Transport of dangerous goods by road: standards, European agreement ADR annexes

PURPOSE: amendment of Council Directive 94/55/EC regarding the transport of dangerous goods by road. CONTENT: Council Directive laid down a number of transitional provisions valid until January 1999 to permit completion of standardisation work being carried out by CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) and amendment of some provisions of the Annexes to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Because of some delays in this work, the time limit fixed in Directive 94/55/EC is not consistent with the current situation, involving short-term problems of application. There are three main short-term problems: - receptacles for transporting Class 2 gases and on tanks; - centre of gravity of tank-vehicles; and - the obligation for the Commission to submit to the Council before 31/12/1998 a report assessing certain safety aspects. The main objective of this proposed amendment to Directive 94/55/EC is to avoid having to amend national legislations for a very brief period, i.e. to avoid expenditure for the Member States and industry without any benefit to the Community. Moreover, provision is made in Directive 94/55/EC for the adaptation of Annexes A and B to technical progress and the Community must ensure the coherence of its legislation, i.e. between the provisions laid down in the articles of a directive and those laid down in the ADR Annexes.�