HSC press release: C016:04 - 21 April 2004
New regulations on the carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail will come into force on 10 May 2004, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) announced today.
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (the Regulations) consolidate into one set the previous extensive portfolio of over a dozen sets of regulations.
They implement EC Directives 2003/28/EC, 2003/29/EC and complete the implementation of Directive 1999/36/EC. They also directly reference the 2003 texts of the international agreements - RID for rail and ADR for road - that govern the land carriage of dangerous goods. This new approach is in response to requests from industry for a rationalisation of requirements.
The main changes brought about by the Regulations include:
The Regulations take account of national derogations agreed with the European Commission in respect of certain transport operations involving local journeys or the movement of dangerous goods in small quantities.
They carry forward the mandatory Emergency Action Code system for placarding certain GB-registered vehicles on GB journeys. The Regulations will be supported by a number of letters of authorisation allowing time-limited relaxations to some requirements. Please look at HSE's website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/spd/cdg for further details.
The Regulations are accompanied by the publication of a free guidance leaflet: 'Working with ADR - an introduction to the carriage of dangerous goods by road'.
Les Philpott, Head of Division within the Health and Safety Executive's Policy Group with responsibility for transport issues, said: "These new Carriage Regulations are a tremendous step forward in simplifying the framework of rules on the land transport of dangerous goods. The direct referencing of RID and ADR recognises the arguments put to us that this approach would make it far simpler for those moving dangerous goods domestically and internationally to follow one set of rules. And future consultation will become a more straightforward process.
Responsibility for the preparation of future GB legislation on the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail is transferring from HSE to the Department for Transport in time for the Department to draft regulations implementing the 2005 amending Commission Directives. The regulations are due to be in place by 1 July 2005.
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (S.I.2004 No 568) will be accessible shortly via the HMSO website at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/568/contents/made
Copies of HSE's free guidance leaflet Working with ADR - an introduction to the carriage of dangerous goods by road are available free to download at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/trandan.htm. From 1 July 2004 the leaflet will be available from the Department for Transport (DfT).
DfT priced and free publications are available from DfT Publications, PO Box 236, Wetherby West Yorkshire, LS23 7NB. Tel 0870 1226 236; Fax 0870 1226 237. Email: dft@twoten.press.net Website: http://www.publications.dft.gov.uk/
1. HSC published a Consultative Document (CD188) last year, setting out proposals for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 200 (see press notice: C020:03 of 3 June 2003). Following consultation and subsequent amendments, the Regulations were agreed by HSC on 9 December 2003 and submitted to the Department for Transport on 18 January 2004 for Ministers to sign. The Regulations were laid before Parliament on 16 April 2004.
2. The Regulations implement firstly Council Directive 94/55/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road (as amended by Directive 2000/61/EC and Commission Directive 20003/28/EC). This Directive applies the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) (Current Edition: 2003).
3. The Regulations implement Council Directive 96/49/EC on the approximation of the laws of Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail (as amended by Directive 2000/62/EC and Commission Directive 2003/29/EC). This Directive applies the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail ("RID") which form Annex 1 to Appendix B to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (Current Edition: 2003).
4. The Regulations implement Council Directive 1999/36/EC concerning transportable pressure equipment ("the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive").
5. The Regulations revoke:
All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office
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