Communications and transit > Comparative study of the laws in the various European countries governing the question of customs exemption for liquid fuel used by motor vehicles in traffic by land, river, sea and air

[Communicated to the Council
and Members of the League.]
Official No. : C. 805. M. 373. 1932. VIII.
Geneva, November 26th, 1932.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSIT ORGANISATION
Comparative Study of the Laws in the Various European Countries
governing the Question of Customs Exemption
for Liquid Fuel used by Motor Vehicles in Traffic by Land,
River, Sea and Air.
The question of Customs exemption for liquid fuel used by motor vehicles crossing the
frontier was raised by the German representative on the Commission of Enquiry for European
Union during its session of May 1931. The proposal submitted to the Commission in this
connection by the German representative was as follows :
Recent years have witnessed an extiaordinary growth in the use of motor transport
in European traffic, by land, water and air alike. On the road, the motor is predominant
for the conveyance of both passengers and goods ; in waterborne traffic, whether by sea
or inland waterways, there has been a constant increase in the equipment of vessels
with motors ; air transport has so far been confined exclusively to motor-driven craft.
“ The provisions at present in force in the various European States as regards the
Customs clearance of motor fuel for transport crossing the frontiers have failed to keep
pace with the rapid growth of traffic ; moreover, they differ in almost all countries.
To facilitate traffic between the European States it would be desirable to have uniform
regulations for Europe, such regulations to take equal account of modern traffic
requirements and 01 the fiscal interests of the European countries.
“ The German Government accordingly considered that it should place this issue
before the Commission of Enquiry for European Union.
It proposes, with a view to the further examination of the question :
^i) That the Communications and Transit Committee of the League be
instructed to study the matter further, in consultation, if necessary, with the
Economic Committee ;
(2) That the Governments of the States represented on the Commission of
Enquiry tor European Union be requested to send to the Secretariat information
concerning the relevant regulations at present in force in the different countries.”
The Commission of Enquiry for European Union examined this proposal and adopted
the following resolution :
“ The Commission of Enquiry requests the Council to ask the Communications
and Transit Organisation to study this question, if necessary in collaboration with the
Economic Organisation, and invite the States Members of the Commission of Enquiry
to forward to the Secretariat the documentary material relating to the regulations applied
in this connection in the different countries.”
This resolution was approved by the Council and transmitted to the Advisory and
Technical Committee for Communications and Transit, which dealt with the question at
its sixteenth session in May and June 1931, and adopted the following resolution :
“ The Advisory and Technical Committee,
“ Having received the request of the Commission of Enquiry for European Union,
approved by the Council at its meeting of May 22nd, 1931, concerning Customs exemption
for liquid fuel:
“ Considers it desirable that the States represented on the Commission of Enquiry
should forward to the Secretariat, in addition to documentation with regard to the
regulations applied in the different countries, all information or observations which these
Series of League of Nations Publications
VIII. TRANSIT
1932. VIII. 6.
S.d.N. 1.305 (F.) 900 (A.) 12/32. Imp. Reunies, Chambdry.