Australia Updates Hazchem Codes List

By Lily Hou, PhD, CHMM, senior regulatory specialist, Supply Chain Team, UL Solutions 

On March 1, 2023, the Australian National Transport Commission (NTC) published edition 7.8 of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADG Code). This latest edition came into effect on April 1, 2023, with a 12-month transition period, and replaces ADG 7.7.

According to the ADG Code, Hazchem Codes (also called Emergency Action Codes) are required to be displayed on tanks, containers or vehicles when conveying dangerous goods in Australia.  The codes reflect the initial emergency response recommended in a dangerous situation such as leakage, spillage, or fire involving dangerous goods. 

The list of Hazchem Codes can be found in Appendix C of the ADG Code. In comparison with the ADG Code edition 7.7 which comprises Appendix C as part of the document, the ADG edition 7.8 comprises Hazchem Codes in Appendix C published separately as a stand-alone document.

The latest edition of the Hazchem Codes List (Appendix C) is reproduced from the UK's Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code (EAC) List 2021, published by UK's National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC). Australia's Hazchem Code List was effective at the time of publishing ADG 7.8, however, since then, NCEC released the Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List (2023). Therefore, as best practice the NTC recommends to use of the most current edition of the UK's EAC list (2023) for the transport of dangerous goods in Australia.

The Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Codes List 2023 can be downloaded online from the NCEC's website (see below for web link).

Sources

Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADG Code) 

Appendix C: Emergency Action (Hazchem) Codes

NECE Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Codes (EAC) List 2023