This leaflet is binding for all UIC railway undertakings involved in the international carriage of exceptional consignments and defines the term "exceptional consignment"; governs the approval and authorisation procedure for international transport; lists the contacts of the individual groups for exceptional consignments and national approval offices. The following basic documents apply for the international carriage of exceptional consignments: General contract for the use of wagons - GCU; UIC loading guidelines - volumes 1, 2 and 3; Convention concerning international carriage by rail Þ COTIF 99; Uniform Rules concerning the contract for the international transport of goods by rail - CIM (COTIF 99 Appendix B); Uniform Rules concerning the contract for the use of infrastructure in international rail traffic - CUI (COTIF 99 Appendix E);