Transport of dangerous goods by road: type-approval of motor vehicles and trailers (amend. Directive 70/156/EEC)

PREVIOUS COMMUNITY LEGISLATION: Directive 89/684/EEC of 21 December 1989 on vocational training for certain drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods by road (OJ L 398, 30.12.1989, p. 33); this directive has implemented in all Member States the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), as amended, whilst at the same time strengthening it and extending its scope to cover national traffic and bulk transport (the ADR covers only tank transport) and excluding only transport by vehicles with a maximum permissible weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes or a capacity not exceeding 3000 litres. See also Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road (OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 7). PREVIOUS EP POSITION: when considering the proposal for Directive 89/684/EEC, Parliament adopted a major amendment aimed at making retraining or refresher courses compulsory if the Directive was amended or if a driver had not transported goods covered by the Directive for a period of at least two years. The Council did not accept the amendment. SITUATION IN THE MEMBER STATES: Directive 89/684/EEC has been implemented by Denmark, Spain, France, Italy and Luxembourg. Note that implementation was required by 1 January 1995, except in the case of Portugal, which was given until 1 January 1996 to implement the Directive.