CISG Text and Materials

In 1980, when the United Nations Diplomatic Conference in Vienna adopted the CISG, sixty-two states signed the convention. It entered into force on January 1, 1988. The original signatories included 22 Western states, 11 socialist, 11 South-American, 7 African and 11 Asian countries. It is open to accession by any states that are not signatory states. Therefore, this number is expected to grow in the future. The official text of the CISG is equally authentic in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

List of Contracting States to the CISG

CISG — English Full Text

CISG — French Full Text

For a better understanding of the CISG, see the Writings link or the CISG Database of introductory materials on the CISG at Pace Law School. For information on the Canadian judicial system and court hierarchies, click here.

Note: A number of Canadian provinces have made declarations regarding situations where the CISG may be excluded. These declarations pertain to Article 6. Most importantly, these declarations are not authorized by the CISG, nor will they necessarily be honoured outside the relevant Canadian provinces. For more information on this subject see Declarations and State Interpretations: Canada.