Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report, in particular the adoption of resolution No. 85-2002 concerning the Central American Uniform Customs Code and its implementing regulations of 27 September 2002. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that this is the only legislation which currently enables the provisions of the Convention to be applied. It understands that the legislation which used to give effect to the provisions of the Convention, namely Decree No. 951 of 9 May 1980 and Circular No. 4 of the Ministry of Labour dated 16 November 1983, is no longer in force. In this respect, the Committee wishes to emphasize that the new legislation does not conform to the provisions of the present Convention since it is a question of manifests containing the volume and weight of the cargo and not a plain and durable marking of the weight on the outside of packages. The Committee asks the Government to state which provisions are applicable to packages as required by Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

2. With regard to the question of possible difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention in relation to modern methods of cargo handling, with particular reference to containers, the Committee requests the Government to refer to the general observation that it is making on the Convention at the present session.