Transport of dangerous goods by railway

The transport of dangerous goods in the EU by rail is mainly covered by the Framework Directive 96/49/EC on transport of dangerous goods by rail. The European standards laying down detailed technical specifications relating to the construction, use and conditions of carriage of pressure drums, cylinder racks and tanks for the transport of dangerous goods by rail have not yet been added to the Annex to Directive 96/49/EC, since standardisation of the CEN on them is not yet complete. It is therefore necessary to defer the deadlines by which such pressure drums, cylinder racks and tanks must comply with Directive 96/49/EC. The proposed modification states that a Member State may maintain national provisions in force on 31 December 1996 relating to the construction, use and conditions of carriage of new tanks, and new pressure drums and cylinder racks as defined in Class 2 of the Annex, which differ from the provisions of that Annex until references to standards for the construction and use of tanks, pressure drums and cylinder racks are added to the Annex, with the same binding force as the provisions therein, but in any event no later than 30 June 2003. Pressure drums, cylinder racks and tanks constructed before 1 July 2003 and other receptacles constructed before 1 July 2001 and maintained to the required safety levels may continue to be used under the original conditions. The dates 30 June 2003 and 1 July 2003 shall be put back for pressure drums, cylinder racks and tanks for which there are no detailed technical requirements or for which no sufficient references to appropriate European standards have been added to the Annex.�