Activities

OTIF develops uniform legal regimes for international rail transport in three major areas of activity: technical interoperability, dangerous goods and railway contract law.

The legal framework enacted by OTIF is developed continually in order to meet the requirements of the various actors in international rail traffic. The Appendices to COTIF and the associated annexes and provisions are amended and adapted in line with scientific, technical and social developments.

The OTIF Secretariat organises meetings at which amendments to the Appendices are proposed, discussed, adopted and approved. There are working groups, joint meetings, committees and a General Assembly.

Each Committee may set up a permanent or temporary working group. A working group may also be set up on the initiative of the Secretary General.

The classic procedure for revising the CIV, CIM, CUV and CUI Appendices:

The classic procedure for revising the APTU and ATMF Appendices:

The simplified, quicker procedure for the RID Appendix and its annex.

The simplified revision procedure also applies to amendments to the other Appendices in the cases specified by COTIF, particularly amendments to the uniform technical prescriptions.