ADR, IMDG Code and IATA DGR: The Key Regulations for Dangerous Goods Documents at a Glance

Anyone shipping dangerous goods has to deal with three sets of rules: ADR for road transport, the IMDG Code for sea transport and the IATA DGR for air freight. All three pursue the same goal – safe transport through correct classification, packaging and documentation – but they differ in details that are decisive when creating dangerous goods documents.

ADR – dangerous goods transport by road

The ADR (Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route) is the European agreement on the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. Among other things, it governs classification, packaging, marking and the required transport documents. The ADR is updated every two years – anyone creating their documents manually has to keep track of these changes themselves.

IMDG Code – dangerous goods at sea

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) is the IMO’s globally applicable set of rules for the carriage of dangerous goods by sea. It specifies how dangerous goods must be classified, packed, segregated and documented – including in the form of the Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) that must accompany every sea freight shipment.

IATA DGR – dangerous goods in air freight

The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (IATA DGR) apply to the carriage of dangerous goods by air and are among the strictest sets of rules of all, as they add further restrictions to the underlying ICAO Technical Instructions. Here too, the correct Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is the central document.

Similarities and differences

All three sets of rules are built on the same UN Model Regulations system (UN numbers, dangerous goods classes, packing groups), but differ in permitted quantities, marking requirements and the required document formats. Anyone handling shipments across several modes of transport – for example road followed by sea or air – has to document the same shipment under different regulations.

How eDGD helps you

This is exactly the case eDGD from NMMN was developed for: web-based software that creates dangerous goods documents for road (ADR), air freight (IATA DGR) and sea freight (IMDG Code) from a single interface – kept up to date and developed in our own data center in Hamburg. In our seminars we also teach the practical knowledge needed for all three sets of rules.

To get started with the common system behind all three sets of rules, read: Dangerous goods classes and UN numbers at a glance.

Try eDGD for free now or learn more about comparing dangerous goods management software.