The Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used for such Carriage (ATP) was concluded in Geneva on 1 September 1970, in a single original, the English, French and Russian texts being equally authentic. Initial signatories: Austria, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland. Article 11: entry into force one year after five UNECE member States have signed it definitively or deposited a ratification or accession — 21 November 1976. It is not the 1962 agreement on special equipment, which never received the ratifications needed to enter into force.

The preamble seeks to preserve the quality of perishable foodstuffs, particularly in international trade. Article 1: equipment may be designated insulated, refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated or heated only if it meets the definitions in annex 1 — a framework, without temperature tables. Article 2: inspection and mutual recognition of certificates, still at a high level.

Articles 3–4 apply to rail and road carriage, or a combination of the two, between two States, if unloading is in a Contracting Party; short sea crossings without transloading may fall under the same regime. Article 5 excludes certain containers preceded or followed by a longer sea crossing. Article 8: failure to observe the Agreement does not affect the validity of contracts of carriage.

Article 9: open for signature until 31 May 1971, then for accession; depositary the UN Secretary-General. Article 12: denunciation. Article 13: the Agreement ceases if the number of Parties falls below five. Article 18: annexes may be amended by agreement of the competent administrations. Article 20: after the signature period, the original is deposited with the Secretary-General.

The five ratifications that triggered Article 11 were those of France, the USSR, Spain, the FRG and Yugoslavia. The official text consulted is the original in the Treaty Series (UNTS 15121), not later UNECE consolidations. Switzerland signed but has not ratified.

Cover: Palais des Nations in Geneva, seat of UNECE at the time of conclusion; we do not claim the hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: ATP (treaty); UNTS 15121 ATP Agreement.