UN, OTIF and the transport of dangerous goods

Swedish regulations on the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail are based on international agreements set by the UN and OTIF

The United Nations is responsible for the agreement on road transport (ADR), while the intergovernmental organisation OTIF is responsible for the corresponding agreement concerning rail transport (RID). MSB is actively involved in the development of the provisions, e.g. by participating in the various committees and working groups that discuss, develop and adopt new provisions.

The UN Model Regulations (the “Orange Book”)

The UN Model Regulations form the basis for the development of regulations for the transport of dangerous goods, regardless of transport mode. The UN Model Regulations represent the global orientation for how the rules should be formulated and structured to achieve harmonized provisions. Among other things, the UN Model Regulations cover the classification of dangerous goods, construction and approval of packagings and consignment procedures such as marking, labelling and documentation.

The regulations are continuously developed by an expert committee under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and two sub-committees of the Expert Committee. The MSB and the Swedish Chemicals Agency represent Sweden on these meetings.

ADR and RID

At UNECE level the work concerning road transport is under the responsibility of the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP.15). The Working Party initiate and pursue actions aimed at enhancing the safety and security during transport of dangerous goods.

Amendments to ADR requiring or calling for harmonization with the corresponding provisions for rail (RID) and inland waterways (ADN) (Sweden is not a member of ADN) are prepared by the Joint Meeting of the RID Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods.
The RID Committee of Experts takes decisions on proposals to amend Appendix C to COTIF, i.e. the Regulation concerning international carriage of dangerous goods by rail and its annex (RID).