www.truckandtrack.com Winter 2025/26 Truck and Track 65 DANGEROUS GOODS In 1957 The Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) was drafted and the content was widely drawn from the long-established RID. However, it wasn’t until 1968 that the detail was finalised, and ADR came into effect. It now forms the basis of legislation in 55 countries. Multi-mode Each mode of transport had its own set of agreements and rules with very little regard to the requirements and practicalities faced by the other modes. As far back as 1953, the UN had established a Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods which produced the multi-modal Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The Committee still operates and produces updates and amendments to the regulations every two years - “The Model Regulations” (also known as The Orange Book). However, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that there was a recognition that, for consistency and to avoid duplication, there was some real convergence and alignment across the modes. The incident that triggered the drive for road transport to become more stringently regulated occurred in 1978 when a tanker carrying 23 tonnes of Liquified Propylene exploded near the Los Alfaques Camp Site near Tarragona in Spain. There were 217 fatalities and 200 severely burned. Los Alfaques, 1978 After a plane crash in Boston USA in 1973, The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), reviewed many of their standards and procedures, and established a Dangerous Goods Panel. Subsequently, ICAO adopted many of the recommendations of the UN system to produce the first mandatory “Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air”. The IATA DGR follows the ICAO TI very closely although it is the more common reference as it includes additional information, including State and Operator variations. Every two years, the UN Sub-Committee meets and makes its recommendations, which are then published and referred to as guidance for implementing new rules across all modes. For practical reasons, and to give time for the legal text to be finalised in each mode, these changes are normally added to the modal regulations when the next amendment / edition is produced - which is every two years, except the IATA DGR which is every year. Regulations and Publications Packaging Labels Placards Software Documents and Forms Packaging Chemical Regulations and GHS Training Consultancy and DGSA Services Labeline, for all your Dangerous Goods compliance needs: For more information visit: www.labeline.com Order on line 24-7 Phone: 01271 817677/0870 850 5051 sales@labeline.com Order today delivered tomorrow Transition periods Air: NONE. There is no transition to adopt the regulations as they come into effect on 1st January. Road, Rail Inland Waterways (ADN): 6 MONTHS. So, for example, ADR 2025 became mandatory on July 1st 2025 Sea: 1 YEAR. Confusingly, the year of the Amendment to the IMDG Code is the year that it was agreed, not the year from when it can be used. The current Amendment 42/2024 can be applied voluntarily until end 2025 but becomes mandatory from 1st January 2026. Current editions for 2026 ADR 2025 IMDG Code 42/24 RID 2025 ADN 2025 ICAO TI 2025 IATA DGR 67th Edition, 2026 About Labeline… Worldwide, Labeline Intl. has maintained its position as the leading authorised distributor for the regulations covering the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail, sea and air (note that the 67th Edition of the IATA DGR for 2026 is now available). As the only authorised reseller in UK and Ireland for all modes of transport, Labeline is at the forefront of compliance when it comes to dangerous goods and stocks 1,000’s of Compliant regulations for ADR, IMO, IATA and ICAO publications. ADR 1957
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