28 May 1985

22nd plenary meeting

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, 1981/3 of 4 May 1981 and 1983/7 of 26 May 1983,

Noting the ever-increasing volume of dangerous goods in world-wide commerce and the rapid expansion of technology and innovation,

Bearing in mind the constant need to meet the growing concern for the protection of life and property through the safe transport of dangerous goods, while at the same time facilitating trade,

Aware that in order to achieve internationally harmonized laws complete reliance is 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 interested Member States which are committed to taking the recommendations of the Committee as a basis for the formulation of their requirements and regulations,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods in the biennium 1983-1984 and of the new and amended recommendations approved by the Committee for inclusion in its existing recommendations;

2. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To incorporate in the existing recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods all of the new and amended recommendations approved by the Committee at its thirteenth session;

(b) To publish the new and amended recommendations in all the official languages of the United Nations, in the most cost-effective manner, before the end of 1985 at the latest;

(c) To circulate the new and amended recommendations immediately after their publication to the Governments of Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the other international organizations concerned;

3. Invites all Governments, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the other international organizations concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General their views on the Committee's work, together with any comments they may wish to make on the amended recommendations;

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

5. Recommends that, in view of the increasing concern being expressed in many international and regional bodies about environmental considerations in respect of the transport of dangerous substances, in particular hazardous wastes, transport requirements concerning the protection of the environment should take into account, inter alia, the recommendations of the Committee of Experts;

6. Also requests the Secretary-General to make available, within existing resources, the staff necessary for the adequate servicing of the Committee of Experts, recalling that the request made by the Council in this regard in resolution 1983/7 has not yet been implemented;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report, as requested by the Council in resolution 1983/7, for submission to the Council at its second regular session of 1986, on the participation of Member States, particularly developing countries, in the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, taking into account, inter alia, the desirability of appointing observers as 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 propose ways and means of encouraging the participation of developing countries in the future work of the Committee.