26 July 1991

31st plenary meeting

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

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1983/7 of 26 May 1983, 1985/9 of 28 May 1985, 1986/66 of 23 July 1986, 1987/54 of 28 May 1987 and 1989/104 of 27 July 1989,

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

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

Aware that, in order to achieve internationally harmonized laws, the specialized agencies and other international organizations and interested Member States are committed to taking the recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods as a basis for the formulation of their requirements and regulations and therefore rely on the work of the Committee,

Recognizing the increasing need for cooperation with other international bodies, such as the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Health Organization and the European Economic Community, involved in activities related to the transport of dangerous goods,

Reaffirming the desirability of widening the decision-making base of the Committee by encouraging the participation of developing countries and other non-member countries in its future work,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods during the biennium 1989-1990 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 the new and amended recommendations approved by the Committee at its sixteenth session;

(b) To publish the new and amended recommendations in all the official languages of the United Nations, in the most cost-effective manner, not later than the end of 1991;

(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;

5. Recommends once again that adequate funding be provided to support the work of the Committee as indicated in the report of the Committee on its sixteenth session, if possible by setting up a special fund;

6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make available, within existing resources, the staff necessary for the adequate servicing of the Committee, namely one additional Professional and one additional General Service post, and regrets that the requests made in its resolutions 1983/7, 1985/9, 1986/66, 1987/54 and 1989/104 have not yet been met;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Council in 1993 on the implementation of the present resolution.