This Code has been prepared by the National Transport Commission in conjunction with representatives from the Advisory Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. It has been approved by the chief executives of transport agencies and of those agencies responsible for the regulation of dangerous goods transport. It has been endorsed by the Australian Transport Council. This edition replaces the sixth edition of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail. The Code sets out technical requirements and guidelines for the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail.

The Code only sets out requirements and guidelines relating to the transport of explosives and radioactive materials where these goods are transported together with other dangerous goods, or where the dangerous goods have a subsidiary risk of another class. For completeness and international uniformity, the Code includes the full Dangerous Goods List and the classification criteria for all classes and divisions of dangerous goods.

The Code is a safety Code and does not contain any provisions relating to security.

Provisions of this Code dealing with Class 1 (Explosives), Class 7 (Radioactive substances or articles), infectious substances and waste products should be read subject to Division 1.1 (Introduction and Application) of the Model Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail and the following:

  • Requirements in this Code relating to the transport of explosives are subject to the requirements of any other law of a State or Territory or the Commonwealth relating to the transport of explosives. Rules for the transport of explosives are to be found predominantly in the Australian Explosives Code, as applied by State and Territory or Commonwealth legislation. Any provision in this Code for Class 1 should be regarded as advisory and for information purposes only, unless it is called up by other legislation. These requirements should also be read in conjunction with the legislation applicable in each jurisdiction to Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate.
  • Requirements relating to the transport of radioactive substances are subject to any other law of a State or Territory or the Commonwealth relating to the transport of those substances, including the Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Substances. Any provision in this Code for Class 7 should be regarded as advisory, for information purposes only, unless it is called up by other legislation.
  • Requirements relating to the transport of infectious substances are subject to the requirements of any other law of a State or Territory or the Commonwealth relating to the transport of infectious substances.
  • The requirements of this Code do not apply to waste products and other environmentally hazardous substances unless those products or substances are also dangerous goods within the meaning of the Code. Enquiries concerning the transport of waste and other environmentally hazardous substances should be directed to the relevant State or Territory authority responsible for administering environment protection legislation.

The Code must be read in conjunction with the Model Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail and with the Model Subordinate Law on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail as in force in each State or Territory.

The technical requirements in this edition of the Code are based on provisions of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations fifteenth revised edition and on Australian-specific content taken from the 6th Edition of the Code.