ICAO’s deadline for state compliance with the machine readable passport standard (requiring that all non-machine readable passports expire by 24 November 2015) is days away. This requirement is based on a Standard set out in Annex 9 to the Chicago Convention (Facilitation). See paragraph 3.10.1, in Annex 9.
As such, it is important that all member States comply, file a notification of differences, or be prepared in one of several ways, for the potential consequences of their own non-compliance (including the potential of facing sanctions such as bilateral refusal of admittance for those not carrying machine readable passports).
This deadline is an important safeguard in universal global strengthening of border integrity and security, as well as combatting terrorism and trans-border crime.
For states which are not yet ready, practical steps which may be taken are set out on the ICAO website: http://www.icao.int/Security/mrtd/Pages/24-NOV-2015.aspx