Proposed changes to Dangerous Goods Code open for public consultation

Proposed changes to the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail have been released by the National Transport Commission (NTC).

NTC Chief Executive Paul Retter said the proposed code includes changes to help align it with the latest UN recommendations (UN19). It also includes specific Australian changes and improvements to rules governing the transport of dangerous goods in limited amounts, as approved in principle by the Ministerial Council in 2015.

“We continually update the code to keep Australians safe and to cut unnecessary red tape on business,” said Retter.

He said the proposed changes would cut the red tape faced by people transporting limited quantities of household and personal care goods classified as dangerous, and implement a common placard limit of two tonnes for all movements of limited quantities of goods classified as dangerous.

It would also allow retail packages of very small quantities of goods classified as dangerous to be transported in a mixed package to be carried as general freight.

“These changes have been designed to help businesses get their goods to market efficiently without imposing a detectable level of risk to the Australian public,” said Retter.

“However, we are keen to hear from a range of views about whether they are an appropriate and effective way of doing this.”

Retter encouraged dangerous goods technical experts, chemical manufacturers and importers, the Australian transport industry and other interested persons to have their say on the proposed changes by 9 August. Visit www.ntc.gov.au for more information.