Convention Relating to International Exhibitions

The Convention Relating to International Exhibitions is an international treaty signed on November 22, 1928 in Paris, France. It primarily governs the quality and frequency of international exhibitions and established the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

Origins of the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions

From the time of the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, and for over 70 years, countries competed to host international exhibitions, striving to attract participation from other nations. This led to challenges for all involved due to the high frequency of events, the significant financial investments required, and uncertainty regarding the regulation and success of each event.

The frequency of international exhibitions became excessive. National authorities struggled to manage organizational details, and the regulations, which varied from country to country, were inadequate. This situation underscored the need for a legal framework to establish clear criteria, particularly concerning the frequency and quality of international exhibitions.

Before the Convention, there were attempts to create regulatory mechanisms. For example, the French Committee of Exhibitions was established in 1902. By 1908, similar organizations had emerged in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. However, because these were national entities, their interactions led to disputes. To resolve these, a Federation of Permanent Committees was created, with its first meeting held in Paris in 1907. At its second meeting, in Brussels in 1908, the Federation formulated doctrines on international exhibitions and scheduled a third meeting for May 1910 in Berlin, Germany. This third meeting, delayed until October 1912, laid the groundwork for an international convention based on French and German proposals. However, the First World War prevented the signing of this agreement and indefinitely suspended the discussions.

Drafting and Entry into Force

In 1925, the French Committee of Exhibitions reconvened other committees. However, only those from Belgium and Switzerland had survived the war. In January 1928, the government of France invited countries with which it had diplomatic relations to resume work on a convention relating to international exhibitions.

On November 22, 1928, in Paris, 21 countries signed the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions. On December 17, 1930, the deposit of ratifications by seven signatory countries was completed, and on January 17, 1931, the Convention came into force, becoming the legal instrument that continues to regulate international exhibitions. Since then, the government of France has acted as the depositary of the Convention and its instruments of accession.

As of November 27, 2024, 184 countries had adhered to the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions.

Protocols and Amendments

Over time, the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions has been amended and supplemented with additional instruments addressing exhibition categories, duration, and frequency:

• Protocol of May 10, 1948
• Protocol of November 16, 1966
• Protocol/Amendment of November 30, 1972
• Amendment of June 24, 1982
• Amendment of May 31, 1988