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10. United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods

Vienna, 11 April 1980

 

Entry into force: 1 January 1988, in accordance with article 99 (1).
Registration: 1 January 1988, No. 25567.
Status: Signatories: 18 ,Parties: 62.
Text: United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1489, p. 31; depositary notification C.N.862.1998.TREATIES-5 of 19 February 1999 (procès-verbal of rectification of the authentic Arabic text); C.N.233.2000.TREATIES-2 of 27 April 2000 (rectification of the Russian authentic text); and C.N.1075.2000.TREATIES-5 of 1 December 2000 [rectification of the original of the Convention (Arabic authentic text)].1 

Note: The Convention was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, held at Vienna from 10 March to 11 April 1980. The Conference was convened by the General Assembly of the United Nations, in accordance with its resolution 33/932 of 16 December 1978, adopted on the basis of chapter II of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its eleventh session (1978).

The Convention was opened for signature at the concluding meeting of the Conference on 11 April 1980 and remained open for signature at the United Nations Headquarters in New York until 30 September 1981.

 

 

PARTICIPANTS

Participant  Signature  Ratification, Acceptance (A), Approval (AA), Accession (a), Succession (d) 
Argentina    19 Jul 1983 a 
Australia    17 Mar 1988 a 
Austria  11 Apr 1980  29 Dec 1987 
Belarus    9 Oct 1989 a 
Belgium    31 Oct 1996 a 
Bosnia and Herzegovina    12 Jan 1994 d 
Bulgaria    9 Jul 1990 a 
Burundi    4 Sep 1998 a 
Canada    23 Apr 1991 a 
Chile  11 Apr 1980  7 Feb 1990 
China  30 Sep 1981  11 Dec 1986 AA 
Colombia    10 Jul 2001 a 
Croatia    8 Jun 1998 d 
Cuba    2 Nov 1994 a 
Czech Republic    30 Sep 1993 d 
Denmark  26 May 1981  14 Feb 1989 
Ecuador    27 Jan 1992 a 
Egypt    6 Dec 1982 a 
Estonia    20 Sep 1993 a 
Finland  26 May 1981  15 Dec 1987 
France  27 Aug 1981  6 Aug 1982 AA 
Georgia    16 Aug 1994 a 
Germany  26 May 1981  21 Dec 1989 
Ghana  11 Apr 1980   
Greece    12 Jan 1998 a 
Guinea    23 Jan 1991 a 
Honduras    10 Oct 2002 a 
Hungary  11 Apr 1980  16 Jun 1983 
Iceland    10 May 2001 a 
Iraq    5 Mar 1990 a 
Israel    22 Jan 2002 a 
Italy  30 Sep 1981  11 Dec 1986 
Kyrgyzstan    11 May 1999 a 
Latvia    31 Jul 1997 a 
Lesotho  18 Jun 1981  18 Jun 1981 
Lithuania    18 Jan 1995 a 
Luxembourg    30 Jan 1997 a 
Mauritania    20 Aug 1999 a 
Mexico    29 Dec 1987 a 
Mongolia    31 Dec 1997 a 
Netherlands  29 May 1981  13 Dec 1990 A 
New Zealand    22 Sep 1994 a 
Norway  26 May 1981  20 Jul 1988 
Peru    25 Mar 1999 a 
Poland  28 Sep 1981  19 May 1995 
Republic of Moldova    13 Oct 1994 a 
Romania    22 May 1991 a 
Russian Federation    16 Aug 1990 a 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines    12 Sep 2000 a 
Serbia and Montenegro    12 Mar 2001 d 
Singapore  11 Apr 1980  16 Feb 1995 
Slovakia    28 May 1993 d 
Slovenia    7 Jan 1994 d 
Spain    24 Jul 1990 a 
Sweden  26 May 1981  15 Dec 1987 
Switzerland    21 Feb 1990 a 
Syrian Arab Republic    19 Oct 1982 a 
Uganda    12 Feb 1992 a 
Ukraine    3 Jan 1990 a 
United States of America  31 Aug 1981  11 Dec 1986 
Uruguay    25 Jan 1999 a 
Uzbekistan    27 Nov 1996 a 
Venezuela  28 Sep 1981   
Zambia    6 Jun 1986 a 
Participant  Signature  Ratification, Acceptance (A), Approval (AA), Accession (a), Succession (d) 
Argentina    19 Jul 1983 a 
Australia    17 Mar 1988 a 
Austria  11 Apr 1980  29 Dec 1987 
Belarus    9 Oct 1989 a 
Belgium    31 Oct 1996 a 
Bosnia and Herzegovina    12 Jan 1994 d 
Bulgaria    9 Jul 1990 a 
Burundi    4 Sep 1998 a 
Canada    23 Apr 1991 a 
Chile  11 Apr 1980  7 Feb 1990 
China  30 Sep 1981  11 Dec 1986 AA 
Colombia    10 Jul 2001 a 
Croatia    8 Jun 1998 d 
Cuba    2 Nov 1994 a 
Czech Republic    30 Sep 1993 d 
Denmark  26 May 1981  14 Feb 1989 
Ecuador    27 Jan 1992 a 
Egypt    6 Dec 1982 a 
Estonia    20 Sep 1993 a 
Finland  26 May 1981  15 Dec 1987 
France  27 Aug 1981  6 Aug 1982 AA 
Georgia    16 Aug 1994 a 
Germany  26 May 1981  21 Dec 1989 
Ghana  11 Apr 1980   
Greece    12 Jan 1998 a 
Guinea    23 Jan 1991 a 
Honduras    10 Oct 2002 a 
Hungary  11 Apr 1980  16 Jun 1983 
Iceland    10 May 2001 a 
Iraq    5 Mar 1990 a 
Israel    22 Jan 2002 a 
Italy  30 Sep 1981  11 Dec 1986 
Kyrgyzstan    11 May 1999 a 
Latvia    31 Jul 1997 a 
Lesotho  18 Jun 1981  18 Jun 1981 
Lithuania    18 Jan 1995 a 
Luxembourg    30 Jan 1997 a 
Mauritania    20 Aug 1999 a 
Mexico    29 Dec 1987 a 
Mongolia    31 Dec 1997 a 
Netherlands  29 May 1981  13 Dec 1990 A 
New Zealand    22 Sep 1994 a 
Norway  26 May 1981  20 Jul 1988 
Peru    25 Mar 1999 a 
Poland  28 Sep 1981  19 May 1995 
Republic of Moldova    13 Oct 1994 a 
Romania    22 May 1991 a 
Russian Federation    16 Aug 1990 a 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines    12 Sep 2000 a 
Serbia and Montenegro    12 Mar 2001 d 
Singapore  11 Apr 1980  16 Feb 1995 
Slovakia    28 May 1993 d 
Slovenia    7 Jan 1994 d 
Spain    24 Jul 1990 a 
Sweden  26 May 1981  15 Dec 1987 
Switzerland    21 Feb 1990 a 
Syrian Arab Republic    19 Oct 1982 a 
Uganda    12 Feb 1992 a 
Ukraine    3 Jan 1990 a 
United States of America  31 Aug 1981  11 Dec 1986 
Uruguay    25 Jan 1999 a 
Uzbekistan    27 Nov 1996 a 
Venezuela  28 Sep 1981   
Zambia    6 Jun 1986 a 
 

 

DECLARATIONS

Declarations and Reservations

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made

upon ratification, acceptance, approval, accession or succession.)

Argentina

Declaration:

In accordance with articles 96 and 12 of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, any provisions of article 11, article 29 or Part II of the Convention that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement or any offer, acceptance or other indication of intention to be made in any form other than in writing does not apply where any party has his place of business in the Argentine Republic.

Belarus

Declaration:

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, in accordance with articles 12 and 96 of the Convention declares that any provision of article 11, article 29 or Part II of this Convention that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement or any offer, acceptance or other indication of inten- tion to be made in any form other than in writing does not apply where any party has his place of business in the Byelorussian SSR.

Canada10

Chile

Declaration:

The State of Chile declares, in accordance with articles 12 and 96 of the Convention, that any provision of article 11, article 29 or Part II of the Convention that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by mutual agreement or any offer, acceptance or other indication of intention to be made in any other form than in writing, does not apply where any party has its place of business in Chile.

China

Declaration:

The People's Republic of China does not consider itself to be bound by subparagraph (b) of paragraph 1 of article 1 and article 11 as well as the provisions in the Convention relating to the content of article 11.

Czech Republic4

Denmark

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratifica tion:

Denmark will not be bound by Part II of the Convention.

Upon ratification:

Declarations:

". . .

"2) under paragraph 1 of article 93 that the Convention shall not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland,

"3) under paragraph 1 cf. paragraph 3 of article 94 that the Convention shall not apply to contracts of sale where one of the parties has his place of business in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden and the other party has his place of business in another of the said states,

"4) under paragraph 2 of article 94 that the Convention is not to apply to contracts of sale where one of the parties has his place of business in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden and the other party has his place of business in Iceland."

Estonia

Declaration:

"In accordance with articles 12 and 96 of [the said Conven- tion] any provision of article 11, article 29 or Part II of the Convention that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement or any offer, acceptance or other indication of intention to be made in any form other that in writing does not apply where any party has his place of business in the Republic of Estonia."

Finland

Reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

Finland will not be bound by Part II of the Convention.

Upon ratification:

"With reference to Article 94, in respect of Sweden in accordance with paragraph (1) and otherwise in accordance with paragraph (2) the Convention will not apply to contracts of sale where the parties have their places of business in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland or Norway."

Germany5

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany holds the view that Parties to the Convention that have made a declaration under article 95 of the Convention are not considered Contracting States within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (b) of article 1 of the Convention. Accordingly, there is no obligation to apply - and the Federal Republic of Germany assumes no obligation to apply - this provision when the rules of private international law lead to the application of the law of a Party that has made a declaration to the effect that it will not be bound by subparagraph (1) (b) of article 1 of the Convention. Subject to this observation the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany makes no declaration under article 95 of the Convention.

Hungary

Declaration:

"[The Hungarian People's Republic] considers the General Conditions of Delivery of Goods between Organizations of the Member Countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance/GCD CMEA, 1968/1975, version of 1979/ to be subject to the provisions of article 90 of the Convention;

"[The Hungarian People's Republic] states, in accordance with articles 12 and 96 of the Convention, that any provision of article 11, article 29 or Part II of the Convention that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement or any offer, acceptance or other indication of intention to be made in any form other than in writing, does not apply where any party has his place of business in the Hungarian People's Republic."

Iceland

12 March 2003

Declaration:

"Pursuant to article 94, paragraph 1, the Convention will not apply to contracts of sale or to their formation where the parties have their places of business in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden."

Latvia

Declaration:

"In accordance with article 96 of the [said Convention], the Republic of Latvia delcares that any provision of article 11, article 29, or Part II of this Convention, that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement or any offer, acceptance, or other indication of intention to be made in any form other than in writing, does not apply where any party has his place of business in the Republic of Latvia."

Lithuania

Declaration:

"In accordance with articles 96 and 12 of the said Convention, the Republic of Lithuania declares that any provisions of article 11, article 29 or Part II of the Convention that allows a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement or any offer, acceptance or other indication of intention to be made in any form other than in written does not apply where any party has his place of business in the Republic of Lithuania."

Luxembourg

Upon signature:

Declarations:

Pursuant to article 39 of the Convention, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg declares that it does not wish to be bound by chapter V, which contains autonomous conflict-of-laws rules that allow too wide an application to laws other than those of the assignor and that moreover are difficult to reconcile with the Rome Convention.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, pursuant to article 42, paragraph 1 (c), of the Convention, will be bound by the priority rules set forth in section III of the annex, namely those based on the time of the contract of assignment.

Norway

Reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratifica tion:

[Same reservation, mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Finland.]

Upon ratification:

[Same reservation, mutatis mutandis, as theone made by Finland.]

Russian Federation

Declaration:

[Same declaration, mutatis mutandis, as theone made by Belarus.]

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Declaration:

"The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines declares that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will not be bound by subparagraph  1  (b) of Article 1 of the Convention."

Singapore

Declaration:

"In accordance with article 95 of the said Convention, the Government of the Republic of Singapore will not be bound by sub-paragraph (1) (b) of article 1 of the Convention and will apply the Convention to the Contracts of Sale of Goods only between those parties whose places of business are in different States when the States are Contracting States."

Slovakia4

Sweden

Reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratifica tion:

[Same reservation, mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Finland.]

Upon ratification:

[Same reservation, mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Finland.]

Ukraine

Declaration:

[Same declaration, mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Belarus.]

United States of America

"Pursuant to article 95 the United States will not be bound by subparagraph (1) (b) of Article 1".

Declarations under article 93 of the Convention

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made

upon ratification, acceptance, approval, accession or succession.)

Australia

Declaration:

"The Convention shall apply to all Australian States and mainland territories and to all external territories except the territories of Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the Ashmore and Cartier Islands."

Canada

Declarations:

"The Government of Canada declares, in accordance with article 93 of the Convention, that the Convention will extend to Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories."

9 April 1992

"The Convention shall also extend to Quebec and Saskatchewan."

29 June 1992

"The Convention applies also to the Territory of the Yukon."

18 June 2003

"The Government of Canada declares, in accordance with Article 93 of the Convention, that in addition to the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, as well as the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory, the Convention shall extend to the Territory of Nunavut.

The Government of Canada also declares that the declaration made at the time of its accession to the Convention on April 23, 1991, the declaration deposited on April 9, 1992, the declaration deposited on June 29, 1992 and the declaration deposited on July 31, 1992, remain in effect."

 

 

NOTES

1. The English text of the Convention has been published by the Government of the United States of America in the publication "Federal Register" of Monday 2 March 1987, volume 52, No. 40, pages 6262 to 6280 together with various comments and information by the Department of State.

2. Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/33/45), p. 217.

3. The former Yugoslavia had signed and ratified the Convention on 11 April 1980 and 27 March 1985, respectively. See also note 1 under "Bosnia and Herzegovina", "Croatia", "former Yugoslavia", "Slovenia", "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and "Yugoslavia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

4. Czechoslovakia had signed and ratified the Convention on 1 September 1981 and 5 March 1990, respectively, with the following reservation:

Pursuant to article 95, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic declares that it shall not consider itself bound by the provision of article 1, paragraph 1, item b), of the Convention.

See also note 1 under "Czech Republic" and note 1 under "Slovakia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

5. The German Democratic Republic had signed and ratified the Convention on 13 August 1981 and 23 February 1989, respectively. See also note 2 under "Germany" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

6. See note 1 under "Germany" regarding Berlin (West) in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

7. On 1 January 1990 and on 1 January 1991, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands, respectively, denounced the Convention relating to a Uniform law on the international Sale of Goods and the Convention relating to a Uniform law on the formation of contracts for the international sale of goods, both done at The Hague on 1 July 1964. These denunciations took effect 12 months later, and the present Convention therefore entered into force for the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands on 1 January 1991 and on 1 January 1992, respectively, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 6 of article 99.

8. For the Kingdom in Europe and Aruba.

9. With a declaration of non-application to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

10. On 31 July 1992, the Government of Canada, by virtue of article  97 (4) of the Convention, notified the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw the following declaration made upon accession by virtue of article 95, which read as follows:

"The Government of Canada also declares, in accordance with article 95 of the Convention, that, with respect to British Columbia, it will not be bound by article 1.1 b) of the Convention."