UNECE: Carriage of Explosive Substances and Articles Belonging to the Armed Forces Set to be Destroyed

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published a document about the carriage of explosive substances and articles belonging to the armed forces set to be destroyed,

This Multilateral Agreement M353 under section 1.5.1 of ADR has been published on 19 June 2023.

(1) By derogation from the provisions of sub-sections 5.2.1.1 and 5.2.2.1 of ADR, explosive substances and articles of Class 1 belonging to the Armed Forces of a Contracting Party, that were packed prior to 1 January 1990 in accordance with the requirements of ADR at that time, need not be marked and labelled in accordance with ADR. However, they shall be marked and labelled in accordance with section 5.1.2.1 of ADR.

(2) The derogation is applicable under the following conditions:

  • The explosive substances and articles are to be sent to destruction.
  • The carriage is effected as full load.
  • The consignor shall enter in the transport document: "Carriage agreed according to section 1.5.1 of ADR (M353)".

(3) All other relevant requirements of ADR shall be complied with.

(4) This agreement shall be valid until 7 June 2028 for the carriage on the territories of those ADR Contracting Parties signatory to this agreement. If it is revoked before then by one of the signatories, it shall remain valid until the above-mentioned date only for carriage on the territories of those ADR Contracting Parties signatory to this agreement which have not revoked it.


For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):


Carriage of Explosive Substances and Articles Belonging to the Armed Forces Set to be Destroyed