INF.9 (E)

Joint Meeting of the RID Safety Committee

and the Working Party on the Transport of

Dangerous Goods

(Geneva, 13-24 September 1999)

UNITED

NATIONS

Distr.

GENERAL

TRANS/WP.15/1999/47

19 August 1999

Original:	ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Working Party on the Transport

of Dangerous Goods

(Sixty-seventh session,

Geneva, 8-12 November 1999)

MARGINAL 3755 "TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS"

Transmitted by the Government of France

Introduction

The competent authority of France for the safe transport of radioactive material proposes to have different transitional arrangements for packages meeting requirement of 1967, 1973 or 1973 (as amended) Edition of the IAEA regulations on one hand, and for packages meeting 1985 or 1985 (as amended 1990) Edition on the other hand.

Packages that did not require approval of design by the competent authority and which meet the requirements of the 1985 or the 1985 (an amended 1990) Edition of the IAEA regulation may continue to be used subject to the mandatory programme of quality assurance in accordance with the requirements of para. 310 of IAEA ST-1 1996 Edition and the activity limits and materials restrictions of Section IV of IAEA ST-1 1996 Edition. Any packaging modified, unless to improve safety, or manufactured after 31 December 2003, shall meet the provisions of this appendix in full. Packages prepared for transport not later than 31 December 2003 under the 1985 or 1985 (as amended 1990) Editions of the IAEA regulations may continue in transport. Packages prepared for transport after this date shall meet the provisions of this appendix in full."

Justification

The proposed change intends to limit the transport of packages meeting the provisions of the 1967, 1973 a 1973 (as amended) Editions of the IAEA regulations.

Safety

Many changes were adopted since the 1967, 1973 and 1973 (as amended) Editions of the IAEA regulations. Furthermore experience feedback system has led to change some old designs by new ones.

Feasibility

The applicant shall give statement of special precautions or operational controls which are to be employed during the transport to compensate the gap between the provisions of 1967, 1973 a 1973 (as amended) and the ones of ST1 of IAEA regulation.

Advantage

Increase the safety margins of transport.

Disadvantage

Increase the safety demonstration by applicants.

Transition period

Not relevant.

Enforceability

The competent authority shall inform applicants to enable them to prepare safety cases for packages meeting requirements of the 1967, 1973 or 1973 (as amended) provisions of the IAEA regulations.

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