26 May 1983

Work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 468 G (XV) of 15 April 1953, 645 G (XXIII) of 26 April 1957, 994 (XXXVI) of 16 December 1963, 1110 (XL) of 7 March 1966, 1488 (XLVIII) of 22 May 1970, 1744 (LIV) of 4 May 1973, 1973 (LIX) and 1974 (LIX) of 30 July 1975, 2050 (LXII) of 5 May 1977, 1979/42 of 11 May 1979 and 1981/3 of 4 May 1981,

Recognizing the importance of the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods for the harmonization of codes and regulations relating to the transport of dangerous goods,

Bearing in mind the need to maintain safety standards at all times and to facilitate trade, as well as the importance of this to the various organizations responsible for modal regulations, while meeting the growing concern for the protection of life and property through the safe transport of dangerous goods,

Noting the increasing volume of dangerous goods being introduced into world-wide commerce and the rapid expansion of technology and innovation,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and of the recommendations contained in its report with respect to the listing, classification, packaging and labelling of existing and new products, and to other matters that will ensure safety during transport;

2. Takes note of the fact that increased importance and reliance is being placed on the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by the specialized agencies and other international organizations and by Member States, which take the recommendations more and more as a guideline for their own recommendations and regulations in order to achieve internationally harmonized laws;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the contents of the report of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods:

(a) To incorporate into a new text all the new and amended recommendations made by the Committee of Experts at its twelfth session, together with any consequential changes to be introduced into existing recommendations;

(b) To publish the resulting revised text of the recommendations of the Committee of Experts in all the official languages of the United Nations as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective manner, in accordance with the proposal in the report of the Committee;

(c) To circulate the recommendations as soon as possible to the Governments of Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international organizations concerned;

(d) To make available, within existing resources and in order to maintain the standard of work at the requisite level, the improved staffing requested by the Committee for the secretariat unit servicing the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Council in their work on the transport of dangerous goods;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to examine all the implications of proposals to enlarge the membership of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by, inter alia, converting observers into full members in view of their active participation in its work over a continuous period, and, at the same time, of widening the decision-making base of the Committee through broader geographical representation, and to report thereon to the Council;

5. Invites all Governments, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international organizations concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General such comments as they may wish to make on the amended recommendations;

6. Invites all Governments and international organizations concerned to take account of the recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods when developing appropriate codes and regulations.