WRITTEN QUESTION E-1451/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Road transport of hazardous goods

The Greek press reports that, although the law on road transport of hazardous goods entered into effect a year ago, a large number of manufacturers and distributors of chemical products are in breach thereof and hazardous loads are therefore being transported by road without the required special markings and often with a disregard for safety measures.

The reasons put forward for these failings are:

- the small-scale economic operation of most road haulage firms does not enable them to employ the scientific staff (chemists) to assess the goods,

- the lack of knowledge of police forces about the hazardous substances, and

- the delay in training the staff of the National Centre for Chemical Products who are to help in carrying out more systematic checks.

Has provision been made for any ancillary measures to assist road hauliers in adapting to the new circumstances, to train police forces in the necessary specialist knowledge and to aid the General Chemical Laboratory in identifying, sorting, classifying and registering hazardous goods transported by road?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The transport of dangerous goods by road in the Community is regulated by Council Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road(1), as amended, which introduced harmonised rules for the transport of dangerous goods between the Member States as well as in national transport within the Member States.

In the context of Directive 94/55/EC and in order to further improve the level of safety in the transport of dangerous goods and to ensure a sufficient level of checks to be carried out in a harmonised way, the Council adopted on 6 October 1995 Directive 95/50/EC on uniform procedures for checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road(2).

Furthermore an important role in the safety of transport of dangerous goods play the safety advisers, appointed according to Council Directive 96/35/EC of 3 June 1996 on the appointment and vocational qualification of safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterway(3).

In Greece no national legislation on transport of dangerous goods existed prior to Community legislation. The whole system of transport of dangerous goods was introduced in Greece with delays and there has been infringement proceedings against Greece. Now most of the legislation is in force and its practical implementation is on its way.

The Commission is aware of the complexity of the legislation and its enforcement and the resources needed for it, but at the same time this is a matter for the Member States need to address. In fact, there are no possibilities to this kind of specific actions in the limited transport safety budget.

On the other hand the Commission is confident that especially the recent implementation in Greece of Directives 95/50/EC on road checks(4) and 96/35/EC on safety advisers(5) and the practical action connected with them will in the near future improve the situation.

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.

(2) OJ L 249, 17.10.1995.

(3) OJ L 145, 19.6.1996, supplemented by Directive 2000/18/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2000 on minimum examination requirements for safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail or inland waterway (OJ L 118, 19.5.2000).

(4) Implemented in Greece by Presidential Decree No 256/99 (Government Gazette I 209 of 11.10.1999).

(5) Implemented in Greece by Joint Ministerial Decision No 64834-5491 on the transposition into Greek legislation of Council Directive 96/35/EC of 3 August 1996 on the appointment and vocational qualification of safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterway, and Directive 2000/18/EC of 17 April 2000 on minimum examination requirements of these safety advisers, 13 October 2000.