UK derogations now available

UK authorities have published the Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions, the document that provides exemptions from domestic requirements for the transport of dangerous goods as laid down in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG) as amended. For the first time, the document applied equally to Great Britain and to Northern Ireland, which has its own version of the CDG regulations.

The Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions were due to appear last year to coincide with the introduction of the new text of ADR and RID on July 1. However, not least because of the new arrangement with Northern Ireland, its finalisation was substantially delayed. The next version of the document should appear in time for July 1, 2013.

The Approved Derogations number 17 for road transport and five for rail transport. The document also contains a summary of the requirements for ‘UK tanks’ – those that were not constructed according to the provisions of ADR, RID or the EU’s Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED), or subsequently reassessed in accordance with those rules, but were constructed in accordance with earlier national provisions. Similar specific provisions are included for mobile explosive manufacturing units.

The full text of the Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions can be found on the UK Department for Transport (DfT) website at www.dft.gov.uk/publications/carriage-of-dangerous-goods-approved-derogations-transitional-provisions.