SMGS - Agreement on International Railway Freight Traffic

Scope

The SMGS Agreement is the treaty-level uniform law governing international rail freight consignment notes, carrier liability and claims across the OSJD member-state area - Russia, China, Central Asia, Mongolia and Eastern Europe - functioning as the Eastern counterpart to OTIF's CIM rules. It is essential documentation for China-Europe rail-freight corridors, which typically require dual SMGS/CIM consignment notes or an SMGS/CIM common consignment note where the corridor crosses both legal regimes.