TIR Carnets for customs transit are international guarantee documents. Through them the association authorized by the customs authorities guarantees goods transported in road vehicles. For Bulgaria this is The Association of Bulgarian Enterprises for International Carriers and Highways (AEBTRI).
Goods under the cover of TIR carnets are often transported in containers and are equipped with customs seals and stamps.
The transportation of goods under TIR carnets is carried out in accordance with the Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under TIR Carnets, or the TIR Convention.
Activities of the Association AEBTRI
The Association of Bulgarian Enterprises for International Freight guarantees TIR carnets nationwide. The association carries out the following actions: receiving, signing, stamping, issuing TIR carnets for international road transport companies.
Requirements for vehicles to receive TIR carnets
To issue TIR carnets for customs transit for international transport, the vehicles must comply with the construction requirements and the requirements for exercising customs control.
Customs control requirements
- the ability to easily and securely place customs stamps and seals
- inability to remove goods or introduce new goods after stamping and sealing without leaving visible traces
- vehicles must not have hidden compartments that would allow concealment of goods
- all compartments of the vehicle must be accessible for customs checks
Certificate of Approval
After inspection of the given vehicle for compliance with the requirements for coverage with TIR carnets, a Certificate of Approval is issued. Drawings and photographs may be attached.
Marking of the vehicles
Vehicles carrying goods under the cover of TIR carnets are provided with “TIR” plates – on the front and rear.
Customs inspection of vehicles transporting goods with TIR carnets
Customs inspection of such goods includes inspection of the goods and of the carnet itself. Afterwards customs stamps and seals are placed.
Term and route for vehicles in transit under the cover of TIR carnets
Customs authorities may specify a term and a route for such vehicles.
Accounting of TIR carnets
TIR carnets must be accounted for correctly and on time. For this, the carrier must be informed at all times of the location of each TIR carnet, as well as when, with which vehicle, and for what transport these carnets were used.
TIR carnets are accounted for at the AEBTRI Association.
Duties of the vehicle drivers
According to the customs regime, the drivers of vehicles performing transports with TIR carnets have the following duties:
- to check the validity period of the TIR carnets
- to ensure that the number and quantity of the goods are correctly filled in the carnets
- to not allow amendments to the carnets
- during transport to monitor the proper transfer of each of the sections of the carnet:
– white section – at the sending customs office
– green section – at the receiving customs office