Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. Using the previously BIC-defined sizes, containers of were a practical size to be transported lengthwise on most countries' trucks, and transversely on railcars. ISO containers and BIC registration – ISO 6346 Once the larger containers of the ISO-design were gradually popularized, the "Pa-Behälter" system was supplanted, and withdrawn from use by the railways. From the 1970s on, the Pa-system was reutilized in several European countries for transport of waste disposal by trucks, especially open skips for demolition / construction waste. The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) was elected by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) in the late 1960s as the single registrar office in charge of the registration and protection of the container's owners and operator's identification code. These "BIC codes" were later standardised under ISO 6346. They ensure a unique code-number for every shipping container in the world. They started with the European 'Pa-container' system, and they must still be registered with BIC. The Customs Convention on Containers (CCC-1972) in a recent amendment, enforced since 2008, also makes reference to the ISO 6346 standard, and code registration with BIC, to allow the free circulation of containers worldwide. Facilities The BIC is headquartered 41 rue Réaumur, 75003, Paris, France. References External links Standards organizations in France Intermodal containers Organizations based in Paris