1.1 Hazardous goods transportation on the road

1.1.1 ABOUT ADR

The ADR was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Organization and governs in Spain by the accession made on October 19, 1972. In addition to most of the European countries, it has also been signed by Asian and North African countries. The agreement regulates the packaging, transport, documentation and other aspects of road transport of dangerous goods, including the loading, unloading and storage of the same, whether the transport is carried out between several countries or within the territory of only one. An important aspect is the determination of the obligations and responsibilities of each one of the intervenors in the operations in order to try to avoid The regulation contains a detailed list with epigraphs for most of the goods considered dangerous (coded according to a numbering established by the UN) and the regulatory requirements that apply to each case. The regulation affects both those directly involved in transport and the manufacturers of elements and materials related to transport, packaging and handling of dangerous goods damages to people and things like protecting the environment. (https://www.eqgest.com/en/adr/)

The Agreement itself is short and simple. The key article is the second, which say that apart from some excessively dangerous goods, other dangerous goods may be carried internationally in road vehicles subject to compliance with (https://unece.org/about-adr):

• the conditions laid down in Annex A for the goods in question, in particular as regards their packaging and labelling; and

• the conditions laid down in Annex B, in particular as regards the construction, equipment and operation of the vehicle carrying the goods in question.

Annexes A and B have been regularly amended and updated since the entry into force of ADR. Consequently to the amendments that entered into force on 1 January 2021, a revised consolidated version has been published as document ECE/TRANS/300, Vol. I and II (ADR 2021).

The structure is consistent with that of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (of the International Maritime Organization), the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (of the International Civil Aviation Organization) and the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail). The lay-out is as follows:

Annex A: General provisions and provisions concerning dangerous articles and substances

Part 1 General provisions

Part 2 Classification

Part 3 Dangerous goods list, special provisions and exemptions related to limited and excepted quantities

Part 4 Packing and tank provisions

Part 5 Consignment procedures

Part 6 Requirements for the construction and testing of packagings, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), large packagings, tanks and bulk containers

Part 7 Provisions concerning the conditions of carriage, loading, unloading and handling

Annex B: Provisions concerning transport equipment and transport operations

Part 8 Requirements for vehicle crews, equipment, operation and documentation

Part 9 Requirements concerning the construction and approval of vehicles

Applicability of ADR

Notwithstanding the transitional measures provided for in ADR 2021, which allow compliance with certain requirements contained in previous editions, the editions of ADR published by the United Nations which may be used for compliance are as follows:

Since 1 January 2021: 2021 Edition (ECE/TRANS/300, Vol.I and II and Corr.1 and Corr.2). This edition includes the amendments in force since 1 January 2021.