The TIR system enables goods to be transported within an international transit regime with a minimum of interference by customs administrations en route and provides, through its international guarantee chain, relatively simple access to the required guarantees.

Several amendments of the TIR Convention have been adopted in different phases since 1975 in accordance with the procedure set out in Articles 59 and 60 of that Convention. The aim of these amendments, which were made at various stages, was to make the TIR procedure more secure and to adapt it to the changing transport and customs environment.

The amendments made in the first phase entered into force in February 1999 and introduced Annex 9 to the Convention. This Annex lays down minimum requirements and conditions for access to the TIR procedure. It gives access to the TIR system only to authorised transport operators and approved national guaranteeing associations. This provides national administrations with a tool to fully control and monitor the main users of the TIR system.

At the same time, the TIR Executive Board was established. This body, which comprises TIR experts, has the task of supervising the application of the Convention and, if necessary, of facilitating the settlement of disputes between Contracting Parties, associations, insurance companies and international organisations involved in the TIR system.

The amendments made in the second phase entered into force in May 2002 and strengthened the TIR procedure by defining more clearly the roles and responsibilities of the international organisation responsible for the functioning and organisation of the TIR system. The relationship between this organisation, its member associations and the Administrative Committee for the TIR Convention was defined.

In addition, the amendments made in the second phase also introduced new provisions on the construction of certain types of road vehicles. These amendments were requested by the transport industry and give the possibility to use vehicles or containers with sliding sheets for TIR transport.

In order to control more effectively the TIR system and to safeguard the functioning of the TIR regime, provisions were introduced concerning an electronic system (the SafeTIR system) which informs the international organisation responsible for the organisation and functioning of the guarantee chain about the TIR carnets presented at customs offices of destination. The SafeTIR system was introduced as Annex 10 to the TIR Convention and entered into force in August 2006.

Whenever a need was identified other amendments to the TIR Convention were introduced. The layout of the TIR carnet was adjusted in order to simplify the use of the TIR carnet and to fully cover all data that is required for the TIR transport. Under certain conditions, loading lists may also be used as annexes to the TIR carnet even when there would be enough space in the manifest to enter information on all goods carried. A procedure for cases in which a part of the TIR transport cannot be made by road or where this part is not covered by the TIR system was also introduced.

For the sake of transparency those amendments to the Convention, which are binding on the institutions of the Community and on Member States, should be published in the Official Journal for information purposes, and provision should be made for the publishing of future amendments.

In view of the number of changes made, clarity requires that all amendments adopted in accordance with the procedure set out in Articles 59 and 60 of the Convention until the end of 2008 be published in consolidated form and included in an Annex to this Decision,