General principles

b. A requirement that a document, other than a draft,

insurance document or original transport document,
be dated will be satisfied by the indication of a date
of issuance or by reference in the document to the
date of another document forming part of the same
presentation (for example, by the wording “date as
per bill of lading number xxx” appearing on a
certificate issued by a carrier or its agent) or a date
appearing on a stipulated document indicating the
occurrence of an event (for example, by the date of
inspection being indicated on an inspection certificate
that otherwise does not contain a date of issuance).

A12 a. of
A document, such as, but not limited to, a certificate
analysis, inspection certificate or fumigation
certificate, may indicate a date of issuance later than
the date of shipment.

b. When a credit requires a document to evidence a

pre-shipment event (for example, “pre-shipment
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inspection certificate”), the document, either by its

title, content or date of issuance, is to indicate that
7 Table of contents

the event (for example, inspection) took place on or

prior to the date of shipment.

c. When a credit requires a document such as, but not

limited to, an “inspection certificate”, this does not
constitute a requirement that the document is to
evidence a pre-shipment event, and it need not be
dated prior to the date of shipment.

A13 A document indicating a date of issuance and a later

date of signing is deemed to have been issued on the
date of signing.

A14 a. side
When a credit uses phrases to signify time on either
of a date or an event, the following shall apply:

i “not later than 2 days after (date or event)” means

a latest date. If an advice or document is not to be
dated prior to a specified date or event, the credit
should so state.

ii “at least 2 days before (date or event)” means that

an act or event is to take place not later than 2
days before that date or event. There is no limit as
to how early it may take place.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ICC) | 19