On November 2nd, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Transport (MOT) issued a notice to solicit comments on the draft revision of the Regulations on Road Transport [1] (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations). The public consultation is scheduled to end a month later.
The Regulations, introduced in 2004, has been playing a critical role in ensuring the sound development of the road transport industry in China. Over the years, however, the burgeoning growth of businesses and the increasingly complicated regulatory practices have necessitated an overhaul to the Regulations.
The draft revision states that dangerous goods will be subject to categorized licensing management. Businesses need to apply for licensing of road transport of dangerous goods based on their categories, and will not be allowed to carry those beyond the scope of their licensing.
Besides the requirements for road transport of general goods, the following requirements shall also be met for those applying for licensing of road transport of dangerous goods:
ü Being a legal entity;
ü Minimum quantity threshold for vehicles specifically used for carrying dangerous goods;
ü The vehicles shall be equipped with necessary telecommunication devices, personal protection equipment and emergency response equipment;
ü Having parking facilities which fit their business scope and sizes and meet relevant safety conditions.
A larger focus is placed on the management of personnel safety. According to the draft revision, it will be made mandatory that drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods need to receive specific training, obtain relevant qualifications and pass the safety background check of the public security organizations. The authorities of transport are also required to enhance dynamic monitoring of such drivers and verify their qualifications.
For more information on dangerous goods transport in China, see ChemLinked Chempedia [2].
