At the recent meeting of the UN Committee of Experts, a proposal for requiring a Container/Vehicle packing certificate was adopted. Applicable to any container or vehicle to be transported by sea, this proposal is targeted to secure freight in transit that often causes damage or is damaged due to negligent shipping preparation.The new sub section (UN 5.4.2) basically requires that those responsible for packing the container sign off that the container was packed in compliance with the following: 1) according to all the relevant rules regarding segregation of non compatible packages; 2) that the packages were sound; and 3) that the container / vehicle into which they are packed is sound. There are other requirements that are contained within the new sub section. This new document should be attached to the dangerous goods document or incorporated in to it with a signed declaration noting its incorporation.
DOT/UN Industry News