Updated legislation on the transport of dangerous goods under ADR came into force in January 2025. Under the new rules, we recommend paying increased attention to identification, packaging, and especially batteries and electric vehicles. The aim of these updates is to keep pace with technological advances and increase safety in the transport of goods.

Updated ADR regulations for 2025

The transport of goods (category ADR), with a transition period of six months, is subject to new rules covering the following three areas:

• UN numbers for identifying dangerous goods – these will need to be added, as 11 new four-digit UN identification numbers are being introduced. For example, for substances containing free asbestos such as UN 2212 (ASBESTOS, AMPHIBOLE) and UN 2590 (ASBESTOS, CHRYSOTILE). New special provisions and transport conditions have also been added.
• Packaging and labeling of lithium, sodium, and sodium-ion batteries – stricter requirements for packaging, labeling, and documentation when transporting lithium, sodium, and sodium-ion batteries due to their potential fire risk. ADR transport must also take into account the equipment powered by them.
• Guidelines for the transport of electric vehicles – revised guidelines according to which this category of vehicles is now classified according to the content of lithium batteries and other hazardous components. You are therefore required to clearly label them with the relevant UN identification numbers and safety marks.

You can still follow the ADR 2023 rules for the first half of 2025

The current version of the rules concerning ADR transport of dangerous goods 2025 is available on the official UNECE website in English and French. For Slovak users, we recommend following the publication of the Slovak translation in the Collection of International Treaties. However, during the transition period, which lasts until June 30, 2025, international transport of goods may continue to be governed by the previous version of the ADR 2023 rules.