PODGORICA – The 14th session of the Technical Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) gathered today in Podgorica, and brought together experts, officials, and representatives from various across the region to discuss developments and challenges in the field of transport of dangerous goods.
Mr Matej Zakonjšek, Director of the TCT Secretariat, opened the session by emphasising the importance of integrating regional transport markets into the broader EU framework. “We are at a moment in which the rules applicable for ADR for road, RID for rail, and ADN for inland navigation will be changing from 1 January 2025. As a new set of rules are adopted, all administrations applying these rules to domestic transport will need to translate them – ideally within the six months ahead,” he said, highlighting the significant regulatory changes.
The meeting will see presentations on the adaptation of Directive 2008/68/EC concerning the inland transport of dangerous goods. Representatives from the Western Balkans and Georgia will share their progress in translating the ADR and RID regulations into their national languages. The necessity for other regional partners to follow suit will also be discussed, with a focus on the timeline and administrative procedures required for such adaptations.
Moreover, the impact of evolving battery regulations within the EU and their implications for the Energy Community will be on the agenda.
In the academic realm, two universities form the Western Balkans will showcase their efforts in modernising curricula and developing training programmes for professionals in the region. The progress in incorporating the role of dangerous goods safety advisors into national professional registers, as a critical step in enhancing road transport enforcement, will be highlighted.
The meeting will include presentations on specific regional studies and projects such as the study of organic hazards in Albanian ports in maritime transport, Albania’s cooperation with the Swedish Chemical Agency to improve chemical management practices, as well as enhancing cooperation through e-custom systems and operations in TDG transport, and a review of recent capacity-building efforts in emergency response, including the follow-up of TAIEX workshops on fire prevention and the implementation of 112 and eCall systems.
