Artikel 15

(1). Promotional freight rates for non-traditional exports should be instituted by conferences.
(2). All necessary and reasonable information justifying the need for a promotional freight rate shall be submitted to a conference by the shippers, shippers' organizations or representatives of shippers concerned.
(3). Special procedures shall be instituted providing for a decision within 30 days from the date of receipt of that information, unless mutually agreed otherwise, on applications for promotional freight rates. A clear distinction shall be made between these and general procedures for considering the possibility of reducing freight rates for other commodities or of exempting them from increases.
(4). Information regarding the procedures for considering applications for promotional freight rates shall be made available by the conference to shippers and/or shippers' organizations and, on request, to the governments and/or other appropriate authorities of the countries whose trade is served by the conference.
(5). A promotional freight rate shall be established normally for a period of 12 months, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the parties concerned. Prior to the expiry of the period, the promotional freight rate shall be reviewed, on request by the shipper and/or shippers' organization concerned, when it shall be a matter for the shipper and/or shippers' organization, at the request of the conference, to show that the continuation of the rate is justified beyond the initial period.
(6). When examining a request for a promotional freight rate, the conference may take into account that, while the rate should promote the export of the non-traditional product for which it is sought, it is not likely to create substantial competitive distortions in the export of a similar product from another country served by the conference.
(7). Promotional freight rates are not excluded from the imposition of a surcharge or a currency adjustment factor in accordance with Articles 16 and 17.
(8). Each shipping line member of a conference serving the relevant ports of a conference trade shall accept, and not unreasonably refuse, a fair share of cargo for which a promotional freight rate has been established by the conference.