INF.6

GENEVA, 13-24 MARCH 2000

Information Paper from the Observer of the European Commission

RESTRUCTURING OF RID/ADR

While not directly involved in the detailed work of restructuring, the European Commission has paid close attention to the progress of this exercise over the years. It agrees with the principle that the text of the regulations should be made more user-friendly and compatible with the rules governing other modes of transport and with the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. This principle is now of even greater importance than before, given that the RID and ADR are now also the basis for national legislation in all the member States of the European Union, and also in a number of candidate countries to the European Union.

The European Commission was, therefore, pleased to note the firm decision of the September 1999 Joint Meeting that the restructured texts of RID and ADR should enter into force on 1 July 2001, with a transitional period of eighteen months. It understands that a number of Member States are now already preparing legislation on the basis of this timetable.

3. In view of this, and of the necessity of co-ordinating with other modes, the European Commission is of the strong opinion that this timetable must now be strictly adhered to. In practice, that means that the draft texts must be agreed by this session of the Joint Meeting, so that they can be subsequently formally adopted by WP15 and the RID Committee of Experts meeting in May and June respectively. Non-essential improvements must now be deferred to later editions.

_________________