What is ADR? Dangerous goods by road

What is ADR?

ADR is the UN international agreement that governs the carriage of dangerous goods by road: how they are classified, packaged, labelled and transported, and which requirements the vehicle and the driver must meet. In force since 1968 and updated every two years; the edition in force in 2026 is ADR 2025.

What ADR regulates

ADR (from the French Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route) is the agreement, sponsored by the UN Economic Commission for Europe, that sets the rules for the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. It is organised in two annexes:

Annex A: general provisions and provisions concerning dangerous substances and articles — classification, the dangerous goods list, packaging, labelling and marking.
Annex B: transport equipment and operations — vehicle construction and equipment, crew and documentation.

ADR is updated every two years

The text is revised in two-year cycles. The edition in force in 2026 is ADR 2025, applicable since 1 January 2025; the previous edition (ADR 2023) could still be used during the transitional period until 30 June 2025. The next one will be ADR 2027.

In Spain, ADR applies directly as an international treaty (its amendments are published in the BOE, the Spanish Official State Gazette, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and domestic transport is further regulated by Royal Decree 97/2014. The competent authority is the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

In Giormo, the ERP checks the driver's and the vehicle's ADR and the dangerous goods data before the order is assigned. Let us show you.

Information sheet only; this is not legal advice. For the binding text, see the official sources.

Official sources

ADR Agreement — amendments to Annexes A and B (2025 edition), BOE-A-2025-77. www.boe.es
UNECE — ADR Agreement (official information). unece.org

Frequently asked questions

What does ADR stand for?

ADR comes from the French “Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route”: the European agreement, sponsored by the UN, on the international carriage of dangerous goods by road.

Which edition of ADR is in force in 2026?

ADR 2025, in force since 1 January 2025, with a transitional period for the previous edition until 30 June 2025. The next edition will be ADR 2027.

Is ADR mandatory in Spain?

Yes. It applies directly as an international treaty to the carriage of dangerous goods, and domestic transport is further regulated by Royal Decree 97/2014.

ADR under control, order by order

Giormo checks ADR on every job: dangerous goods classification, product compatibility, an approved tank and the documents the load requires. An ERP/TMS for tanker transport, already in production. Tell us how you work.