Malta joins the ADR
Geneva, 22 May 2007 -- On 8 May 2007 Malta acceded to the European
Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
The ADR will enter info force for Malta on 8 June 2007. This accession
brings the total number of States Contracting Parties to the ADR to 43.
The ADR aims at ensuring a high level of safety during the international
carriage of dangerous goods by road and, through harmonization of transport
conditions, at facilitating the international transport and trade of a
wide range of products of economic importance such as petroleum products,
gases, chemicals, agrochemicals and fertilizers.
According to the ADR, the international carriage of dangerous goods by
road between countries which are Contacting Parties is authorized provided
that the conditions laid down in Annexes A and B are met. Nevertheless,
each Contracting Party retains the right to regulate or prohibit, for reasons
other than safety during carriage, the entry of dangerous goods into its
territory.
The annexes to the ADR contain internationally agreed conditions for
the international carriage of dangerous substances, including wastes, in
packages and in bulk. They address the types of packaging, containers,
tanks and vehicles that may be used; requirements for their marking, labelling,
use or operation; and their construction, testing and approval. They also
contain procedures for training of persons involved in the carriage of
dangerous goods, safety obligations of the participants, checks and other
support measures to ensure compliance with safety requirements.
In accordance with EU Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994, as amended,
all EU Member States apply the annexes of ADR to domestic and intra-Community
transport of dangerous goods by road.
The ADR was completed in Geneva on 30 September 1957 under the auspices
of the UNECE, and entered into force on 29 January 1968. Since then, the
UNECE Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods has kept the Annexes
to the Agreement up to date on a regular basis in the light of technical
progress, the advent of new substances and materials, the exigencies of
modern transport systems and, above all, the requirement to ensure the
safety and security of people, property and the environment.
The 2007 ADR is available from the UN Publications and Sales Section,
Palais des Nations, Geneva ([email protected]).
Sales price is $145 for the 2-volume set (1200+ pages), or $225 for the
2-volume set and the complete text on CD-Rom (English/French).
For further information please contact:
José Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Olivier Kervella, Chief, Dangerous Goods and Special Cargoes Section
UNECE
Transport Division
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2456
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0039
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/danger.htm
Ref: ECE/TRANS/07/N08