The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN) was done at Geneva on 26 May 2000 on the occassion of a Diplomatic Conference held under the joint auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR). It entered into force on 29 February 2008.
ADN consists of a main legal text (the Agreement itself) and annexed Regulations and aims at:
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ensuring a high level of safety of international carriage of dangerous goods by inland waterways;
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contributing effectively to the protection of the environment by preventing any pollution resulting from accidents or incidents during such carriage; and
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facilitating transport operations and promoting international trade in dangerous goods.
The Regulations annexed to the ADN (click here for the original version of 2000) contain provisions concerning dangerous substances and articles, provisions concerning their carriage in packages and in bulk on board inland navigation vessels or tank vessels, as well as provisions concerning the construction and operation of such vessels. They also address requirements and procedures for inspections, the issue of certificates of approval, recognition of classification societies, monitoring, and training and examination of experts.