Welcome to the Service Section

Practical Handbook (3rd ed. 2006)
The Practical Handbook offers detailed explanations on the general operation of the Service Convention as well as authoritative commentaries on the major issues raised by practice over the past forty years. To view the table of contents, click here. The Practical Handbook is available in:

English

French

Chinese (traditional)

Chinese (simplified)

Portuguese

Russian

Spanish

To order hard copies of the Practical Handbook, click here.

Text of the Convention Translations	Updated list of Contracting States (status table) How to read the status table
Central and other Authorities (contact details, practical information)	Table reflecting applicability of Articles 8(2), 10(a), (b) and (c), 15(2), 16(3)

Explanatory documents	Outline of the Convention Practical Handbook (2006) FAQs (extract from the Practical Handbook)
Mandatory Form (Request - Summary - Certificate) The form is mandatory when the main channel of transmission is used (i.e., via a Central Authority) - the "Summary" part of the form is recommended when an alternative channel is used	Fillable version (multiple languages) Instructions for filling out the "Summary" and recommended Warning Recommendation on the warning Explanatory Report on the recommendation
Special Commissions Expert meetings to review the practical operation of the Convention	2009: Conclusions & Recommendations 2003: Conclusions & Recommendations 1989: Report 1977: Report
Questionnaires & Responses	All Questionnaires relating to the Service Convention, and responses
Seminars	All seminars relating to the Service Convention
Bibliography