The Joint Meeting of the RID Committee of Experts and the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from September 17 to 25, 2025. Amendments adopted during this session (4/4) are to be published in the 2027 edition of the regulations (RID\ADR\ADN).

The following summary is provided to allow you to follow the discussions at the meeting. After Week 2, there was a total of 21 formal working papers and 40 informal documents (attached summary contains links to documents on the UN Website).

See the agenda > https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/ECE-TRANS-WP15-AC1-177e.pdf

Then go here > https://unece.org/info/events/event/397640

Once on that site, click on the Working Documents or Informal Documents for the contents of the meetings.

Item 5. Proposals for amendments to RID/ADR/ADN

The following documents under agenda item 5(a), Pending Issues, were presented in plenary and discussed:

2025/26 – Labelling of empty packagings in accordance with chapter 5.2 (Luxembourg)

  • INF.10 – Labelling of empty packagings in accordance with Chapter 5.2 (LGE)
  • There was not a lot of support for the proposal which was withdrawn.

2025/31 – Transport of UN Nos. 1005 and 1017 in accordance with 1.1.3.6 (IRU)

  • INF.6 – Transport of UN Nos. 0081, 0082, 0084, 0241, 0331, 0332 and 0482 in accordance with 1.1.3.6 (Finland)
  • INF.36– Amendments for document 2025/31 and transitional measure for 1.1.3.6.3 note ‘a’ (Finland, Norway, IRU)
  • There was a lot of support for the proposals, but the location of the transitional measure was moved to 1.6.1 rather than 1.6.5 (since there is no 1.6.5 in RID). The amendments proposed in paragraphs 4 to 8 of INF. 36 were adopted as amended.

2025/38 – Dangerous goods in machinery, apparatus or articles – Used articles (Germany and Cefic)

  • INF.38 – Dangerous goods in machinery, apparatus or articles – Used articles (Germany and Cefic)
  • After the lunchtime working group, the proposal in INF.38 was presented to the Joint Meeting and adopted in square bracket.

2025/43 – Report from the informal working group on retail delivery (COSTHA on behalf of Informal Working Group on Retail Delivery)

  • INF.40 – Amendments to document 2025/43 from the informal working group on retail delivery (COSTHA on behalf of Informal Working Group on Retail Delivery)

INF.29 – Special provision 666 of RID/ADR/ADN(Germany)

  • Opinions were divided between option 1 (deletion of para. (e) of SP 666) and option 2 (amending the text in para. (e) of SP 666). Ultimately, option 2 was adopted in in square brackets. Germany to submit an official document at the next session to potentially amend P912. Germany to again bring issue to attention of UNSCETDG.

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Item 5. Proposals for amendments to RID/ADR/ADN

The following documents under agenda item 5(b), New Proposals, were presented in plenary and discussed:

2025/27 – Definition of container-bag Information on packages (IASA)

  • Opinions were divided and additional work might be needed on this issue. Document was withdrawn. IASA may submit another document at a future session.

2025/28 – Information on packages (IASA)

  • There was not a lot of support for the proposal, but some delegations suggested that this could “potentially” be discussed at the UNSCETDG.

2025/29 – Mixed packing of goods in accordance with mixed packing provision MP18 (Secretariats)

  • There was a lot of reluctance to adopt the proposals for dangerous goods in Class 8. Item will remain on the agenda for discussion at future meeting.

2025/30 – Update reference to IRS 50592 in footnotes to 6.11.4.1 and 7.1.3 (UIC)

  • INF.4 – Additional information to document ECE/TRANS/WP.15/AC.1/2025/30 – Updated reference to IRS 50592 in footnotes to 6.11.4.1 and 7.1.3 (UIC)
  • The amendments in 2025/30 were adopted as amended during the discussion.

2025/34 – Transport of static storage vessels with residues of class 5.1 substance (Norway)

  • Not a lot of support for the proposal. Document was withdrawn.

2025/37 – References to dangerous goods for carriage in bulk (France)

  • INF.35 – References to dangerous goods for carriage in bulk. Revision of working document ECE/TRANS/WP.15/AC.1/2025/37  (France)
  • There was a lot of support for the proposal, and the amendments in INF. 35 (amending the text in 2025/37) were adopted.

2025/44 – Harmonizing terms relating to the competent authority (Switzerland)

  • The amendments in proposals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10, of this document were adopted. Switzerland to review the proposals 4, 8 and 11 and may submit revisions at the next session.

INF.7– Update of the entry UN 1202 (special provision 640L) in RID/ADR/ADN Table A and assignment of an additional special provision for new fuels Request (ECFD)

  • The amendment in para. 14 was adopted in square brackets, while the proposal in para. 15 was adopted through INF.17 (submitted under agenda item 3 on standards).

INF.8 – UN No. 3496, Batteries, nickel-metal hydride – missing cross-reference (Secretariats)

  • Proposal was adopted.

INF.9 – Additional packaging option for the carriage of lithium/sodium ion batteries for disposal/recycling (Germany)

  • Some delegations supported the proposal in principle but that it needed more, while others felt it and should be discussed within the Battery WG (UNSCETDG). Germany to receive comments and submit an official at the next session.

INF.12 – Inclusion of sodium ion batteries in 1.1.3.7 (Secretariats)

  • INF.33 – Inclusion of sodium ion batteries in 1.1.3.7 – Revision of informal document INF.12 (Secretariats)
  • The amendments in INF. 33 were adopted.

INF.15 – Request for a discussion on the UN 1202 entries in RID/ADR/ADN Table A (FuelsEurope)

  • The Joint Meeting noted the information provided by Fuels Europe and will resume discussions at the next session.

INF.20/Rev.1 – Reference in 7.5.4 to UN numbers affected by special provision CW28/CV28 (Spain)

  • The amendments in proposals 2 and 3 were adopted, while the ones in proposal 3 were adopted in square until a final revision at the next session.

INF.23 – Special provisions for solutions and mixtures (IRU)

  • There was not a lot of support for the proposal. IRU to submit a more thorough justification at the next session.

INF.24 – Information on the wagon/vehicle in the transport document (Germany)

  • oOpinions were divided on whether to delete the provisions on the identification of the dangerous goods per wagons/vehicles in the transport document in 5.4.0.1/5.4.0.2. Germany to submit a revised proposal at the next session.

INF.25 – Mixed packing of dangerous goods with foodstuffs, consumer goods, or animal feed (France)

  • Most delegations agreed that this could be clarified but did not support a hasty decision. France to submit an official document for the next session.

INF.31 – Transport of meals, ready-to-eat with flameless ration heaters containing water-reactive solids, powder (United States of America)

  • There was some support for the issue raised by the US, which will submit a detailed proposal at the next session.

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Item 6. Interpretation of RID/ADR/AND

The following documents were presented in plenary and discussed:

2025/39 – Interpretation of the exemption in 1.1.3.7 of RID/ADR on lithium ion batteries fitted to road or railway vehicles for equipment to be used at its destination (CLCCR)

  • Not a lot of support, but delegations were sympathetic to the issue. It was suggested that this should be discussed with the Battery WG.

INF.21 – Measurement units used in the transport documentation (Spain)

  • After discussion, it was suggested that this be brought to the attention of the UNSCETDG.

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Item 7. Reports of informal WG

The documents below were presented in plenary. The Joint Meeting welcomed the report and thanked the working groups for their work.

INF.11 – Report from the informal working group on the reduction of the risk of a BLEVE (United Kingdom on behalf of the BLEVE IWG)

INF.19 – Online informal working group meeting on requirements for relevant bodies under 1.8.7 of RID/ADR (France)

INF.22 – Report of the intersessional working group on the periodic inspection of composite pressure receptacles (Germany)

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Item 8. Accidents and risk management

No documents were submitted under this agenda item, but France reminded the Joint Meeting of the 2024 discussions on the importance of a harmonized and uniform reporting model for rail transport accidents and advised that it would organize a meeting on the matter in the near future.

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Item 9. UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

No documents were submitted under this agenda item but recalled document 2025/1, and advised that due to staff shortage, no official statistical data could be provided for this session. New information to be shared at the next session.

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Item 10. Electronic data used during the transport of dangerous goods

No documents were submitted under this agenda item.

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Item 11. Election of officers for 2026

New Chair: Mr. Soedesh Mahesh (Netherlands)

New Vice-Chair: Ms. Gudula Schwan (Germany)

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Item 12. Future work

Next session of Joint Meeting to be held in Bern from March 24-27, 2026. Deadline for submission of official documents is December 19, 2025.

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Item 13. Any other business

The documents below were presented in plenary. The Joint Meeting reminded delegates and NGOs of the precarious financial situation of the UN and thanked them for their support in finding ways to help fund the Joint Meeting’s work.

INF.37 – Thought starter to address the financial situation and the right-sizing and right-servicing initiative on the subsidiary architecture of the UNECE (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

INF.39 – Right-sizing and right-servicing the subsidiary architecture of UNECE (Secretariats)

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Item 14. Adoption of the report

The draft report was adopted as amended by the Joint Meeting