Australian Dangerous Goods Code
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Please direct questions about using the code to the competent authority in your state or territory. As the regulators, only they can authoritatively advise on operational issues such as labelling, packaging, quantities or placarding. The NTC’s role is limited to maintaining and updating the Code. |
It is important that everyone involved in transporting dangerous goods understands their responsibilities to help prevent and/or reduce damage to people, property and the environment.
The code is given legal force in each Australian state and territory by each jurisdiction’s dangerous goods transport laws. It is important that the code is read in conjunction with these laws because they provide important information, including supply chain member duties, licence requirements and competent authority panel powers.
Get a copy of the Code
The Australian Dangerous Goods Code is updated every two years, with a one year transition period for each edition. Amendments to edition 7.6 of the code reflect the 20th edition of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and changes specific to the Australian environment.
To comply with the legislation you must follow one of the applicable editions listed in the table below. Download your copy by clicking on the relevant edition number in the table.
Applicable edition of the Code by date |
Edition 7.5 |
Edition 7.6 *^
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From 1 March 2017 to 28 February 2018 |
Yes |
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From 1 March 2018 |
Yes |
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From 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 |
Yes |
Yes |
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From 1 July 2019 |
Yes |
Edition 7.6 has been reformatted and now includes a hyperlinked table of contents, list of tables and list of figures. There are no changes to obligations imposed by the Code. For a summary of the most important changes from edition 7.5 of the Code and the Model Subordinate Instrument on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail (the MSI), read Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail: differences between edition 7.5 and edition 7.6. The NTC will shortly commence a new cycle of maintenance for the Code. If you have discovered any errors or omissions in the Code, please advise us at enquiries@ntc.gov.au
*Note: Aerosols are excluded from the personal care product exemption outlined at section 3.4.12.
^Please check with your state/territory competent authority whether edition 7.6 currently has legal effect.
Order a printed copy
You can order a printed copy of edition 7.6 from Scott Printers. Please download the order form to your desktop, fill it in and click submit. The completed form will then open in an email that you can send to Scott Printers.
Concessional Limited Quantities Transport Document
The CLQ load MUST comply with all requirements of the ADG Code 3.4.10.
As such it is restricted to certain dangerous goods in limited quantities amounts.
As per 3.4.10.4d the Concessional Limited Quantities Transport Document must include the quantity of all Classes, Divisions and specific included on the load. If there are substances included in the generic template that are not included in the load the template could be modified for your company.
The CLQ transport document MUST NOT be used to transport dangerous goods by air or sea, as it does not comply with their regulations.
Class Labels
Packing labels for dangerous goods based on UN Model Regulations are available to download below. Please refer to the Australian Dangerous Goods Code to clarify how labels should be applied and where they should be displayed.
Please also note:
- The names of the individual label files match the label ‘Model Numbers’ in the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.
- The labels are fully scalable Windows Metafiles that can be inserted into Word documents in the same fashion as other images.
- The quality of label produced will depend on your printer. On some printers, the text may not properly align in the label.
- The class labels were drawn to the largest size that will fit on an A4 page. When scaled to 100 per cent, they will produce a label with sides measuring approximately 147 mm, which fits no particular code requirement.
- To get a 100 mm square label, they need to be scaled to 68 per cent.
- For a 250 mm placard, scale to 170 per cent.
- When printing the lithium battery mark, ensure the rectangle is 120mm wide and 110mm high (roughly 60% scale).
Competent Authorities decisions
In very limited circumstances, individual Competent Authorities and the Competent Authority Panel, can make decisions related to the transporting dangerous goods legislation, including exemptions, determinations, or approvals.
For a list of Competent Authority Panel decisions, please view the register of decisions at https://infrastructure.gov.au/transport/australia/dangerous/competent_authorities.aspx
Following this, you will need to contact the relevant Competent Authority.
For more information
If you require technical advice please contact the regulator in your State or Territory.
For information on transporting dangerous goods by air please contact the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 131 757.
For information on transporting dangerous goods by sea please contact the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on (02) 6279 5000.
For enquiries relating to the national dangerous goods transport legislative maintenance process and the national model laws, please email enquiries@ntc.gov.au
Publications
- Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail - Edition 7.6 (20 MB)
- Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail - Differences between editions 7.5 and 7.6 (426 KB)
- Competent Authority Panel Rules (July 2018) (720 KB)
- Australian Dangerous Goods Code Edition 7.5 (March 2017) (12 MB)
- ADGC - Concessional Limited Quantities Transport Template (Jan 2017) (51 KB)