Letter to the Editor

From the Hazardous Cargo Bulletin, October 1999

Dear Editor:

I read with interest Ken Hardman's comments on package testing (HCB July 1999, page 63) and it is a view with which we would sympathise.

Aware that you have many readers outside Europe, I think it should be made clear that although the work on package testing began as a European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) project it is now a joint CEN/International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) project. The UK objective is to achieve an ISO standard which can be referred to in the UN Recommendations, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions as the method for testing packagings. Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) should follow later. For nearly three years ISO countries have been attending the meetings, mainly from North America, and have made a significant contribution to the development of the standard.

In the autumn of 1999 it is expected that the ISO and CEN Secretariats will circulate for comment the draft standard. The period of consultation will be six months. In the spring of next year the joint ISO/CEN Committee will reconvene with a view to analysing the responses and sending the standard for final voting.

Any reader who has not yet seen the draft and is involved in package testing would be well advised to contact their national standards body in their country and obtain a copy before consultation comes to an end next year.

Martin Castle
Chief Officer (Dangerous Goods)
Pira International

More on This Topic:

• Accidents Waiting to Happen by Ken Hardman - July 1999
• Thin Skinned by Peter Mackay (in response to Ken Hardman) - September 1999
• Letter to the Editor from Howard Skolnik (in response to Peter Mackay) - September 1999
• Letter to the Editor from Martin Castle (in response to Peter Mackay) - October 1999