FIFTY YEARS OF SAFE DANGEROUS GOODS
Geneva, 6 November 2007 -- The European Agreement concerning the
International Transport of Dangerous Good by Road (ADR) turns fifty years
in 2007 and to mark the occasion, the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) is organizing, on 8 November 2007, a Round Table discussion
at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Transport stakeholders will come together to reflect on the past and present
role of the ADR. Drawing on the example of this Agreement, participants will
explore the effectiveness of UNECE legal instruments and the increased safety
and facilitation of international transport.
The ADR sets standards for the international carriage of dangerous goods
by road to ensure a high level of safety. It harmonizes transport conditions
and facilitates the international transport and trade of a wide range of products
of economic importance such as petroleum products, gases, chemicals, agrochemicals
and fertilizers.
Contracting Parties allow the international carriage of dangerous goods
by road on their territory provided it meets the conditions stipulated in
the Agreement. The conditions cover both the packaging and labelling of dangerous
goods, and the construction, equipment and operation of the vehicle carrying
the goods. 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 country.
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.
The ADR, done in Geneva on 30 September 1957, under the auspices of UNECE,
entered into force on 29 January 1968 and currently counts 43 Contracting
Parties, including the 27 Member States of the European Union, Albania, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway,
Russian Federation, Serbia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
The Round Table, which takes place during the 83 rd session of the Working
Party on the transport of dangerous goods (WP.15), is open to the public.
The programme can be found at: http://www.unece.org/trans/doc/2007/wp15/ECE-TRANS-WP15-83-inf09e-Rev1.pdf.
For further information please contact:
Eva Molnar, Director, or
Olivier Kervella, Chief, Dangerous Goods and Special Cargoes Section
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/P06