Foreign trade news
and changes in legislation

On 25 July 2007, Ukraine acceded to the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be Used for such Carriage (ATP), bringing the number of Contracting Parties to the Agreement to 43.

The ATP is a multilateral agreement between States aimed at ensuring food safety and hygiene. It lists the foodstuffs that may be carried in accordance with the ATP and sets the maximum allowable temperature for their transporting. Fruit and vegetables are so far not included in the Agreement.

The ATP provides standards for temperature controlled transport vehicles for road, rail and sea journeys under 150 km and the test procedures to be followed to ensure that vehicles meet the required standards.

It has a system of certification for equipment that conforms to the standards and requires all Contracting Parties to recognise certificates issued in accordance with the agreement by the competent authorities of other Contracting Parties.

The ATP applies when perishable foodstuffs are transported on the territory of at least two Contracting Parties. A number of countries have also adopted ATP as the basis for their national legislation. Checks on compliance with the ATP are carried out by Contracting Parties and breaches may result in fines or other penalties imposed by national authorities in accordance with their national legislation.

The ATP will enter into force for Ukraine on 25 July 2008.

UNECE news, 6 August 2007