SUMMARY

One year from the start of this blog, it could be useful to summarize what have been said.
And perhaps quoting the HCB report from the TDG Congress in Ottawa is a good way (but I would expect some contribution from you to continue... !)

... Sergio Benassai ... As a general rule, he said, the transport provisions should apply equally to transport by all modes and classification, labelling and packaging should be aligned. Currently, however, there are variations in definitions, terminology, labelling requirements, limited quantity limits, documentation and packing instructions. He regretted that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had missed an opportunity to harmonise its packing instructions with those in the UN model regulations during its recent revision process; some of the differences are not really justified, he said. No proper risk assessment has been undertaken to justify the changes or lack thereof, although he acknowledged there is always an understandable reluctance to introduce changes for the sake of it.
Sergio proposed a way to deal with current disharmony: a World Convention on the transport of dangerous goods. A mandatory instrument with requirements for all modes and all countries would avoid the need for national legislation and could also reduce the need to hold international meetings. It could make more use of references to international standards and the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of classification and labelling. Discussions about this possibility have shown many countries are not sold on the idea so it is necessary to consider alternatives, Sergio said:
(a) open discussion on a website prior to regulatory meetings, so that lengthy unprepared discussions can be avoided at plenary sessions;
(b) discourage modal bodies from making changes without their being discussed first at UN level;
(c) avoid unnecessary editorial variations from the UN text in the modal rulebooks;
(d) align the modal regulations with the UN paragraph numbering system; and
(e) strengthen coordination at national level so that each country's delegations take the same message to the UN, ICAO, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other rulemaking bodies.
The language of the regulations needs to be clearer, Sergio said. Sharp intakes of breath followed his suggestion that regulators need to accept that English is the global language of trade and that it should be made the official language of all regulations.
Further suggestions from Sergio to foster harmonisation included:
(a) better definition of the responsibilities of the consignor/shipper, loader, carrier, consignee, etc;
(b) closer harmonisation with GHS and the inclusion in the Dangerous Goods List of substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR);
(c) a default system for classifying wastes (something that is being worked on for RID and ADR); and
(d) a single list of dangerous goods using only nos entries and with a UN numbering system similar to that used in the Kemler Code.
This would take a lot of work, though, Sergio said – perhaps it would be simpler to work towards a World Convention after all! ....


Waiting your comments !