27.2.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 55/21 II (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 25 September 2008 approving on behalf of the Community Annex 8 to the International Convention on the Harmonisation of Frontier Controls of Goods (2009/161/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (4) Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133, in conjunction with the second subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1)  The International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, 1982 (‘the Convention’) was approved by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1262/84 (). (2)  Article 22 of the Convention, in conjunction with its Annex 7, provides that the Administrative Committee for the Convention can propose and adopt amendments ) to the Convention. These amendments are to be accepted unless a Contracting Party objects within 12 months of the communication by the United Nations of the proposed amendment to the Contracting Parties. (3)  The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNJECE) Inland Transport Committee decided at its February 1999 session that the Convention should be revised to include provisions to facilitate the border crossing of vehicles. () OJ L 126, 12.5.1984, p. 1. The UNJECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting  Transport subsequently  produced —draft proposals to add a new Annex 8 to the Convention in order to complement the existing provisions. That Annex was adopted by the Administrative Committee for the Convention in October 2007 and as no objections were raised, the Annex took effect from 20 May 2008. The purpose of Annex 8 to the Convention is to facilitate international trade by reducing, harmonising and coordi- nating procedures and paperwork in connection with the border control of goods, in particular live animals and perishable goods. Annex 8 also aims at improving the operation of border crossing points, as well as technical matters relating to the mutual recognition of inter- national vehicle inspection and weight certificates. The facilitation of international trade and the removal of technical obstacles to trade is an objective of the common commercial policy and thus falls under the exclusive competence of the Community. The Community position concerning the proposed amendment of the Convention was approved on July 2005. Therefore, the amendment to the Convention should be approved,