Transition Timeline
ADR 2025 is the latest edition of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. It was published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and applies to all ADR contracting parties, including the UK (which continues to align with ADR through domestic regulation).
The new edition entered into force on 1 January 2025. During the transitional period, consignments could still be transported under ADR 2023 rules until 30 June 2025. From 1 July 2025, compliance with ADR 2025 is mandatory for all road transport of dangerous goods.
New UN Numbers: Sodium-Ion Batteries
ADR 2025 introduces new UN numbers specifically for sodium-ion batteries, reflecting the rapid growth of this battery chemistry as an alternative to lithium-ion. The new entries are:
- UN 3551 — Sodium-ion batteries
- UN 3552 — Sodium-ion batteries contained in equipment
- UN 3558 — Sodium-ion batteries packed with equipment
These entries are classified as Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods, similar to their lithium-ion counterparts (UN 3480/3481). Sodium-ion batteries generally present lower thermal runaway risk than lithium-ion, but ADR still requires proper classification, packaging, and labelling. You can look up these new entries in the ADR dangerous goods lookup.
Battery-Powered Vehicles
New UN numbers have been added for the transport of battery-powered vehicles and equipment:
- UN 3556 — Vehicle, battery-powered
- UN 3557 — Vehicle, battery-powered (flammable gas or flammable liquid powered)
These entries clarify the classification of electric vehicles being transported as cargo — an increasingly common scenario in logistics. The provisions address the hazards presented by large traction batteries installed in vehicles.
Waste Transport Provisions
ADR 2025 includes several new provisions for transporting waste materials:
- Waste paints and coatings: New special provision SP 650 allows simplified classification of waste paint and coating materials, reducing the burden on waste carriers who often transport mixed loads of unknown composition.
- Waste asbestos in bulk: Updated provisions for the carriage of waste asbestos in bulk containers, reflecting modern waste handling practices.
- Laboratory small quantities: New paragraph 4.1.1.5.3 provides packaging provisions for small quantities of dangerous goods from laboratory waste, acknowledging that labs generate diverse small-volume waste streams that need practical transport solutions.
Documentation Changes
A significant practical change from July 2025: dangerous goods transport documents must now be kept in the driver's cab, not attached to packages or stored elsewhere in the vehicle. This ensures that in an emergency, first responders can immediately access the documentation identifying what dangerous goods are on board, without having to open cargo compartments.
This change affects carriers, drivers, and consignors who prepare DG documentation. Ensure your procedures are updated to reflect this requirement.
Limited Quantities: Mandatory Training
From 1 July 2025, all staff handling limited quantity (LQ) dangerous goods must have completed Chapter 1.3 awareness training. Previously, LQ shipments benefited from broad exemptions that often meant warehouse staff and drivers handling LQ goods received no formal dangerous goods training.
This is a significant change for many businesses. LQ covers a huge range of everyday products — aerosols, perfumes, paint samples, cleaning chemicals, nail polish, and more. Any warehouse, distribution centre, or transport company handling these items must now ensure their staff are trained. Read more in our guide to ADR limited quantities.
Molten Aluminium & De-Energising Provisions
ADR 2025 includes updated provisions for the bulk transport of molten aluminium, addressing the specific hazards of transporting molten metal at extremely high temperatures. New requirements cover tank design, filling procedures, and emergency response.
Additionally, new provisions address the de-energising of electrical circuits in vehicles and equipment being transported. This is particularly relevant when transporting hybrid or electric vehicles that have high-voltage battery systems that must be made safe before transport.
Other Notable Changes
- Updated tank code assignments for several UN numbers
- Revised special provisions affecting classification of articles containing dangerous goods
- Clarifications to the 1.1.3.6 exemption thresholds for mixed loads — check your loads with the ADR 1.1.3.6 calculator
- Updated packing instructions for several Class 1 entries
- Amendments to Chapter 8.5 additional requirements for certain classes
Sources
This summary is compiled from the official UNECE ADR 2025 publication (ECE/TRANS/352), the Health and Safety Authority (Ireland) ADR 2025 overview, and BENS Consulting ADR 2025 technical briefings. For the full legal text, refer to the UNECE ADR 2025 publication.