The scheduled meeting of the IRU Commission on Freight Transport to consider the topics “Update of the Harmonized Nomenclature of Goods (HNG)” and “Update of the List of IRU Railway Freight Stations” was successfully held from March 25 to 28, 2025 in Tbilisi (Georgia).
The meeting was attended by representatives from: Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (AZH), Railway Administration of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (ARA), Belarusian Railways (BC), Georgian Railways JSC (GR), National Company "KZ" ni Dorogi" JSC (KZD), Korean National Railway Corporation (KORAIL), State Enterprise "National Company "Kyrgyz Temir Jolu" (KRG), Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), State Joint Stock Company "Latvijas dzelzceļš" (LDZ) Railway" (JSC "UBZ"), Russian Railways JSC (JSC "RZ"), Turkmendemirolary Agency (TRK), Uzbekistan Temir Yullari JSC (UTI), Ukrainian Railways JSC (UZ), Czech Railways Cargo JSC (ČD Cargo), as well as representatives of affiliated enterprises of OSZD - LLC "STM" and LLC "STM" and LLC "STM"; international organizations - the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the NEO Committee.
In accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Regulations of the NEO Commissions, the right to represent interests, use the vote at the meeting and sign the Minutes of the meeting from JSC Estonian Railways (EVR) was transferred to the head of the delegation of JSC "Georgian Railways" (GR).
Based on the powers of the State Corporation "Vietnam Railways" (VZ), the right to represent interests, use the vote at the meeting and sign the Minutes of the meeting from the VZ was transferred to the Head of the NEO Commission for Freight Transportation.
The meeting was opened and its participants were welcomed by the Deputy Director of the Freight Transportation Branch of JSC Georgian Railways, Mr. Mamuka Talakhadze, who emphasized the importance of holding this meeting, thanked all delegations for participating in the work of the meeting on considering and making decisions on important and practical issues related to the updating of the DNG and the obstacle organization of cargo transportation in international traffic, familiarized himself with the main indicators of the work of Georgian Railways and wished the participants of the meeting fruitful and successful work, a pleasant stay in the city of Tbilisi.
Based on Article X of the Regulations of the NSO Commissions, the meeting was chaired by the Head of the NSO Commission for Freight Transportation, Zubayda Aspaeva, who stated its validity.
In accordance with the approved agenda of the meeting, the following issues were considered:
- on the implementation of the decisions of the final meeting of the SCO Commission on freight transportation on the topics "Update of the Harmonized Nomenclature of Goods (HNG)" and "Update of the List of Freight Stations of SCO Railways" (October 15-18, 2024year, OSZ Committee, Warsaw);
- consideration of proposals of OSZ railways on updating GNG;
- consideration of proposals of OSZ railways on harmonization of GNG and NHM version 2025;
- consideration of proposals of OSZ railways on the topic "Updating the List of Freight Stations of OSZ Railways".
According to the results of the discussion by the participants of the meeting:
- draft amendments and additions to the Harmonized Nomenclature of Goods (HN) were developed and agreed for approval at the XXXIX meeting of the Conference of General Directors (responsible representatives) of OSZ railways (April 14-17, 2025, OSZ Committee, Warsaw) with entry into force on June 1, 2002;
- the list of DNG cargoes of the 2025 version has been prepared for the determination of ETT tariff classes within the framework of the meeting of representatives of the Parties to the Agreement on a Unified Transit Tariff (UTT), which will be held on May 13-16, 2025 (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).