An amendment conforming Cargo Services Conference (CSC) Resolution 600b "Air Waybill - Conditions of Contract" to the updated liability limits for transportation of cargo by air under the Montreal Convention 1999 was approved and declared effective 30 December 2009. CSC Resolution 600b is the abbreviated and modernized “Conditions of Contract” that invokes both Warsaw Convention and Montreal Convention.
Click on the following link to download the finally adopted amended-text of Resolution 600b.
Resolution 600b - effective 30 December 2009 (pdf)
Use of Existing Air Waybill Stocks - Transition Provisions
Members and carriers party to the IATA Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreement – Cargo (collectively “Carriers”) who wish to use pre-existing air waybill stock (air waybills with notices and conditions of contract reflecting the previous, un-amended Resolution 600b (“Old 600b”) shall conform their general conditions of carriage for cargo lost, damaged or delayed to the revised requirements of the amended Resolution 600b on 30 December 2009. Carriers may continue to accept cargo tendered under air waybills conforming to Old 600b after 30 December 2009 provided that any limitation of liability set out in such air waybills that is less than the limitation of liability set forth in amended Resolution 600b shall be superseded by the requirements of amended Resolution 600b. Carriers anticipating carriage under pre-existing air waybills after 30 December 2009 shall notify any persons holding such air waybills of changed limitations of liability. Such notice shall be given by any practicable means including posting on Carrier websites, facsimile and mail. In no case, shall any limitation of liability lower than the limitation of amended Resolution 600b be applied to claims for loss, damage or delay of goods tendered after 30 December 2009. Carriers are advised not to print and distribute any additional Old 600b stock and to avoid creating additional Old 600b inventory.
Carriers are further advised that the foregoing instruction to conform their general conditions of carriage to the amended Resolution 600b as of 30 December 2009 does not constitute a modification to IATA Recommended Practice 1601, “Conditions of Carriage for Cargo.”
Possible amendment to Resolution 600b/ Printing of New Air Waybill Stock
The DOT has suggested that Resolution 600b should be further amended to simplify the international cargo business by conforming all applicable liability limitations to MC99 levels. Because of widespread adherence to MC99 on routes accounting for a large volume of international cargo movements, consideration of this proposal has been placed on the agenda for the 32nd meeting of the Cargo Services Conference (CSC/32) to be held in Vancouver, Canada during March 2010. Given the possibility of an additional amendment to Resolution 600b at CSC/32, Carriers are requested to manage their air waybill stock accordingly.