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DEVIL IN THE DETAIL
THE 2021 TEXT oof the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) enters into force on 1 January 2021, with a six-month transitional period within the EU (and the UK). For those familiar with the two volumes contained in Annexes A and B to ADR, one obvious change will appear on the front cover – the word ‘European’ will no longer come in front of ‘Agreement’ as, after several years of discussion and reflecting the fact that ADR is widely used (and not just by signatory states) elsewhere in the world,
Changes within the covers of the two documents will, though, be less extensive than is normal for the biennial update. As with other organisations around the world, restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed the ability of the body responsible for ADR – the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s (UN ECE) Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP15) – to complete its deliberations. In particular, the postponement of WP15’s session scheduled for May 2020 meant that a lot
for 2021 had to be deposited with the UN no later than 1 July 2020. Having lost that opportunity in May to make further changes, WP15 has limited the update to ADR to those decisions taken at the previous three sessions, which were partly based on the deliberations of the Joint Meeting of Experts on RID/ADR/ADN (necessary to ensure modal harmonisation with rail and inland waterway transport) and partly on the latest, 21st revised edition of the UN Model Regulations. A few outstanding items crucial for modal harmonisation were agreed by correspondence subsequent to the postponed May session, along with some amendments critical for safety that had been put forward by the Working Groups on Tanks and Standards, not least those in Parts 8 and 9, which are not drawn from the UN Model Regulations. The 108th session originally scheduled for May has been rearranged for 9 to 13 November; as of writing, it cannot be stated
it has been decided it is now an obstacle to road safety in the world at large.
of the work to finalise outstanding issues was left unfinished. On the basis of previous experience, this was the last chance to have significant amendments agreed and adopted – and there had been a number of issues left over from the previous sessions. From a legal standpoint, the notification of changes
with confidence that this session will go ahead. It is due to discuss the items placed on the agenda for the May session, but any significant decisions taken will be too late for inclusion in the 2021 text of ADR – although any deemed sufficiently safety-critical may be anticipated through multilateral special
ROAD • NEXT YEAR’S ADR WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY. THERE ARE A FEW SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BUT A LOT OF APPARENTLY MINOR AMENDMENTS THAT WILL AFFECT MANY USERS
THE ADR REGULATIONS GOVERN A WIDE ARRAY OF ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS
HCB MONTHLY | OCTOBER 2020
