On 23 January 2023 the Administrative Committee for the Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 met online for its 19th Session. The session will be formally closed on 10 February 2023 with the adoption of the report of the meeting.

The Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 (Container Convention) is a United Nations convention administered by the WCO. The Convention provides temporary admission facilities for containers, as well as outlines the technical conditions for containers for transport of goods under Customs seal.

More than 100 delegates had registered for the 19th Session of the Administrative Committee, including representatives of 17 Contracting Parties, 27 WCO Member Customs administrations that are not Contracting Parties to the Convention, private sector entities and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The Meeting noted the accession of Turkmenistan to the Container Convention. On 14 June 2021 Turkmenistan deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General its instrument of accession, thus becoming the 41st Contacting Party to the Convention. The Convention entered into force for Turkmenistan on 14 December 2021.

The Administrative Committee discussed intersessional developments of relevance to the work of the Committee, such as the deliberations on smart security devices in the SAFE Working Group, developments in the area of supply chain digitalization, progress of work by partner international organizations and private sector associations, as well as activities conducted in partnership with shipping lines to step up the fight against drug trafficking and other threats in container transport.

Following a proposal made by a Contracting Party in the agenda setting process for the 19th Session, the Committee discussed the implementation of certain articles of the Container Convention related to the control by Customs authorities of containers during their stay in the respective Customs territory under temporary admission.

The Administrative Committee examined and approved an update of the Container Convention Handbook, and discussed and endorsed the draft Work Programme of the Committee for the period 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2025.