UCP 600 Article 1: Complete Interpretation Guide — Application and Scope

Introduction

UCP 600 Article 1 (Application of UCP) is not lettered into (a)/(b)/(c). The operative text: The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, 2007 Revision, ICC Publication no. 600 ("UCP") are rules that apply to any documentary credit ("credit") (including, to the extent to which they may be applicable, any standby letter of credit) when the text of the credit expressly indicates that it is subject to these rules. They are binding on all parties thereto unless expressly modified

Failure Mode Analysis

Failure mode 1: Inventing Article 1(a)–(d)

Article 1 has no lettered sub-articles in the ICC text. Citing 1(a) or 1(c) is a fabrication. Isolate the paragraph as written.

Failure mode 2: Reading cargo instead of documents

Article 5 still applies: banks deal with documents, not goods. An examiner who investigates performance under Article 1 violates that split.

Applying the article

Read the limbs above as they stand in the ICC text. Do not import sub-articles from another article. Document examination remains UCP 600 Article 14: on the face of the documents, within five banking days following the day of presentation.

Conclusion

Use the article as printed. If a lettered sub-article is not in the text above, it is not part of the rule.

FAQ

Does UCP 600 Article 1 contain sub-articles (a) through (d)?

No. Article 1 is not lettered in the ICC text. Lettered 1(a)–(d) citations are fabrications.

Do banks examine goods under this article?

No. Article 5: banks deal with documents and not with goods, services or performance to which the documents may relate.

What clock applies to examination?

Article 14(b): a maximum of five banking days following the day of presentation, not curtailed by expiry.