China’s Regulations Concerning Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods to Undergo a Mandatory Comprehensive Upgrade!
On December 31, 2025, China's National Technical Committee on Road Transport Standardization announced that, in accordance with the national standard formulation and revision plan, it has organized the development of seven mandatory national standards in the series of Regulations Concerning Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods. These are a crucial component of China's road transport standard system for dangerous goods and serve as the fundamental technical standards for such transport. 
From Recommended to Mandatory: An Upgrade in Standard Nature
The Ministry of Transport previously organized the revision and release of the industry series standard Regulations Concerning Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods (JT/T 617--2018) in 2018.
This standard, serving as a supporting specification for the Administrative Measures for the Safety of Road Transport of Dangerous Goods and the Regulations on the Administration of Road Transport of Dangerous Goods, detailed the technical requirements for various elements and stages of dangerous goods road transport. However, as JT/T 617 is an industry-recommended standard, the application of some of its technical clauses was limited in practical implementation. To further strengthen the guiding role of standards in industry safety management, enhance the technical guidance effectiveness across the entire supply chain, and achieve comprehensive oversight of all entities, elements, and processes in dangerous goods transport, it is necessary to upgrade the original industry-recommended standard to a national mandatory standard.
This standard aims to systematically regulate aspects such as the classification of dangerous goods, transport packaging, consignment, loading/unloading, and road transport. It will consist of seven parts:
Part 1: General Provisions (Plan Number: 20241015-Q-348)
This document specifies the basic transport conditions, exemptions from transport conditions, requirements related to multimodal transport, personnel safety training, and safety requirements for participants and high-risk dangerous goods for road transport of dangerous goods. It applies to the road transport of dangerous goods.
Its purpose is to clarify key contents such as the basic transport conditions required for engaging in dangerous goods road transport, exemption requirements from transport conditions, requirements for international multimodal transport connectivity, and safety requirements for transport participants.
Part 2: Classification (Plan Number: 20241017-Q-348)
This document specifies the classification of dangerous goods transported by road, including general and specific requirements for classification. It applies to determining the class, corresponding type (group) of hazard, and packing group of dangerous goods.
Part 3: Index of Dangerous Goods Name and Transportation Requirement (Plan Number: 20241016-Q-348)
This document clarifies the naming requirements for dangerous goods transported by road, the structure and content of the list of dangerous goods for road transport, and the road transport requirements for dangerous goods in limited quantities and excepted quantities.
Part 4: Provisions for the Use of Transport Packagings (Plan Number: 20241018-Q-348)
This document specifies the requirements for the use of small packaging, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), large packaging, portable tanks, road tank containers, road swap tank bodies, multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs), tank shell bodies of tank vehicles, and solid bulk containers for the road transport of dangerous goods. It applies to the selection and use of packaging for dangerous goods road transport.
Part 5: Consignment (Plan Number: 20241013-Q-348)
This document specifies the general requirements for the consignment of dangerous goods by road, as well as requirements for package marking and labeling, marking and labeling for overpacks and mixed packaging, placarding, and transport documents.
Its purpose is to clarify detailed requirements for the consignment of dangerous goods by road and before the departure of dangerous goods transport vehicles.
Part 6: Provisions Concerning the Conditions of Carriage, Loading, Unloading, and Handling (Plan Number: 20241014-Q-348)
This document clarifies the basic requirements for loading/unloading conditions and operations for dangerous goods road transport, including conditions for loading/unloading packaged goods, solid bulk goods, and tank transport, operational requirements for loading/unloading, and special requirements for temperature-controlled dangerous goods. It applies to the selection of cargo transport units and operational requirements for loading/unloading operations.
Part 7: Transport conditions and operational requirements (Plan Number: 20241011-Q-348)
This document specifies the requirements for transport equipment conditions, personnel qualifications, transport operational requirements, and emergency response requirements for dangerous goods road transport. During the formulation process, this series of standards referenced the Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) (2025 version), while also considering the practical realities of China's dangerous goods road transport management and industry development needs.
The aim is to provide safe and compliant technical support for dangerous goods road transport, further promote the scientization and standardization of transport operations, and effectively ensure transport safety.
Formulation Purpose
To provide standard support for further strengthening the safety production governance of dangerous goods road transport; to improve the comprehensive regulatory system by enhancing mandatory standard development; to promote international road transport cooperation; to build a new pattern of comprehensive opening-up; and to provide technical guarantees for the safe and efficient road transport of dangerous goods.
Public comments on the aforementioned seven standards are now being solicited.
The public is requested to provide feedback via the contact information shown on the official website before March 3, 2026.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via [email protected][1].
Further Information
References
- ^ [email protected] (www.cirs-group.com)
- ^ Gov (jtst.mot.gov.cn)