The Australian Dangerous Goods Code establishes the requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail in Australia. It sets out rules and guidelines for classifying, packaging, marking, labelling and transporting dangerous goods safely.
A high-level update of the Code happens every two years, however, this is the first full review of the Code since the seventh edition was released in 2007.
Public consultation is now open, focusing on key areas to modernise the Code, simplify compliance processes, improve safety, and better align with international standards.
Since January 2023, the National Transport Commission (NTC) has published 12 discussion papers on aspects of the Code that need updating or improving.
Following this review, the NTC has prepared a draft update to ensure the Code meets current best practices and the needs of industry and regulators.
The draft Code addresses gaps, incorporates best practices, and manages new risks to keep the transport of dangerous goods safe.
As part of the review, a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (C-RIS) has been prepared to gather feedback on the draft Code and evaluate the impact of proposed changes.
Feedback on the C-RIS can be submitted through the NTC website until 10 December 2024.
To help provide a quick overview, the NTC has also published a high-level summary of the Draft Code for the Land Transport of Dangerous Goods Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement.
This document can be accessed here.
VIDEO: Transport of dangerous goods and the Australian Dangerous Good Code
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the Australian Dangerous Goods Code?
A: The Code sets out the requirements for transporting dangerous goods by road or rail.
It outlines requirements for classifying, packaging, labelling, and transporting dangerous goods to ensure public and environmental safety.
Q: Why is the code being reviewed?
A: While a high-level update of the Code happens every two years, the Code has not been fully reviewed since the seventh edition, over 15 years ago.
The NTC is updating it to reflect modern industry practices, to better align with international standards, improve efficiency for businesses and to ensure ongoing public and environmental safety.
The updated Code will improve safety, reduce compliance costs, and make it easier for businesses to transport dangerous goods.
For example, one proposed change to the Code is the removal of Emergency Information Panels (EIPs) for Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs).
This change aligns the Code with international practices for road and rail, as well as domestic practices for other transport modes. This is expected to save Australian industry millions of dollars each year.
Q: How can I participate in the consultation?
A: You can submit your feedback on the C-RIS, through the NTC website, up until 10 December 2024.
You can also attend an online information session to find out more and ask us your questions.
To register for a session, please visit the NTC project page for this work. In addition to providing feedback to our C-RIS, you may like to notify us of any material or drafting issues identified in the draft Code.
To do so, please download this form and email it back to us at ADGcode@ntc.gov.au.
Q: I am involved in transporting dangerous goods, what changes will I notice?
A: While changes have been made to the draft Code, day-to-day operations for those involved in the transport of dangerous goods will not change much.
The focus is on enhancing clarity, efficiency, and safety without imposing unnecessary burdens.
Q: When is the new code expected to be introduced?
A: The new Australian Dangerous Good Code is expected to be published in 2025.