Lloyd's Shipping & Trade Law

Dangerous cargo

Almost four months after the deadline of 30 June 2009, preceding which the European Commission launched a broad consultation among interested parties on possible ways to improve the operation of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (OJ 2001 L 12/1), the member states of the European Union await the results with baited breath.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has given its first judgment on the interpretation of the Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations of 1980 (‘the Rome Convention’) which is given the force of law by s2 of the Contracts (Applicable Law) Act 1990 in the United Kingdom. Although that Convention has been in force since 1 April 1991, the First Protocol of 19 December 1988 on the interpretation of the European Communities of the Rome Convention did not come into force until 1 August 2004. Therefore although the ECJ has referred to the Rome Convention when interpreting other conventions and regulations, this is the first case on the Rome Convention itself.

Readiness to load – GAFTA form 49 clause 9 – Notice of Readiness (NOR)