Having survived several lockdowns and negotiated our way through social distancing etc, we now face the introduction of new dangerous goods regulations from the beginning of 2023. 

All modes will be publishing revised Manuals effective 1st January 2023 although, at the time of writing, publication dates are not yet available. Perhaps the most significant changes will be those associated with air transport where the much-publicised Competency Based Training is scheduled to come into effect on 1st January. As the UK Civil Aviation Authority (Dangerous Goods Office) controls all aspects of the transport of dangerous goods by air, we have been advised that there will be some changes to the current training regime. These will mainly revolve around the examination system and it appears that each Approved Training Provider will design exams to suit the requirements of a range of students against a template to be supplied by the CAA. 

In view of the tight timescale, we wait with bated breath for further information and the template(s). IATA has already marketed a training programme to meet the new regulations but this does not seem to have been endorsed by the CAA and thus has no legal status in the UK.

Furthermore, although revised Road regulations are due to change for 2023, we have no publication date for the ADR Manual and there is some speculation over when the Sea (IMDG Code) will be effective. This latter dilemma has arisen because the previous IMDG Code was not published until May 2021 (five months late due to Covid-19) and the current regulations are valid until mid-2023. However, there is an unsubstantiated suggestion that the IMO – publisher of the IMDG Code - may revert to previous publication dates (1st January).

In the meantime, we continue with our 2022 published training – see www.cargotraining.com. Obviously, we remain alert to any changes and these will be reported and continually updated in our ‘latest news’ section on the website.

Bob Carter

Managing Director

Cargo Training International Ltd