GHS and Multimodal transport of dangerous goods - Regulatory changes and future challenges. - Part 2

Rose Marie Andersen, Jotun A/S, Norway

 
International transport of hazardous goods falls under different regulations depending on the mode of transport (road, sea, air etc.). These regulations are based on the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations and then transferred into modal regulations. As a result, there are modal differences which could lead to confusion amongst users in the transport chain. Problems often occur with respect to classification, label and marking, packaging, documents, transitional periods etc. In order to comply with the requirements, often on high technical levels, close follow up from the industry has been a matter of great importance. With the fact that the manufacturers are mainly interested in classification issues, implementation of GHS and CLP will lead to more attention to GHS and less to technical transport issues. The Industry will therefore in the long run benefit from a harmonized regulation for all modes. An important example of harmonisation is the new classification and marking requirements for environmentally hazardous substances and Marine Pollutants. Some major changes became mandatory July this year and will be further implemented in 2010 and 2011. If the industry is not aware of these changes on an early stage, it can result in fines, delays in delivery, unnecessary work with remarking of packages or even worse – scrapping of already produced / printed packagings. This must be avoided!