ADR, from the French L' Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route is an international convention that regulates the transport of dangerous goods by road. This Convention was drawn up in 1957 in Geneva and was originally signed by 9 countries. It was ratified by Poland in 1975. In 2014, it was in force in 48 countries.

Annex A of the document incorporates information on manufactured hazardous materials in 13 hazard classes, including information on their hazards, packaging conditions, labelling, technical test conditions, cargo handling conditions, prohibitions on combined packaging of goods. The classes are distinguished:

1 - Explosives and explosive articles
2 - Gases
3 - Flammable liquids
4.1 - Flammable solids, self-reactive materials and desensitised solid explosives
4.2 - Spontaneously combustible materials
4.3 - Materials producing, in contact with water, flammable gases
5.1 - Oxidising materials
5.2 - Organic peroxides
6.1 - Toxic materials
6.2 - Infectious materials
7 - Radioactive materials
8 - Corrosives
9 - Miscellaneous dangerous materials and articles

Annex B specifies:

  • requirements relating to the construction and approval of vehicles, including tanks, containers, tank containers, trailers
  • vehicle crew requirements
  • requirements for other persons participating in the carriage
  • additional vehicle equipment
  • documentation required during carriage
  • additional monitoring requirements or travel restrictions

Legal basis:

  • International Convention on the carriage of dangerous goods and loads by road
  • Government Statement of 23 March 2011 on the entry into force of the amendments to Annexes A and B of the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road (ADR), done at Geneva on 30 September 1957.
  • Act of 19 August 2011 on the transport of hazardous materials
  • Regulation of 15 February 2012 on examinations for drivers transporting hazardous materials
  • Ordinance of 29 May 2012 on the conduct of courses on the carriage of dangerous goods
  • Regulation of 13 November 2012 amending the Regulation on examinations for drivers transporting dangerous goods (new templates of ADR certificates, and other information).
  • Ordinance of the Minister of Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy of 14 August 2012 on the form of the annual report on activities in the field of transport of dangerous goods and the manner of its completion

More information about ADR regulations can be found at tdt.pl

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