UCP 600 Article 6: Examination Checklist for Availability and Expiry Compliance

Introduction

The expiry date and latest shipment date are the two most consequential dates in any documentary credit. Missing either produces a discrepancy that is binary — the presentation is either timely or it is not. This checklist provides a step-by-step examination method for verifying compliance with Article 6's date requirements.

The checklist operates at two levels: (1) verifying the credit's own date consistency, and (2) verifying that document dates comply with the operative credit dates. Both levels must pass for a compliant presentation.

Failure Mode Analysis

Failure Mode 1: Skipping the Credit-Level Date Check

The examiner proceeds to document-level date examination without first verifying the credit's own date consistency. If the credit contains an internal inconsistency (shipment date after expiry), the examiner may apply inconsistent dates.

Failure Mode 2: Not Tracking Amendment-Driven Date Changes

The examiner uses the original dates after an amendment has changed them. This produces incorrect date comparisons.

Failure Mode 3: Ignoring Article 29(a)

The examiner does not apply the non-banking day extension. The expiry date falls on a Saturday, and the examiner treats Friday as the deadline.

Failure Mode 4: Incomplete Date Comparison

The examiner checks the bill of lading date against the shipment date but does not check the invoice date or certificate dates against the expiry date.

Failure Mode 5: Confusing Place of Expiry

The credit states expiry at the confirming bank. The beneficiary presents to the issuing bank after the expiry at the confirming bank. The presentation is late at the confirming bank's place.

Deterministic Resolution Architecture

1. Verify the credit states an availability type. From field 41A/41D, confirm the credit is available by sight payment, deferred payment, acceptance, or negotiation.

2. Verify the credit states an expiry date. From field 31D, confirm the expiry date is stated. If not, Article 6(d) default applies.

3. Verify the credit states a latest shipment date. From field 44C/44D, confirm the latest shipment date is stated.

4. Verify date consistency. Confirm the latest shipment date is on or before the expiry date. If not, request clarification.

5. Apply Article 29(a). If the expiry falls on a non-banking day, extend to the first following banking day.

6. Identify the operative credit version. If the credit has been amended, identify which dates govern based on beneficiary consent.

7. Map document dates against operative dates. For each required document, extract its date and compare against the operative expiry and shipment dates.

8. Verify the bill of lading date. Under ISBP 745 A14, the bill of lading date must be on or before the latest shipment date.

9. Verify the invoice date. Under ISBP 745, the invoice date must not be later than the expiry date (unless the credit states otherwise).

10. Verify certificate dates. Under ISBP 745, certificate dates must be on or before the expiry date (unless the credit states otherwise).

11. Verify the presentation date. Confirm the presentation was made on or before the operative expiry date (including any Article 29(a) extension).

12. Compile the date examination record. Record: (a) the operative dates, (b) each document's date, (c) the comparison result, and (d) the final compliance determination.

Conclusion

The date examination checklist provides a systematic method for verifying Article 6 compliance. Every step is deterministic — dates are either compliant or they are not. The checklist prevents the most common errors: missing credit-level inconsistencies, failing to track amendments, ignoring Article 29(a), and incomplete document-level date comparisons.

FAQ

What if the credit states "expiry date: as per contract"?
This is a deficiency under Article 6(b). The credit must state a specific expiry date. "As per contract" does not satisfy the requirement.

Can the expiry date be extended without an amendment?
Only under Article 29(a) — if the expiry falls on a non-banking day. In all other cases, an amendment under Article 10 is required.

How does the checklist handle partially amended credits?
For partially amended credits, the checklist examines changed dates against the amendment and unchanged dates against the original credit. Clear separation prevents errors.

What if the presentation is made before the expiry but the documents are dated after?
The presentation date and document dates are separate examinations. A timely presentation with late-dated documents may still be discrepant under ISBP 745.

Does the checklist apply to eUCP credits?
Yes. eUCP credits follow the same date examination standards. Electronic records with dates are examined against the operative credit dates.

Source Notes

• Canonical authority: UCP 600 Article 6 (availability, expiry, shipment dates); Article 14(c) (late presentation); Article 14(e) (date examination); Article 29(a) (non-banking days); Article 10 (amendments); ISBP 745 A14 (date examination standards)
• Live context: Google News RSS scan — ICC Academy "11 Questions that will help you master documentary credits" (general DC framework); ICC "UCP 600 including eUCP Version 2.1" (regulatory reference). Context only — not legal authority for checklist design.