ADR 2023 English - Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) Applicable as from 1 January 2023

ADR is a regulatory text that applies to international transport in 53 countries (with the new accession of Armenia in 2022) and it also applies to national transport in many of these countries (and in particular in all the countries of the European Union). It lays down the requirements for transport operations, driver training and vehicle construction and approval. Each new edition renders the previous edition obsolete. From 1 July 2023 (end of the transitional period), all users will have to work with the 2023 edition. This concerns consignors of dangerous goods, tank-vehicle operators, vehicle and tank manufacturers, drivers, training bodies, packaging manufacturers etc.

ADR is also an important trade facilitation tool and thus helps to reduce the risk of protectionism. Except for dangerous goods which are totally prohibited for carriage, and except when the carriage is regulated or prohibited for reasons other than safety, the international carriage of dangerous goods by road is authorized by ADR in the territories of the Contracting Parties, provided that the provisions of the agreement are complied with. As a Contracting Party, the United Kingdom will continue to apply the requirements of ADR.

The 2023 edition has been prepared on the basis of amendments which are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2023 after acceptance by Contracting Parties. It contains various new and revised provisions concerning, inter alia, electric storage systems (including modification of the lithium battery mark and provisions for transport of assembled batteries not equipped with overcharge protection); requirements for the design, construction, inspection and testing of portable tanks with shells made of fibre reinforced plastics materials; the protection of tanks and certain FL vehicles against the risk of fire; use of battery electric vehicles for category AT; the use of recycled plastic materials for rigid and composite IBCs; and the approval of inspection bodies for conformity assessment, type approval certificate issue and inspections of tanks and pressure receptacles. The adoption of the new provisions that will allow the use of battery electric vehicles for category AT for the transport of dangerous goods and the development of provisions related to the use of recycled plastic materials for rigid and composite IBCs are in line with the logic of the energy transition and the development of renewable energy sources.