EDIFACT standard segments Directory, EDSD; EDIFACT UNSMsDirectory, EDMD; Uniform RulesofConduct fortheInterchange ofTradeDataby Teletransmission (UNCID); Explanatory material, asappropriate". SOl 80.BoththeTEDISstudyandtheABAreport cometotheconclusion that,when EDIisusedoutside theambitofclosed-user groups,itisdesirable tohave someformofaframework communication agreement inwhichtheparties agreeon themannerinwhichtheywillcommunicate withEDI.Indeed, manyefforts that havebeenorarebeingmadeinthelegalfieldforthepromotion ofEDI involve theproduction ofsuchcommunication agreements. 81.Theexistence ofacommunication agreement implies apre-existing relationship between thecommunicating parties. Thisisthenormalbusiness situation whereEDIismostlikelytobeusedatthepresent time. Nevertheless, itindicates alimitation ontheuseofsuchagreements ina trulyopenenvironment. A. The UNCIDRules 82.Thefirsteffortaccomplished bytheinternational EDIcommunity to harmonize andunifyEDIpractices resulted intheadoption oftheUniform RulesofConduct forInterchange ofTradeDatabyTeletransmission (UNCID) by theInternational Chamber ofCommerce (ICC)in1987 (ICC Publication No.452, 1988). UNCIDwasprepared by aspecial jointcommittee oftheICCinwhich theUnitedNations Economic Commission forEurope (ECE),theCustoms Co-operation Council (CCC),theUNCTADSpecial Programme onTradeFacilitation (FALPRO), theOrganization forEconomic Co-operation andDevelopment (OECD), theInternational Organization forStandardization (ISO),theCommission of theEEC,theEuropean Insurance Committee, theOrganization forData.Exchange viaTeletransmission inEurope (ODETTE) andtheSecretariat ofUNCITRAL were represented. 83.Although thefirstdraftofUNCIDwasbasedontheideaofcreating a modelcommunication agreement, itwasfoundthat,duetothediffering requirements ofvarious usergroups, thecreation ofamodelcommunication agreement wasanimpracticable objective atsuchanearlystageofdevelopment ofEDItechniques. Itwastherefore decided tocreate asmallsetof non-mandatory rulesonwhichEDIusersandsuppliers ofnetwork services would beabletobasetheircommunication agreements. UNCIDwasalsoincorporated•A/CN.9/333 English Page21 intoEDIFACT (seepara79above)aspartoftheUnitedNations TradeData Interchange Directory. Although UNCIDconstitutes alimited achievement, it alsorepresented amajorstepinthedevelopment ofalegalframework forEDI, bothbecauseitfurnished abasisforpreparing individual communication agreements andbecauseitservedasafirsteffortthatcouldlaterbeusedto reachahigherlevelofrefinement. 84.UNCIDhasnoimplications forthesubstance oftheunderlying agreement. Itaims"atfacilitating theinterchange oftradedataeffected by teletransmission, through theestablishment ofagreedrulesofconduct between parties engaged insuchtransmission. Exceptasotherwise provided inthese rules,theydonotapplytothesubstance oftradedatatransfers" (art.1). 85.UNCIDdefines someelements ofEDIterminology (art.2).Itcontains rulesthatcallfortheparties toanEDIagreement toprovide, amongother things, forcareintransfering andreceiving correct andcomplete messages (art.5);identification oftheparties throughout thecommunication process (art.6);acknowledgement ofreceipt ofamessage, ifrequested (art.7); verification ofthecompleteness ofthereceived message (art.8);protection ofsomeorallofthecommercial information exchanged (art.9);maintenance ofrecords ofthetransmissions andstorage ofdata(art.10). 86.Theintroductory notetoUNCIDindicates thatthoserulescanbe considered onlyaspreliminary tofurther agreements. Itoutlines "certain elements thatshouldbeconsidered inaddition toUNCID, when formulating anagreement: 1.Thereisalways ariskthatsomething may go wrong- whoshouldcarry thatrisk?Shouldeachpartycarryitsownorwoulditseempossible tolinkrisktoinsurance ortothenetwork operator? 2.Ifdamageiscausedby apartyfailing toobserve therules,what shouldbetheconsequences? Thisispartly aquestion oflimitation ofliability. Italsohasabearing onthesituation ofthird parties. 3.Shouldtherulesonriskandliability becovered byruleson insurance? 4.Shouldthereberulesontiming, e.g.thetimewithinwhichthe receivers shouldprocess thedataetc.? 5.Shouldthereberulesonsecrecy orotherrulesregarding the substance ofthedataexchanged? 6.Shouldthereberulesofaprofessional nature -suchasthebanking rulescontained inS.W.I.F.T.? 7.Shouldthereberulesonencryption orothersecurity measures? 8.Shouldthereberuleson'signature'? Itwouldalsoseemimportant tohaverulesonapplicable lawanddispute resolution." 51/
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the development of a legal framework for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in international trade, focusing on the Uniform Rules of Conduct for Interchange of Trade Data by Teletransmission (UNCID) and its relationship with EDIFACT standards. It highlights the importance of communication agreements and the need for a framework to facilitate EDI transactions.

**Category**
International trade, Transport and communication