"Transit Office" means the Customs offices (other than those of departure and destination) through which vehicles pass during their Inter-State journey ; "Office of destination" means the Customs Office where the goods are to be presented and where the Inter-States Road Transit operation terminates ; "Office of guarantee" means the Office of departure where security bond arrangement concerning transit are concluded ; "Common border" means the border common to two Member States ; "Inter-State Road Transit Declaration" means the transit declaration made in appropriate booklet, a model of which is attached to this Convention as an appendix ; "Notice of passage" means an unnumbered leaflet of the Inter-States Road Transit declaration deposited by the transporter in each passage office ; "Merchandise" means all trade goods subject to trade with the exception of those stipulated in Annex "A" to this Convention. CHAPTER II : ESTABLISHMENT OF INTER-STATES ROAD TRANSIT REGIME Article 2 An Inter-States Road Transit Regime is hereby established among Member States of ECOWAS for the purpose of facilitating the movement of goods in their territory as defined in Article 1. Article 3 The provisions of Article 2 of this Convention shall, however, not apply to the following : a. Goods appearing on the special list of goods which is attached as Annex "A" to this Convention. The list may be amended by the Council of Ministers upon the recommendations of the Transport Commission ; b. Transportation of goods carried out under the international railway transit system ; c. Postal articles (including parcels sent by post). Article 4 In order to enjoy the provisions of the present Convention, transporters authorised by their States shall : a. use road vehicles or container vehicles previously approved in conformity with the provisions indicated in Annex "B" to this Convention ; b. have paid a deposit and obtained a receipt acceptable within the terms of the log-book and under the conditions stipulated in Annex "C" to this Convention. CHAPTER III : FORMALITIES Articles 5 1. In order to operate under this Inter-States Road Transit System, all goods shall be covered by the Inter-States Road Transit Declaration in accordance with the terms of the present Convention.