Transport of dangerous goods by rail

The Council's common position is broadly in line with the Commission's proposal. The European Parliament approved the Commission proposal without amendments. The first three changes made by common position to the proposal draw on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament to the Commission proposal amending Directive 94/55/EC, these aim in particular: - to bring the text of the Directive into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC on committee procedure; - to ensure a consistency between the wording and a similar provision concerning the operating temperature of materials used for plastic packaging, tanks and their equipment, as contained in the Council's common position on the proposal on transport by road; - avoid discrimination between rail wagons and tanks constructed before or after 1 June 1997 and conforming to legislation in force on the date of construction, and to ensure consistency between the Directive and the common position on transport and road. In addition, a further amendment is included which is designed to enable Member States to authorise derogations for the transport of small quantities of certain dangerous goods within their territory, subject to advance notification of those derogations to the Commission.�