A new year, new opportunities. But also new challenges! This year, a lot of things are changing in laws and regulations governing transportation of dangerous goods, and your business may be affected as well. For example, have you seen that the ADR requires a security advisor for “paper consignors”? A brief update.
Changes in the international regulations for the transport of dangerous goods – ADR (road transport), IMDG Code (maritime transport), RID (rail transport) and ADN (inland navigation) – are being implemented this year. These are about the same in all four laws. Among other things, a new type of transport tank, made of a special plastic, is being introduced. In ADR, RID and ADN 2023, the new rules apply as of Jan. 1 last year, but they do not become mandatory until July 1 this year. So make sure your business is compliant by then. Even though the Dutch translations of the regulations have not yet been released, we are already giving you a sneak peek at the 2023 versions.
IMDG and IATA
The latest version of the IMDG Code was recently published (Amendment 41-22). You can already use it now, and it will become mandatory on Jan. 1, 2024. But beware: your clients may already demand that you operate under the new rules. So refresh your knowledge in advance! The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (manual for transporting dangerous goods by air) also has changes this year. The addendum to the 64th edition became effective Jan. 1.
Mandatory security advisor for senders
An important regulation became mandatory in the ADR as of Jan. 1 of this year: a consignor of dangerous goods must also appoint a safety advisor. A consignor refers to a company that does not itself transport, unload, load, fill or pack. Forwarders often have this role, also called “paper sender. Of course, Special Cargo College provides safety consultant training. We can also act as an external security consultant with you.
Competency-based training
Special Cargo College is proud to be the first training provider in the Netherlands to be IATA CBTA-accredited. CBTA stands for Competency-Based Training & Assessment: employees are trained in the tasks they need to perform in the real world. No more redundant teaching, but rather education aimed at increasing the competencies of the trainees in their jobs. So with us, you can now take competency-based training on the transportation of dangerous goods by air. And if you don’t know which training is right for your company: there will be a flow chart to select the right ones. You then fill out a few basic questions and you’ll know which training(s) are applicable to your business. So keep an eye on our coverage!
Acknowledgements air freight
IATA has required this CBTA way of training for personnel involved in the transportation of dangerous goods by air since Jan. 1 of this year. However, there is 1 “but”: the Dutch regulation we must rely on in IATA training has been delayed. Last November, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management informed us that the Regulation on Recognition of Training Institutions and Examinations VGL will not enter into force on the scheduled January 1, but probably on July 1, 2023. This means that training for obtaining the certificate mentioned in this regulation can only be started after that date. For training of other employees, the new international ICAO training requirements – and thus the CBTA – do apply as of Jan. 1. Abroad, we can already train all employees CBTA.
Want to know more? Please contact us at 085 792 0585 or sales@specialcargo.nl.
