The recommendations addressing the safe transport of dangerous goods developed under the auspices of the ECOSOC Committee of Experts are taken into account by the UNECE bodies dealing with land transport, to ensure harmonisation of provisions through all modes. At UNECE level this work is under the responsibility of the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP.15). The Working Party:
- Initiate and pursue actions aimed at enhancing the safety and security of the inland transport of dangerous goods and protecting the environment during such transport;
- Develop and update the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN), and other relevant legal instruments on the transport of dangerous goods that ITC may charge it with administering;
- Ensure harmonization of ADR and ADN with other relevant legal instruments on the transport of dangerous goods by other modes of transport on the basis of the recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals of the United Nations Economic and Social Council;
Amendments to ADR and ADN requiring or calling for harmonization with provisions relating to the transport of dangerous goods by rail are prepared by the Joint Meeting of the RID Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods of the Intergovernmental Organization for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) and WP.15 (RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting) (WP.15/AC.1). The long‑standing cooperation between ECE and OTIF in the matter of organizing this joint meeting may be extended to other competent intergovernmental organizations administering international agreements on the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail that are applicable in Contracting Parties to ADR and ADN.
Amendments to the Regulations annexed to ADN are prepared by the Joint Meeting of Experts on the Regulations annexed to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN) (ADN Safety Committee - WP.15/AC.2), in partnership with the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR). Pursuant to the resolution adopted on 25 May 2000 by the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of a European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN), cooperation in organizing this joint meeting of experts could be extended to the Danube Commission.