CONVENTION ON THE CONTRACT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY ROAD (CMR)

Ratified by Decree No. 1143 of the State Council of 29.07.1977 – State Gazette, issue 61 of 5.08.1977.
In force for Bulgaria as of 18.01.1978. Published in the Collection of International Treaties of Bulgaria, Vol. III, 1995.

The Contracting Parties,

Recognizing the advantage of standardizing the conditions governing the contract for the international carriage of goods by road,
particularly in respect of the documents used for such carriage and the carrier’s liability,

Have agreed as follows:

CHAPTER I
SCOPE OF APPLICATION

Article 1

This Convention shall apply to every contract for the carriage of goods by road in vehicles for reward,
when the place of taking over of the goods and the place designated for delivery, as specified in the contract,
are situated in two different countries, of which at least one is a contracting country, irrespective of the place of residence
and the nationality of the parties.

For the purpose of this Convention, “vehicles” shall mean motor vehicles, articulated vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers
as defined in Article 4 of the Convention on Road Traffic dated 19 September 1949.

This Convention shall apply even where the carriage is performed by States or by governmental institutions or organizations.

This Convention shall not apply:
(a) to carriage performed under the terms of any international postal convention;
(b) to carriage of dead bodies;
(c) to carriage of furniture in removal operations.

The Contracting Parties undertake not to vary, by way of special agreements concluded between two or more of them,
the terms of this Convention, except to exclude from its application their frontier traffic or to authorize the use in transport
operations entirely confined to their territories of consignment notes representing a title to the goods.

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CHAPTER VIII
FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 51

After 31 August 1956, the original of this Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
who shall transmit certified true copies to each of the States referred to in Article 42, paragraphs 1 and 2.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done at Geneva, on 19 May 1956, in a single copy in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.

PROTOCOL OF SIGNATURE

At the time of signing the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road,
the undersigned, duly authorized, have agreed upon the following declaration and explanation:

This Convention shall not apply to carriage between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Addition to Article 1, paragraph 4:
The undersigned undertake to enter into negotiations with a view to concluding conventions on the contract for the carriage of furniture
and on the contract for combined transport.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done at Geneva, on 19 May 1956, in a single copy in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.

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According to Decree No. 1143 of the State Council of 29.07.1977, published in the State Gazette, issue 61 of 1977,
the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road was ratified by Bulgaria with the following reservation:

“The People’s Republic of Bulgaria does not consider itself bound by Article 47, which provides for compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.”

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The reservation was withdrawn by Act of the National Assembly of 12.01.1994, published in the State Gazette, issue 8 of 1994.