plastics film | XD |

Bag, super bulk | 43 |

Bag, textile | 5L |

Bag, textile, sift proof | XG |

Bag, textile, water resistant | XH |

Bag, textile, without inner coat/liner | XF |

Bag, woven plastic | 5H |

Bag, woven plastic, sift proof | XB |

Bag, woven plastic, water resistant | XC |

Bag, woven plastic, without inner coat/liner | XA |

Bale, compressed | BL |

Bale, non-compressed | BN |

Balloon, non-protected | BF |

Balloon, protected | BP |

Bar | BR |

Barrel | BA |

Barrel, wooden | 2C |

Barrel, wooden, bung type | QH |

Barrel, wooden, removable head | QJ |

Bars, in bundle/bunch/truss | BZ |

Basin | BM |

Basket | BK |

Basket, with handle, cardboard | HC |

Basket, with handle, plastic | HA |

Basket, with handle, wooden | HB |

Bin | BI |

Board | BD |

Board, in bundle/bunch/truss | BY |

Bobbin | BB |

Bolt | BT |

Bottle, gas | GB |

Bottle, non-protected, bulbous | BS |

Bottle, non-protected, cylindrical | BO |

Bottle, protected bulbous | BV |

Bottle, protected cylindrical | BQ |

Bottlecrate / bottlerack | BC |

Box | BX |

Box, aluminium | 4B |

Box, Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP), Eurobox | DH |

Box, fibreboard | 4G |

Box, for liquids | BW |

Box, natural wood | 4C |

Box, plastic | 4H |

Box, plastic, expanded | QR |

Box, plastic, solid | QS |

Box, plywood | 4D |

Box, reconstituted wood | 4F |

Box, steel | 4A |

Box, wooden, natural wood, ordinary | QP |

Box, wooden, natural wood, with sift proof walls | QQ |

Bucket | BJ |

Bulk, gas (at 1031 mbar and 15øC) | VG |

Bulk, liquefied gas (at abnormal temperature/pressure) | VQ |

Bulk, liquid | VL |

Bulk, solid, fine particles (“powders”) | VY |

Bulk, solid, granular particles (“grains”) | VR |

Bulk, solid, large particles (“nodules”) | VO |

Bunch | BH |

Bundle | BE |

Butt | BU |

Cage | CG |

Cage, Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP) | DG |

Cage, roll | CW |

Can, cylindrical | CX |

Can, rectangular | CA |

Can, with handle and spout | CD |

Canister | CI |

Canvas | CZ |

Capsule | AV |

Carboy, non-protected | CO |

Carboy, protected | CP |

Card | CM |

Carton | CT |

Cartridge | CQ |

Case | CS |

Case, isothermic | EI |

Case, skeleton | SK |

Case, steel | SS |

Case, with pallet base | ED |

Case, with pallet base, cardboard | EF |

Case, with pallet base, metal | EH |

Case, with pallet base, plastic | EG |

Case, with pallet base, wooden | EE |

Cask | CK |

Chest | CH |

Churn | CC |

Clamshell | AI |

Coffer | CF |

Coffin | CJ |

Coil | CL |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle | 6P |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in aluminium crate | YR |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in aluminium drum | YQ |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in expandable plastic pack | YY |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in fibre drum | YW |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in fibreboard box | YX |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in plywood drum | YT |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in solid plastic pack | YZ |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in steel crate box | YP |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in steel drum | YN |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in wickerwork hamper | YV |

Composite packaging, glass receptacle in wooden box | YS |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle | 6H |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in aluminium crate | YD |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in aluminium drum | YC |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in fibre drum | YJ |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in fibreboard box | YK |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in plastic drum | YL |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in plywood box | YH |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in plywood drum | YG |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in solid plastic box | YM |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in steel crate box | YB |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in steel drum | YA |

Composite packaging, plastic receptacle in wooden box | YF |

Cone | AJ |

Container, not otherwise specified as transport equipment | CN |

Cover | CV |

Crate | CR |

Crate, beer | CB |

Crate, bulk, cardboard | DK |

Crate, bulk, plastic | DL |

Crate, bulk, wooden | DM |

Crate, framed | FD |

Crate, fruit | FC |

Crate, milk | MC |

Crate, multiple layer, cardboard | DC |

Crate, multiple layer, plastic | DA |

Crate, multiple layer, wooden | DB |

Crate, shallow | SC |

Creel | CE |

Cup | CU |

Cylinder | CY |

Demijohn, non-protected | DJ |

Demijohn, protected | DP |

Dispenser | DN |

Drum | DR |

Drum, aluminium | 1B |

Drum, aluminium, non-removable head | QC |

Drum, aluminium, removable head | QD |

Drum, fibre | 1G |

Drum, iron | DI |

Drum, plastic | IH |

Drum, plastic, non-removable head | QF |

Drum, plastic, removable head | QG |

Drum, plywood | 1D |

Drum, steel | 1A |

Drum, steel, non-removable head | QA |

Drum, steel, removable head | QB |

Drum, wooden | 1W |

Envelope | EN |

Envelope, steel | SV |

Filmpack | FP |

Firkin | FI |

Flask | FL |

Foodtainer | FT |

Footlocker | FO |

Frame | FR |

Girder | GI |

Girders, in bundle/bunch/truss | GZ |

Hamper | HR |

Hogshead | HG |

Ingot | IN |

Ingots, in bundle/bunch/truss | IZ |

Intermediate bulk container | WA |

Intermediate bulk container, aluminium | WD |

Intermediate bulk container, aluminium, liquid | WL |

Intermediate bulk container, aluminium, pressurised < 10 kpa | WH |

Intermediate bulk container, composite | ZS |

Intermediate bulk container, composite, flexible plastic, liquids | ZR |

Intermediate bulk container, composite, flexible plastic, pressurised | ZP |

Intermediate bulk container, composite, flexible plastic, solids | ZM |

Intermediate bulk container, composite, rigid plastic, liquids | ZQ |

Intermediate bulk container, composite, rigid plastic, pressurised | ZN |

Intermediate bulk container, composite, rigid plastic, solids | ZL |

Intermediate bulk container, fibreboard | ZT |

Intermediate bulk container, flexible | ZU |

Intermediate bulk container, metal | WF |

Intermediate bulk container, metal, liquid | WM |

Intermediate bulk container, metal, other than steel | ZV |

Intermediate bulk container, metal, pressure 10 kpa | WJ |

Intermediate bulk container, natural wood | ZW |

Intermediate bulk container, natural wood, with inner liner | WU |

Intermediate bulk container, paper, multi-wall | ZA |

Intermediate bulk container, paper, multi-wall, water resistant | ZC |

Intermediate bulk container, plastic film | WS |

Intermediate bulk container, plywood | ZX |

Intermediate bulk container, plywood, with inner liner | WY |

Intermediate bulk container, reconstituted wood | ZY |

Intermediate bulk container, reconstituted wood, with inner liner | WZ |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic | AA |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic, freestanding, liquids | ZK |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic, freestanding, pressurised | ZH |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic, freestanding, solids | ZF |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic, with structural equipment, solids | ZD |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic, with structural equipment, liquids | ZJ |

Intermediate bulk container, rigid plastic, with structural equipment, pressurised | ZG |

Intermediate bulk container, steel | WC |

Intermediate bulk container, steel, liquid | WK |

Intermediate bulk container, steel, pressurised < 10 kpa | WG |

Intermediate bulk container, textile with out coat/liner | WT |

Intermediate bulk container, textile, coated | WV |

Intermediate bulk container, textile, coated and liner | WX |

Intermediate bulk container, textile, with liner | WW |

Intermediate bulk container, woven plastic, coated | WP |

Intermediate bulk container, woven plastic, coated and liner | WR |

Intermediate bulk container, woven plastic, with liner | WQ |

Intermediate bulk container, woven plastic, without coat/liner | WN |

Jar | JR |

Jerrican, cylindrical | JY |

Jerrican, plastic | 3H |

Jerrican, plastic, non-removable head | QM |

Jerrican, plastic, removable head | QN |

Jerrican, rectangular | JC |

Jerrican, steel | 3A |

Jerrican, steel, non-removable head | QK |

Jerrican, steel, removable head | QL |

Jug | JG |

Jutebag | JT |

Keg | KG |

Liftvan | LV |

Log | LG |

Logs, in bundle/bunch/truss | LZ |

Lot | LT |

Mat | MT |

Matchbox | MX |

Mutually defined | ZZ |

Nest | NS |

Net | NT |

Net, tube, plastic | NU |

Net, tube, textile | NV |

Not available | NA |

Package | PK |

Package, cardboard, with bottle grip-holes | IK |

Package, display, cardboard | IB |

Package, display, metal | ID |

Package, display, plastic | IC |

Package, display, wooden | IA |

Package, flow | IF |

Package, paper wrapped | IG |

Package, show | IE |

Packet | PA |

Pail | PL |

Pallet | PX |

Pallet, 100cms * 110cms | AH |

Pallet, box | PB |

Pallet, modular, collars 80cms * 100cms | PD |

Pallet, modular, collars 80cms * 120cms | PE |

Pallet, modular, collars 80cms * 60cms | AF |

Pallet, shrinkwrapped | AG |

Parcel | PC |

Pen | PF |

Pipe | PI |

Pipes, in bundle/bunch/truss | PV |

Pitcher | PH |

Plank | PN |

Planks, in bundle/bunch/truss | PZ |

Plate | PG |

Plates, in bundle/bunch/truss | PY |

Pot | PT |

Pouch | PO |

Punnet | PJ |

Rack | RK |

Rack, clothing hanger | RJ |

Receptacle, fibre | AB |

Receptacle, glass | GR |

Receptacle, metal | MR |

Receptacle, paper | AC |

Receptacle, plastic | PR |

Receptacle, plastic wrapped | MW |

Receptacle, wooden | AD |

Rednet | RT |

Reel | RL |

Ring | RG |

Rod | RD |

Rods, in bundle/bunch/truss | RZ |

Roll | RO |

Sachet | SH |

Sack | SA |

Sack, multi-wall | MS |

Sea-chest | SE |

Set | SX |

Sheet | ST |

Sheet, plastic wrapping | SP |

Sheetmetal | SM |

Sheets, in bundle/bunch/truss | SZ |

Shrinkwrapped | SW |

Skid | SI |

Slab | SB |

Sleeve | SY |

Slipsheet | SL |

Spindle | SD |

Spool | SO |

Suitcase | SU |

Tank, cylindrical | TY |

Tank, rectangular | TK |

Tea-chest | TC |

Tierce | TI |

Tin | TN |

Tray | PU |

Tray, one layer no cover, cardboard | DV |

Tray, one layer no cover, plastic | DS |

Tray, one layer no cover, polystyrene | DU |

Tray, one layer no cover, wooden | DT |

Tray, two layers no cover, cardboard | DY |

Tray, two layers no cover, plastic tray | DW |

Tray, two layers no cover, wooden | DX |

Trunk | TR |

Truss | TS |

Tub | TB |

Tub, with lid | TL |

Tube | TU |

Tube, collapsible | TD |

Tube, with nozzle | TV |

Tubes, in bundle/bunch/truss | TZ |

Tun | TO |

Uncaged | UC |

Unpacked or unpackaged | NE |

Unpacked or unpackaged, multiple units | NG |

Unpacked or unpackaged, single unit | NF |

Vacuum-packed | VP |

Vanpack | VK |

Vat | VA |

Vial | VI |

Wickerbottle | WB |

[1] OJ L 226, 13.8.1987, p.2. Convention as last amended by Decision No 2/2002, OJ L 4, 9.1.2003, p.18.

[2] OJ L 226, 13.8.1987, p. 2. Convention as last amended by Decision No 2/2002 (OJ L 4, 9.1.2003, p. 18).