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THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON HARMONIZATION OF FRONTIER CONTROL OF GOODS, 1982 Poul Hansen United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Transport Division. UNECE involvement in transport facilitation
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THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON HARMONIZATION OF FRONTIER CONTROL OF GOODS, 1982Poul HansenUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)Transport Division UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
UNECE involvement in transport facilitation • Focal point for regulatory and technical intergovernmental development in the transport facilitation • Traditionally originates in Europe (UNECE) due to early identification of needs. Overland focus. • Examples: TIR Convention, Temporary importation UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Aim of the Harmonization Convention • Simplify customs and administrative border crossing procedures (sanitary, veterinary, physosanitary etc.) • Harmonize formalities • Reduce the number and duration of controls • Standardize documentation • Co-ordinates national and international control procedures UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Benefits of the Harmonization Convention • Reduction of border delays, • Reduction of transport cost • Reduction of trade transaction cost • Reduction of border operating costs for State budget • More efficient investments in border facilities UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Scope of the Harmonization Convention • Covers all issues of frontier controls for goods • Covers all modes of transport • Contains specific provisions for certain transport modes • Globally applicable, although European based • Global application, UNECE ITC Resolution No. 230 UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Main features of the Harmonization Convention • Chapter I: General provisions incl. definitions • Chapter II: Harmonization of procedures • Co-ordination of controls, • Resources of the services, • International co-operation, • Co-operation between adjacent countries, • Exchange of information, documents • Chapter III: Goods in transit • Chapter IV: Miscellaneous • Operational annexes UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Application of the Harmonization Convention • Accession (UN Secretary General depositary) • Relation to other treaties • Contracting Parties (48 countries) UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Harmonization Convention Contracting Parties UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Harmonization Convention http.//border.unece.org http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/partI/chapterXI/subchapA/treaty17.asp http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/harmone.pdf http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/harmonr.pdf UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation
Harmonization Convention UNECE SECRETARIAT 8-14, Avenue de PaixCH-1211 Geneva 10Switzerland Phone: +41 22 917 32 58 Fax: +41 22 917 0 39Email address: Poul.Hansen@unece.org UNECE/EurAsEC Conference on Trade Facilitation