17-18 October 2006

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THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON HARMONIZATION
OF FRONTIER CONTROL OF GOODS, 1982Poul
HansenUnited Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE)Transport Division

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• Application of the Harmonization Convention
• Accession (UN Secretary General depositary)
• Relation to other treaties
• Contracting Parties (48 countries)

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Harmonization Convention


Contracting Parties
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Harmonization Convention http.//border.unece.org
http//untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinte
rnetbible/partI/chapterXI/subchapA/treaty17.asp ht
tp//www.unece.org/trans/conventn/harmone.pdf http
//www.unece.org/trans/conventn/harmonr.pdf

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Harmonization Convention UNECE
SECRETARIAT 8-14, Avenue de PaixCH-1211 Geneva
10Switzerland Phone [phone] Fax 41
22 917 0 39Email address Poul.Hansen_at_unece.org