ADR 2025: Publication and Updates

The ADR 2025 (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) is now available and brings significant changes to the regulations for the transport of dangerous goods.

New UN numbers and specific updates for batteries have been introduced, as well as rules for the management of hazardous waste. These modifications aim to improve safety and efficiency in transport, adapting to new realities in the sector.

The ADR 2025 is in voluntary effect from January 1, 2025, with a six-month transition period. From July 1, 2025, the ADR 2025 will be the only applicable regulation for the transport of dangerous goods. This transition period provides companies and carriers with the necessary time to adapt to the new regulations.

Here are some of the most notable changes:

New UN Numbers

New UN numbers have been added to facilitate the identification of various dangerous goods.

New Categories for Batteries, Accumulators, and Electric Vehicles

As noted, there are several new entries for sodium-ion batteries. These categories aim to ensure precise identification and proper handling of batteries in transport situations, minimizing potential risks.

Regarding electric vehicles, there are not only new UN number entries but also new regulations that affect these vehicles.

New Special Provisions

A series of special provisions numbered 28, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 677, 678, and 650 have been incorporated. These new provisions address the classification and packaging of dangerous goods, proper waste management, and updates in documentation and signage. Special attention has been given to the safe transport of batteries and certain hazardous waste by implementing more stringent and detailed regulations to improve safety and efficiency in the transport of these materials, including:

• Special Provision for Paint Waste
• A new provision has been established for the disposal of paint waste, known as Special Provision 650. This provision facilitates the disposal of solid, liquid, and water-based paint waste (classified as UN 1263 and UN 3082) if specific packaging and transport conditions are met.
• Transport of Asbestos-Containing Materials
• ADR 2025 introduces Special Provision 678, which regulates the transport of waste containing objects and materials contaminated with “free asbestos”. This provision requires enhanced packaging security to prevent any leakage and minimize environmental and health contamination risks.
• Special Provisions for Batteries
• Special Provision 401 establishes guidelines for transporting sodium-ion cells and batteries, as well as cells and batteries containing sodium metal. Meanwhile, Special Provision 677 refers to batteries that are damaged or defective and may easily disassemble; these are assigned transport category zero.

Packaging of Various Waste

Regulations on the packaging of hazardous waste have been strengthened. Packaging must meet specific safety criteria to ensure that products do not leak or contaminate other materials during transport.

Updates in Signage and Labeling

Among the most notable modifications are:

• Optimization of the orange panel for certain fuels, allowing for quicker and clearer identification.
• Addition of new guidelines for the use of electric and hydrogen vehicles in the transport of flammable goods, thereby enhancing road safety.

Download the ADR 2025