Transport of dangerous goods by rail

The committee adopted a report (first reading, codecision procedure) by its chairman Kostas HATZIDAKIS (EPP/ED, GR) approving the Commission proposal. The report stressed that the general public took a great interest in the transport of dangerous goods and measures relating to such transport. The main objective of any EU legislation in this field should be to ensure quality and high safety standards. The rapporteur regretted, however, that standards for class 2 gases had not yet been agreed by the European Committee for Standardisation. In all Member States there were various provisions in industrial and transport law concerning the packing and transporting of these gases. National regulations could be very different, which would lead to a fragmentation of the market incompatible with the single market. It was therefore difficult to explain to the general public why the necessary common European standards had not yet been incorporated into EU legislation.�