NTC hails new dangerous goods code of practice

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has hailed the new Australian Dangerous Goods Code, claiming that when it is introduced next January, it will bring Australia more closely into line with United Nations regulations for the transport of dangerous goods across all modes. Chief executive Nick Dimopoulos said the new code, the Australian Dangerous Goods Code 7th Edition (ADG7), reduces the cost and complexity of compliance for business. The 6th Edition of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG6) will continue to apply until December 31, 2008 allowing a one-year transitional overlap between editions of the code for training and education. &#8220The benefits of alignment with international air and sea requirements include less re-labelling and re-packaging of exports and imports,&#8221 Mr Dimopoulos said, noting that export chemicals and mineral fuels represented about 14% of Australia’s trade by value. &#8220Australia’s intermodal freight operators will also get a single set of dangerous goods regulations, covering both road and rail transport, for the first time.&#8221 Placard load limits for dangerous goods licensing and insurance remain largely the same as under ADG6. The minimum insurance coverage is now $5m for each placarded trailer, which accommodates trailers in vehicle combinations owned and insured by different companies. &#8220Dangerous goods transport already has a good safety record,&#8221 Mr Dimopoulos said. &#8220ADG7 fine-tunes the code, and sets the foundation for regular revisions, to ensure the industry operates at world’s best practice, as the freight task grows.&#8221 Other features of ADG7 include: &#8226 The licence exemption for certain herbicides and pesticides transported in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) up to 3,000 kg&#47l in total &#8226 Stronger chain of responsibility provisions including specific duties on consignors to prevent the movement of goods too dangerous to be transported &#8226 Emergency information panels on IBCs and all placard loads are still required to ensure easy incident response identification * Concessions for small quantities of dangerous goods transported solely for personal use, or by trades people in the course of their business &#8226 Concessions for small quantities of dangerous goods in mixed retail distribution loads and &#8226 Technical updates from UN15 recently ratified by the UN. ADG7 was developed in close consultation with government agencies and a wide range of industry sectors. Mr Dimopoulos said the NTC would work with governments to resolve a number of outstanding implementation issues, which could lead to minor inconsistencies in the national framework. Copies of the new code and information guide will be available for purchase in hardcopy and electronic formats in August 2007. The model regulations will be included in the published version and will also be made available online.

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