OTIF develops uniform legal regimes for international rail transport in three major areas of activity: technical interoperability and safety, dangerous goods and railway contract law.

The OTIF Secretariat organises meetings at which legal texts are proposed, discussed and adopted. The Member States meet in working groups, committees, the Administrative Committee and the General Assembly.

The legal framework enacted by OTIF is developed continually in order to meet the requirements of the various actors in international rail traffic. The Appendices to COTIF and the associated annexes and provisions are amended and adapted in line with economic, scientific, technical and social developments.