France: carrier liability conventions for cargo
Which international cargo liability regimes France is bound by, from the treaty depositaries' records.
Summary
- Ocean (shipments from France): Hague-Visby Rules.
- Air: Montreal Convention 1999 (26 SDR/kg) on routes to other MC99 parties.
- Road: CMR (8.33 SDR/kg) for international road carriage.
- Rail: CIM/COTIF (17 SDR/kg) between OTIF Member States.
Ocean
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hague Rules 1924 | Party | 4 Jan 1937 (ratification) | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1924 Bills of Lading Convention |
| Visby Protocol 1968 | Party | 10 Mar 1977 (ratification) | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1968 Visby Protocol (last modified 28 May 2021) |
| SDR Protocol 1979 | Party | 18 Nov 1986 (ratification) | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1979 SDR Protocol |
| Hamburg Rules 1978 | Signed, not ratified | 18 Apr 1979 Signatory only; not ratified. | UN Treaty Collection, Hamburg Rules (XI-D-3) |
Air
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Convention 1999 | Party | 29 Apr 2004 Entry into force 28 Jun 2004. | ICAO, Current list of parties to the Montreal Convention 1999 |
| Warsaw Convention 1929 | Party | 15 Nov 1932 | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| The Hague Protocol 1955 | Party | 19 May 1959 | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| Montreal Additional Protocol No. 4 | To confirm | MAP4 status not retrieved from ICAO during this build. |
Road
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMR 1956 | Party | 20 May 1959 (ratification) | UN Treaty Collection, CMR (XI-B-11) |
Rail
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTIF 1999 / CIM | Party | Listed as OTIF Member State. | OTIF, Member States |
Notes
- France signed the Rotterdam Rules (2009) but has not ratified; they are not in force.
FAQ
Is France a party to the Hague-Visby Rules?
Yes. France is listed by the depositary as a party to the 1968 Visby Protocol and the 1979 SDR Protocol.
Which air cargo liability limit applies to flights from France?
France is a party to the Montreal Convention 1999 (ratification/accession 29 Apr 2004). Between MC99 parties the cargo limit is 26 SDR per kg from 28 December 2024.
Does CMR apply to trucking from France?
Yes. France is a CMR party (20 May 1959 (ratification)); CMR applies to international road carriage for reward where taking over or delivery is in a contracting country.
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Prototype: this form is not connected yet and stores nothing.Status checked against depositary records on 2026-10-16. "Not a party" means not listed by the depositary. General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Limits depend on the contract, the documents issued, declared values, national law and the facts of each case. Check the primary sources and consult a qualified professional before relying on any figure.