Agenda item 2 (b)	UN/CETDG/20/INF.3

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE

TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS

(Twentieth session,

Geneva, 7-16 December 1998

WORK OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON

THE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS

USE OF PACKAGINGS AND IBCs

Packing Instructions

Transmitted by the Expert from Belgium

Clarification in connection with document ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/1998/41

1.	The discussion on document ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/1998/41 during the meeting of the Sub-
Committee in June-July 1998, made clear that some delegates interpreted the second possibility of the Belgian document (solution 2 : introduce the most stringent Packing Instructions in existence in the different modes, with the exception of the air mode) in a very restrictive manner, not intended by the authors of the document.

2.	Belgium too agrees that a reasonable compromise between the packing provisions for the different modes of transport must be sought. Falling back on the principle of paragraph 5 of the Model Regulations would only be necessary for those cases where such a compromise will not be reached.

In other words, "the most stringent Packing Instructions in existence in the different modes" in ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/1998/41 is a dynamic statement, meaning that the agreed changes for harmonisation purposes of the immediate future are to be taken into account. It is not intended to be the same as "the most stringent provisions currently applicable to the various modes of transport" (as in the report of the meeting ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/30, item 33) where the harmonisation efforts that go on at this moment would be disregarded.

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