HAS ENTERED INTO FORCE RELATING TO ANNEX 7 TO THE TIR CONVENTION SHALL APPLY ALSO FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS REGULATION .
ARTICLE 7
1 . IF IT IS FOUND THAT CONTAINERS WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE TECHNICAL CONDITIONS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6, THE CUSTOMS OFFICE SHALL REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALIDITY OF THE APPROVAL, UNLESS THE DEFECTS FOUND ARE OF MINOR IMPORTANCE AND DO NOT INVOLVE ANY RISK OF FRAUD .
2 . WHERE A CONTAINER HAS A MAJOR DEFECT AND SO NO LONGER COMPLIES WITH THE STANDARDS UNDER WHICH IT WAS APPROVED FOR TRANSPORT UNDER CUSTOMS SEAL, THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITY SHALL INFORM THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTAINER SO THAT HE MAY RESTORE THE CONTAINER TO THE CONDITION IT WAS IN WHEN APPROVED, PROVIDED THE REPAIRS CAN BE CARRIED OUT RAPIDLY . WHEN THE CONTAINER HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY REPAIRED IT MAY PROCEED TO ITS DESTINATION UNDER CUSTOMS SEAL . IF THE CONTAINER IS NOT APPROPRIATELY REPAIRED OR IF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR IT PREFERS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IN THE COUNTRY IN WHICH IT WAS APPROVED, THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITY SHALL :
( A ) REFUSE TO SEAL THE CONTAINER AND REFUSE AUTHORIZATION FOR ITS USE IN TRANSPORT IN CASES WHERE SEALING IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY; OR
( B ) REMOVE THE CONTAINER FORM USE WHILE THE CONTENTS ARE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORT; OR
( C ) AUTHORIZE IT TO CONTINUE ITS JOURNEY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT PROCEDURES WHERE THERE IS NO DANGER OF SMUGGLING, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO THE GOODS TRANSPORTED IN THE CONTAINER, THE DEFECT IN QUESTION BEING INDICATED ON THE TRANSIT DOCUMENTS .
TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTAINER IS APPROPRIATELY REPAIRED THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITY SHOULD, WHERE IT CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY, HAVE THE APPROVAL PLATE REMOVED .
WHERE THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITY HAS THE APPROVAL PLATE REMOVED OR WHERE A MAJOR DEFECT IS DISCOVERED IN A GROUP OF CONTAINERS SO THAT THEY NO LONGER COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS UNDER WHICH THEY WERE APPROVED FOR TRANSPORT UNDER CUSTOMS SEAL, THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVAL OR, WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVAL MUST BE NOTIFIED ACCORDINGLY . THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIAL APPROVAL MUST BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ISSUE OF A NEW APPROVAL WHERE THIS PROCEDURE TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY .
3 . A CONTAINER IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE A MAJOR DEFECT IF :
( A ) GOODS CAN BE REMOVED FROM, OR INTRODUCED INTO, THE SEALED PART OF THE CONTAINER WITHOUT LEAVING VISIBLE TRACES OF TAMPERING OR WITHOUT BREAKING THE CUSTOMS SEAL;
( B ) CUSTOMS SEALS CANNOT BE SIMPLY AND EFFECTIVELY AFFIXED TO IT;
( C ) IT CONTAINS CONCEALED SPACES WHERE GOODS MAY BE HIDDEN;
( D ) ALL SPACES CAPABLE OF HOLDING GOODS ARE NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE
FOR CUSTOMS INSPECTION .
C H A P T E R 2
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PERSONS BENEFITING FROM THE ARRANGEMENTS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 8 OF THE BASIC REGULATION
ARTICLE 8
FOR THE