Collection

Transporting dangerous goods

• From: Department for Transport
• Part of: Transport security and Freight
• Published: 11 May 2013
• Last updated: 7 July 2017, see all updates

Guidance on how to transport dangerous goods.

Dangerous goods are assigned different classes ranging from 1 to 9.

These classes cover goods from the highly dangerous, such as explosives, flammables and fuming acids, to everyday products such as paints, solvents and pesticides.

You can receive updates relating to the carriage of dangerous goods from the Department for Transport (DfT) by joining our mailing list.

Transporting dangerous goods securely

Recommendations on the secure carriage of dangerous goods are contained in chapter 1.10 of both the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID).

The security provisions of ADR and RID apply in the UK through Regulation 5 of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (CDG) 2009. Regulations 7 and 8 contain additional security provisions that apply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). DfT has published detailed guidance on the security requirements for the carriage of goods by road and rail.

DfT is responsible for the enforcement of the secure carriage of dangerous goods requirements (excluding class 7 radioactive materials).

DfT has an expert stakeholder group called the Industry Advisory Group to develop and monitor the implementation of these security requirements and any supporting guidance.

Dangerous goods security enquiries

Contact DfT if you have a question about government policy and regulations for the secure carriage of dangerous goods.

Email: dangerousgoods@dft.gsi.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7944 2881 or 2271

Transporting dangerous goods safely

When transported, dangerous goods need to be packaged correctly to comply with international and national regulations for each transport mode, to ensure they are carried safely.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Dangerous Goods Office is responsible for the certification of dangerous goods packaging within the UK.

ADR/RID packaging and technical enquiries

Contact the VCA Dangerous Goods Office if you have a packaging or technical question about how requirements contained in ADR or RID may affect you.

Email: dgenquiries@vca.gov.uk Telephone: 01372 226 111

Safe carriage of dangerous goods enquiries

Contact DfT if you have a question about government policy and regulations for the safe carriage of dangerous goods.

Email: dangerousgoods@dft.gsi.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7944 2271 or 5120

Enforcement of the safe carriage of dangerous goods

The enforcement for the safe carriage of dangerous goods is undertaken by several authorities (excluding Class 7 radioactive materials). The authority responsible for enforcing the regulations depends on the mode of transport:

• for road transport, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the police are responsible
• or rail transport the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) are responsible
• for sea transport the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are responsible
• for air transport the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are responsible

Guidance on the carriage of dangerous goods

The Department for Transport has published a range of specialist guidance on transporting dangerous goods. Guidance on the carriage of radioactive material (Class 7) has been published by HSE.

A simple overview of how to ship, package and label dangerous goods is available on GOV.UK.

The following guidance supports the regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods:

1. Security requirements for moving dangerous goods by road and rail

   • 25 January 2017
   • Guidance

2. Driving dangerous goods and special loads

   • 25 January 2017
   • Guidance

3. Moving dangerous goods

   • 4 September 2012
   • Guidance

4. The carriage of dangerous goods: approved derogations and transitional provisions

   • 16 April 2012
   • Guidance

5. Dangerous goods: ADR instructions in writing and UK tunnel codes

   • 1 January 2010
   • Guidance

Carriage of dangerous goods: authorisation notices

The Secretary of State for Transport for transport, can issue written authorisations that allow for deviations from the requirements of European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID). These authorisations carry conditions and time limits, and apply to carriage within Great Britain only. The authorisations can be withdrawn by the competent authority at any time by means of a written notice.

Authorisation notices about transporting radioactive materials

Authorisations concerning the transport of radioactive materials are published by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

1. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 476

   • 13 October 2016
   • Notice

2. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 465

   • 29 January 2016
   • Notice

3. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 443

   • 19 February 2015
   • Notice

4. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 307

   • 1 January 2015
   • Notice

5. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 284

   • 21 June 2013
   • Notice

6. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 105

   • 14 March 2007
   • Notice

7. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 35

   • 26 July 2005
   • Notice

8. Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 1

   • 24 July 2007
   • Notice

Carriage of dangerous goods: exception notices

Under the carriage regulations, the competent authority (the Department for Transport) can make various provisions to the dangerous goods regulations, including recognising certain standards. These miscellaneous provisions are made through an exceptions notice.

1. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 34

   • 28 March 2017
   • Notice

2. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 31

   • 17 January 2017
   • Notice

3. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 30

   • 17 January 2017
   • Notice

4. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 29

   • 6 September 2015
   • Notice

5. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 27

   • 11 November 2014
   • Notice

6. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 7

   • 15 July 2014
   • Notice

7. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 5

   • 25 January 2017
   • Notice

8. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 4

   • 20 October 2005
   • Notice

9. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 3

   • 20 January 2006
   • Notice

10. Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 2

    • 25 February 2005
    • Notice

Carriage of dangerous goods other than Class 7: guidelines

Dangerous goods are assigned classes ranging from 1 to 9. Guidance on the carriage of radioactive material (Class 7) is published by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Guidance on the carriage of all other classes of dangerous goods is published by the Department for Transport (DfT). Further guidance on the carriage of dangerous goods is available from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

1. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 26

   • 7 July 2017
   • Guidance

2. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 25

   • 30 August 2016
   • Guidance

3. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 24

   • 8 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 23

   • 28 July 2015
   • Guidance

5. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 22

   • 18 March 2013
   • Guidance

6. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 21

   • 22 March 2012
   • Guidance

7. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 20

   • 18 March 2013
   • Guidance

8. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 19

   • 20 May 2016
   • Guidance

9. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 18

   • 14 March 2013
   • Guidance

10. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 17

    • 18 March 2013
    • Guidance

11. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 16

    • 7 January 2013
    • Guidance

12. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 12

    • 16 March 2016
    • Guidance

13. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 11

    • 22 June 2006
    • Guidance

14. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 10

    • 16 March 2006
    • Guidance

15. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 9

    • 15 March 2016
    • Guidance

16. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 7

    • 10 November 2009
    • Guidance

17. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 6

    • 18 September 2012
    • Guidance

18. Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 2

    • 20 July 2007
    • Guidance

19. Dangerous goods guidance note on the approval scheme for bulk containers BK1 and BK2

    • 30 June 2011
    • Guidance

Carriage of dangerous goods: multilateral agreements

The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) allow contracting parties to agree temporary derogations between themselves.

If carrying dangerous goods in accordance with an MA, a copy of it must be carried on the vehicle.

1. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M299

   • 6 June 2016
   • Notice

2. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M296

   • 12 April 2016
   • Notice

3. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M279

   • 24 July 2014
   • Notice

4. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M273

   • 15 July 2014
   • Notice

5. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M269

   • 14 January 2014
   • Notice

6. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M266

   • 18 December 2013
   • Notice

7. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M256

   • 3 January 2013
   • Notice

8. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M253

   • 17 December 2012
   • Notice

9. Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement RID 5/2012

   • 17 December 2012
   • Notice

Report an accident involving the carriage of dangerous goods

You can use our form to report an accident or incident involving the carriage of dangerous goods.

1. Dangerous goods incident reporting form

   • 29 August 2013
   • Form

Document information

Published: 11 May 2013

Updated: 7 July 2017

+ full page history

1. 7 July 2017 Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 16.
2. 28 March 2017 Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 34.
3. 25 January 2017 Updated links to latest ADR and RID regulations.
4. 17 January 2017 Carriage of dangerous goods exception notices 30 and 31 revised.
5. 13 October 2016 Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 476.
6. 30 August 2016 Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 33.
7. 28 July 2016 Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 32 added.
8. 6 June 2016 Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M299 added to page.
9. 26 May 2016 Multilateral agreement ADR M291.
10. 12 April 2016 Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M296 added.
11. 15 February 2016 List of authorisations to carry dangerous goods updated.
12. 11 May 2013 First published.

From: Department for Transport

Part of: Transport security Freight