Monday, March 17, 2008

New IATA Res 600b
Conditions of Contract (IATA Airwaybill)

As the new IATA Conditions of Contract come into force under the new IATA Resolution 600B, we believe it is timely to remind members of the advice provided four years ago in regard to adding a statement to the face of the Forwarder HAWB (or Neutral AWB, where used as a HAWB). This is as relevant today as it was then, because the new IATA Conditions of Contract do not, in our view, adequately define the term 'Carriage' for your protection.

We therefore again suggest that the following statement be incorporated as advised:

"THE CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, INCLUDING THE CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE REFERRED TO IN THOSE CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT, APPLY NOT ONLY TO CARRIAGE BETWEEN AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE AND AIRPORT OF DESTINATION BUT ALSO TO ALL OTHER CARRIAGE REFERRED TO IN THOSE CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT AND ALL OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CARRIER."

It is recommended that the above wording be incorporated on the face of the HAWB forms so as to make it expressly clear that the conditions of contract appearing both on the reverse of the HAWB forms and in the Forwarder's trading conditions of carriage do apply to all carriage. Such application is not only in respect of carriage between airport of departure and airport of destination but also is in respect of all carriage referred to in the conditions of contract on the reverse of the HAWB forms and all other services which the forwarder has contracted to provide.

You may also be interested to read the following two articles prepared by AFIF and Blake Dawson on this subject in the last few days.

Please advise all concerned.

Thanks and Regards

Brian Lovell

Chief Executive Officer

Australian Federation of International Forwarders Ltd (AFIF)

Suite 403, Level 3

152 Bunnerong Road

Eastgardens NSW 2036

Tel: (61 2) 9314 3055

Fax: (61 2) 9314 3116