News / Press Releases
FIATA HQ Meeting, logistics issues and the role of rail transport
Following an invitation to attend FIATA's HQ Meeting 2025, which takes place from 17 to 20 March 2025, the Secretary General of OTIF, Mr Aleksandr Kuzmenko, attended the meeting in Geneva, accompanied by the Head of OTIF's Legal Department ad interim, Mr Steve Davey.
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan
On 19 February 2025, the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) received the nomination of H.E. Mr Fuad Isgandarov as Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to OTIF.
Publication of the ‘Handbook on the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail’
On Thursday 24 October 2024, the Handbook on the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID – Appendix C to COTIF) was published on the website of the Intergovernmental …
Consultation: What changes, if any, should be made to COTIF and railway contract law?
The OTIF Secretariat is launching a consultation on the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) itself and on the Uniform Rules governing international railway contract law in order to …
Publication of the ‘Handbook on COTIF and its implementation and application by international associations’
On Tuesday 15 October 2024, the ‘Handbook on COTIF and its implementation and application by international associations’ was published on the website of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International…
List of maritime and inland waterway services: an improved structure
OTIF’s Member States may extend application of the Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Passengers by Rail (CIV Uniform Rules) and the Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International.
Entry into force of the Luxembourg Protocol and inaugural session of the Supervisory Authority of the Luxembourg Protocol
On 8 March 2024, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), as the Secretariat of the Supervisory Authority, will deposit with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT),…
The ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation and the anniversary of the CIM and CIV Uniform Rules
The ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation will hold its 5th session from 7 to 9 November 2023 in Berne. This will be a meeting without remote participation….
Ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation: 4th Session in Berne
The ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation will hold its 4th session from 18 to 20 April 2023 in Berne. Observers (international organisations and registered stakeholders) are invited to participate on 19 April 2023…
New ownership of Registrar designate for the Luxembourg Rail Protocol
The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) are pleased to announce the Canadian listed company, Information Services….
Ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation: 3rd session in London
With the support of the Department for Transport of the United Kingdom, the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation will hold its third session in London from 4 to 6 October 2022.
Electronic rail transport documents and negotiable rail transport documents: the CIM Uniform Rules in question
The Secretariat of OTIF is launching two consultations: one on the rules concerning electronic rail transport documents and the other on the rules concerning negotiable transport documents in rail transport…
On the occasion of the Rail Working Group’s Annual Assembly
On Tuesday 3 May 2022, the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), Mr Wolfgang Küpper, was invited to present OTIF to participants at the Rail Working Group’s 14th Annual Assemblys…
Joint Statement by the Secretary General of OTIF and the Chairman of the OSJD Committee
Today, 21 March 2022, OTIF’s Secretary General, Mr Wolfgang Küpper, and the Chairman of OSJD Committee, Mr Mirosław Antonowicz, made a joint statement on the state of war between OTIF and OSJD Member States.
13th Session of the Committee of Technical Experts (CTE)
The Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) will hold its 13th session in Berne on 22 and 23 June 2021. In view of the uncertain situation with regard to the pandemic, the meeting will be held remotely. In line with the provisional agenda, the Committee will give its opinion on the adoption…
Extension of the RID multilateral special agreements necessitated by the coronavirus crisis
The Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) allows RID Contracting States to authorise certain transport operations on their territories under temporary derogations…v
12th Session of the standing working group: remote meeting
The 12th session of the standing working group will now be held from 24 to 26 November 2020. There will be interpretation in OTIF’s three working languages and in Russian in order to aid the harmonisation of RID and SMGS Annex 2. According to the provisional agenda…
Publication of the new edition of RID
The 2021 edition of the Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) is now available on the website of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) in the Organisation’s three working languages (French, German, English).
OTIF-DG MOVE-ERA : Signing of the second Administrative Arrangement Long term cooperation
On 29 September 2020, OTIF signed a tripartite administrative arrangement with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)…
A high-level partnership for international rulemaking
On 3 September 2020, the Secretary General of OTIF, Mr Wolfgang Küpper, took part in the 7th Annual Meeting for International Organisations organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The meeting was held remotely as a video-conference….
3rd Session of the Joint Coordinating Group of Experts (JCGE)
The 3rd session of the Joint Coordinating Group of Experts (JCGE) will be held on 8 and 9 September 2020 by video-conference. The aim of the JCGE is to ensure that the legislation of the Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Goods by Rail (RID…
41st Session of Working Group TECH
The 41st session of Working Group TECH will be held remotely by video-conference on 9 and 10 September 2020. The main focus at this 41st session will be on preparing the documents and discussions of the next Committee of Technical Experts. It is important that the Member States…
Consequences of COVID-19 developments for the work of OTIF
The Secretariat of OTIF is monitoring the situation closely and is doing everything possible to ensure that future international organisations can take place under conditions in which there are no health risks for the participants. In the event that the current health crisis continues, it is also looking…
Cancellation of the session of the Administrative Committee scheduled for 25 and 26 June 2020
Since February 2020 and the spread of COVID-19, several Member States of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) have put in place restrictive border-crossing measures…
Joint Statement on global supply chain continuity during COVI-19 pandemic
The World Customs Organization (WCO), the lntergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) and the Organisation for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD) would like to emphasize that coordination…
RID Committee of Experts’ standing working group: postponed RID Committee of Experts: cancelled
The Secretariat also supports the measures to protect public health that have been implemented by the Member States. Consequently, following consultation with the chair and vice-chair of the RID Committee of Experts…
Publicising and explaining developments in the regulations on the transport of dangerous goods
On 7 November 2019, Mr Jochen Conrad, the head of OTIF’s dangerous goods department, will be the first speaker at the 17th Gefahrgut-Technik-Tage (dangerous goods symposium) that will take place in Berlin….
Symposium, celebrations and the Vilnius Protocol
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, and with substantial support from Lithuanian Railways, the Secretary General has great pleasure in announcing the…
RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting
The RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting will hold its last session of the 2018/2019 biennium from 17 to 27 September 2019 in Geneva. Its main task will be to harmonise RID, ADR and ADN with the 21st revised edition of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods,…
OTIF’s General Assembly: the main items on the agenda
On 25 and 26 September 2018, the Member States of OTIF will meet in Berne for the General Assembly. In addition to the 50 Member States and the European Union, the Secretariat of OTIF has invited all the international rail sector associations and organisations to attend as observers…
Committee of Technical Experts, results
The Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) held its eleventh session on 12 and 13 June 2018 in Bern. 30 OTIF Contracting States, the European Union, OSJD, GCC, CER, NB Rail and UNIFE were represented. The OTIF Secretariat presented the status update of national technical requirements…
OTIF – A Partner in UIC’s Global Rail Freight Conference (GRFC) 2018
The 6th edition of UIC’s Global Rail Freight Conference will be held in Genoa, Italy, from 26 to 28 June. The Conference is organised by the International Union of Railways in close cooperation with Italian Railways (FS Italiane) and under the patronage of the Regione Liguria. The Secretariat of OTIF is pleased to announce this event, in which it is a partner….
Amendments to RID
The 55th session of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (RID Committee of Experts) was held in Berne on 30 May 2018. The 55th session of the RID Committee of Experts approved amendments to RID prepared by its working group in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for a date…
OTIF – A partner organisation in the 10th UIC World Congress on High Speed Rail
Under the high patronage of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey and with the support of the Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication of the Republic of Turkey, the International Union of Railways (UIC), together with Turkish State Railways (TCDD), is co-organising…
The Minister of Transport praises the EUMedRail project to support the revitalisation of the railways
The EUMedRail Action Plan in Lebanon for 2018-2020, the support for decision makers to revitalise the Tripoli-Beirut railway line and the reform of the RPTA (Railway and Public Transport Authority) were some of the topics raised at a meeting between ERA (EU Agency for Railways), OTIF…
Amendments to APTU and ATMF adopted
On 27 – 28 February 2018 at its 26th session, the Revision Committee adopted amendments to Appendices F (APTU) and G (ATMF) to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF). As all Member States of the European Union (EU) with a railway network are also Member States of OTIF, in order to achieve seamless international…
Middle East Rail 2018 and cooperation with the GCC
The Secretary General of OTIF, Mr Davenne, was invited to speak at “Middle East Rail 2018”, a major event organised in Dubai by Terrapinn, in partnership with the Government of the United Arab Emirates. On 13 March 2018, he gave a presentation on the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF),…
Revision Committee: the main points
OTIF’s Revision Committee has endorsed the development of railway contract law, OTIF’s institutional law and rules on technical interoperability. The 26th Revision Committee was held in Berne on 27 and 28 February under the first-rate chairmanship of Ms Clio Liégeois, the representative of Belgium….
Inland Transport Committee: intermodality a key consideration
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) held the 80th session of its Inland Transport Committee in Geneva from 20 to 23 February 2018. The first day was taken up by a general policy debate on the role of intermodality as one of the keys to sustainable transport, particularly at the international level….
International Dangerous Goods Days (Internationale Gefahrgut-Tage)
The 34th International Dangerous Goods Days – Storck Symposium will take place in Hamburg on 26 and 27 February 2018. For more than 30 years, this event has been a meeting place for the main actors in the development and implementation of dangerous goods law. As usual, the Secretariat of OTIF will take part in this event…
EUMedRail: Belgrade hosts workshop on railway legislation
International railway legislation, cross border rail traffic, railway safety and further cooperation were the main topics of a high-level meeting that took place on 6 and 7 February in Belgrade, Serbia. This two-day event was organised by the EuroMed Transport Rail Project (EUMedRail) in close cooperation with
EUMedRail/OTIF: a promising synergy
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the Secretariat of OTIF have decided to synergise the workshopsborganised under the EUMedRail project, set up by the European Commission, with OTIF’s activities, so that participants can take part in both events.
Competence of the Administrative Tribunal of the Council of Europe extended to staff of the HCCH and OTIF
On 8 December 2017, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) signed an agreement with the Council of Europe to extend the competence of the Administrative Tribunal of the Council of Europe to the examination….
“Guidelines on treaty acts under COTIF”
On 20 November 2017, the Secretariat of OTIF publishes a document on OTIF’s website entitled “Guidelines on treaty acts under COTIF”. This document is accompanied by model instruments intended to simplify the formalities for the entry into force of amendments to the Convention…
Eurasian railway corridors: what is the future for freight?
Mr Schwilling presented the study to the public in Paris on Friday, 29 September at the headquarters of UIC and live on YouTube and UIC’s website. The Secretary General of OTIF, Mr Davenne, assisted and participated in this presentation…
Tenth anniversary of the CTE: towards interoperability beyond the EU
On Tuesday 13 June and Wednesday 14 June 2017, the Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) met for its 10th anniversary session in Bern. The CTE discussed and endorsed the development of a draft new Appendix H to COTIF which would regulate the safe operation of trains in international traffic. This new Appendix will be the foundation stone of the concept of interoperability..
OTIF and the GCC “Expert Working Group”
At the invitation of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Secretary General of OTIF and the heads of the legal and technical interoperability departments will take part in the “Expert Working Group” to be held in Abu Dhabi on 16, 17 and 18 May 2017.
Withdrawal of the Czech Republic’s reservations
On 29 July 2016, the Czech Republic submitted an instrument to withdraw its reservations with immediate effect. The instruments were sent to the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF).
Memorandum of Understanding signed between the National Railway Administration of China and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail.
On Tuesday, 12 July, a delegation from China’s National Railway Administration (NRA) visited the offices of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) in Berne
Amendments for RID 2017 adopted
On 25 May 2016 in Berne, the 2017 amendments to the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) were adopted by RID Committee of Experts, which is the Committee of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) that is responsible for these Regulations.
Committee of Technical Experts
The Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) convened its ninth session on 7 and 8 June 2016 in Bern. The meeting was structured around three main groups of subjects: firstly, reporting on developments since the last session in 2015; secondly, the adoption of amendments to the existing rules and finally, the work plan for the coming period.
Understanding, entente and a common position
On the first day of the 78th ITC (23-26 February 2016), the Secretary General of OTIF, Mr François Davenne, was invited to attend the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the International Union of Railways (UIC) and the Organization for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD).
Entry into force of the amendments to COTIF 1999 and its Appendices
On Wednesday, 1 July 2015, the amendments to COTIF and its Appendices entered into force. These amendments, which were adopted at the 25th session of the Revision Committee in Berne on 25 and 26 June 2014, were notified by the Secretary General of OTIF on 10 July 2014.
The uniform law of COTIF 1999 reaches Sweden
On 12 June 2015 in Berne, His Excellency the Ambassador of Sweden to Switzerland, Mr Magnus Hartog-Holm, presented the instrument of ratification of the 1999 Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) to the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), Mr François Davenne.
OTIF and the 1st “International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardisation and Harmonisation for Middle East Railways”
The 1st International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardisation and Harmonisation for Middle East Railways was held in Doha on 30 and 31 March 2015. It was jointly organised by the Qatar Railway Company (QRC) and the International Union of Railways (UIC).
1st UIC Regional Assembly for the Middle-East (RAME), entitled “International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardisation and Harmonisation for the Middle-East“
In close cooperation with OTIF and CIT (International Rail Transport Committee), UIC (International Union of Railways), UIC Middle East Region and QRC (Qatar Ralways Company) are jointly organising the 1st UIC Regional Assembly for the Middle-East (RAME), entitled “International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardisation and Harmonisation for the Middle-East “.
This high-level conference will be held in Doha at the invitation of QRC from 30 – 31 March 2015.
OTIF and CIT will together take part in dealing with key areas of the facilitation of international rail traffic: interoperability, and technical, operational and legal harmonisation. For more information, see: http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article3371
Joint OTIF-CIT Press release
East-West Passenger Traffic: Leaflet on COTIF/CIV-PRR – SMPS liability regimes (CIT-OTIF-DG MOVE)
There is now more clarity in terms of liability for passengers travelling from East to West: A trilingual leaflet by the International Rail Transport Committee (CIT), the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) and the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission (DG MOVE) describes the rules of the three liability regimes COTIF/CIV-PRR – SMPS. The electronic version is linked to an interactive map showing which provisions apply to East-West passenger traffic.
UIC Global Rail Freight Conference – GRFC 2014, 23-26. June, Vienna
The central theme of the “GRFC 2014” is “Seamless Transport Chains through Harmonisation – Success Stories and Global Perspectives for Rail Freight”. It will offer a key opportunity to address all the strategic issues of rail freight development focusing on the management and harmonisation framework, new products and multimodal partnerships, international corridors, new technological trends…
The official Link: <http:www.grfc2014.com>
OTIF participation in the 155th session of the working group on common transit
At the invitation of DG TAXUD, the head of OTIF’s legal service went to Brussels on 2 April 2014 to take part in the 155th session of the working group on common transit and simpli cation of formalities in trade in goods
Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the GCC and OTIF
Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF)
– Memorandum of Understanding OTIF – GCC (English)
– Memorandum of Understanding OTIF – GCC (Arabic)
OTIF’s attendance at the meetings of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
Teheran, 2-4 March 2014
The main topic was the container trains operating in the ECO Member States, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Railway Days 2013 The Wider Black Sea Area (WBSA) Railway Investment Summit 8th session
On 8 and 9 October 2013, the 8th session of the Wider Black Sea Area (WBSA) Railway Investment Summit took place in Bucharest (Romania). This meeting was organised by Club Ferroviar and the Romanian Railway Industry Association, under the aegis of CER, OTIF and UNIFE.
Administrative arrangements between OTIF – DG MOVE – ERA
On 24 October 2013, OTIF signed administrative arrangements in Brussels with the European Commission’s Directorate -General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) and the European Railway Agency (ERA).
Administrative arrangements between OTIF – DG MOVE – ERA (English original)
– Exchange of correspondance (English translation)
– Correspondance (French original)
New! The Young Experts Programme at OTIF
OTIF has set up a programme for “young experts” to encourage highly qualified young professionals to discover the unique and exciting work of an international civil servant
General conditions for the “Young Experts” programme at OTIF
Accession of Pakistan to COTIF
Uniform law for the carriage of freight in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. On 21 February 2013, the Government of Pakistan deposited an application for accession to COTIF. The accession procedure should be concluded by September 2013. Pakistan will therefore become the 49th Member State of OTIF.
Pakistan’s accession is linked to the initiative by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to set up a rail link for trains carrying containers between Islamabad and Istanbul via Tehran, which might one day be extended to western Europe and southern Asia. Various auxiliary lines will link up with this corridor.
Invitation to tender for a functional and organisational Audit of OTIF
The new Secretary General took up his duties on 1 January 2013 and the Organisation has set itself some new priorities. This new impetus must nevertheless be defined within the context of budgetary control.
It is therefore essential to assess properly the strengths and weaknesses of the Organisation’s human resources and the ability of the latter to be able to tackle the Organisation’s new challenges.
On 21 February 2013, OTIF’s Administrative Committee decided to endorse the terms of reference for an external audit to be carried out from May to June 2013 (Appendix – terms of reference).
The deadline for the submission of tenders is 22 March 2013.
If you have any further questions, please contact Mr Fabien Decker, OTIF’s head of administration and finance, at the following address: fabien.decker(at)otif.org
11th General Assembly of OTIF met on 19/20 September 2012
The General Assembly, the highest body of OTIF, was convened in Geneva on 19/20 September under the chairmanship of Spain. For the first time, the General Assembly elected a French national, Mr. François Davenne, as Secretary General for the next term of office from 2013 to 2015.
The General Assembly also designated the members of the Administrative Committee, the administrative body of OTIF, which meets on a regular basis between the meetings of the General Assembly. The chairman of the Administrative Committee will be Mr. Franc Van der Steen from the Netherlands.
The General Assembly also decided that in view of the difficult budgetary situation in the Member States, OTIF’s budget should be stabilised in a way that allows it to carry out its functions in full throughout the next term of office. The General Assembly also took note of the activities that have been undertaken since its last session.
Seamless transport: making connections
This year, under the chairmanship of Japan, leaders in the international transport policy scene will meet at the International Transport Forum Summit in Leipzig from 2 to 4 May. It is particularly gratifying that this year’s theme is at the heart of OTIF’s daily business.
If the political will is to promote trade and the long-distance transport of goods by rail between, for example, Europe and Asia, it is no secret that the competitiveness required in rail transport can only be achieved by making it reliable. The customer and the carrier must be able to rely not just on the delivery time, but also on being able to calculate reliably and predictably all the transport costs that will be incurred.
In rail transport, there is primarily a lack of transparency and legal certainty in the individual processing procedures at border crossings (especially at so-called “transit borders”). In this connection, an agreement under international law to formulate and promulgate the law transparently, where available, seems to be an economically interesting and natural first step in order to remove obstacles to border crossing in the shortest possible time.
This is precisely the task that COTIF imposes on the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail, OTIF.
On 1 July 2011, Armenia became the 47th member of OTIF
The full effect of Armenia’s application of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) will emerge in conjunction with the imminent accession of Armenia’s neighbours, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Thus in the Caucasus in the near future, there will be a firm basis providing the rail sector with invaluable legal certainty and a significant increase in the efficiency and competitiveness of rail freight transport.
Legal certainty for Morocco and its neighbours
Gaps remain an EU speciality
On 28.04.2011 Morocco deposited its instrument ratifying the Vilnius Protocol with the Secretary General in Berne. Application of the uniform legal regime will mean significant simplification of international rail transport between Morocco and the neighbouring countries of Algeria and Spain
Luxembourg Rail Protocol – International Registry Announcement of Winning Bidder
On 20 April 2011 the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT and the Secretary General of OTIF issued a press release announcing the winning bidder in relation to the international tender process for the future international registry under the Luxembourg Rail Protocol.
EU’s pending accession to OTIF means convening an extraordinary General Assembly
For the first time in OTIF’s history, an extraordinary General Assembly will be convened this year, brought about by the European Union as a result of its voting majority in the Administrative Committee at the end of November 2010 in Berne. This action is due to the European Union’s refusal to agree to the outcome of the negotiations reached between the European Commission and OTIF on the European Union’s accession to COTIF and its refusal subsequently to renegotiate some specific points. In particular, the EU’s request only to apply the Convention in future if there is no new EU legislation, which is very questionable in terms of international law, has blocked the accession process.
ECM – Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Swiss Confederation committed to rail safety
Pictures
