PLTP proposals circulated. • •
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
RAFT regulations have been circulated by the Department of Transport to implement the ternational Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs Act 1976. This enables the United Kingdom to join e European Agreement covering the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and the recial Equipment to be used for such carriage (ATP).
Comments on the draft gulations are invited from e main representative bodies the transport and food dustries by October 31.
It is proposed to finalise the gulations during December id bring the Act into force trly in 1978 once the regulams have been made and rangements completed for sting and certification of ,frigerated, insulated and ?.ated transport used for ternational trade.
This Act does not affect )mestic traffic within the nited Kingdom. Containers sed on an international • urney involving a sea cross ing of more than 150km are also excluded from the provision of the Act, providing there is no transloading of the contents.
Contracting parties to the ATP undertake to ensure that all equipment used to carry the perishable foodstuffs listed in the agreement is examined and tested for compliance with the specified technical standards.
They must also recognise the validity of certificates of compliance issued by the competent authorities of other contracting parties. They also have the discretion to recognise certificates issued by States who are not contracting parties.
Six countries — France, West Germany, Spain, USSR, Yugoslavia and Denmark — have ratified the ATP and it came into force on November 21, 1976 (Denmark during 1977).
UK accession to ATP will remove any danger of delays to British refrigerated vehicles at frontiers of countries that are enforcing the agreement.
Copies of the Agreement (Command Paper 6441) and the Act (C.58 1976) can be obtained from the HMSO price 55p and 35p respectively.