Since July 2005, security regulations have been included in the (road and rail) Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those security regulations are based upon the security provisions that have been developed since 2001 and subsequently included in the relevant modal international agreements.

In response to the events of 11 September 2001, the United Nations adopted recommendations to enhance the security of carriage of dangerous goods. These have been transposed into chapters 1.10 of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and of the Appendix C of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail, Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) – with some small changes that were relevant to their particular modes of transport.

The carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail within Great Britain is regulated by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009) as amended by The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2011. Such regulations apply the provisions of ADR and RID respectively (as for international journeys), subject to agreed derogations, exemptions etc. as set out in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods: Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions. Regulations 7 and 8 of CDG 2009 are security requirements that are in addition to those included in chapters 1.10 of ADR and RID.

The security regulations are split into two levels: a general level applicable to the carriage of all dangerous goods and a higher level for the carriage of high consequence dangerous goods. These are defined as those which have the potential for misuse in a terrorist incident and which may, as a result, produce serious consequences such as mass casualties or mass destruction. These are supported by a comprehensive set of guidance.

These security regulations contained therein are part of wider efforts to:

• improve the resilience of the UK in the transport sector
• help industries to protect themselves against a range of threats including thefts, deliberate sabotage and acts of terrorism

The Department for Transport has set up an Industry Advisory Group to develop and monitor the implementation of these security requirements and the guidance that supports them.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation has policy and enforcement responsibilities for the security of carriage of radioactive material. This encompasses civil nuclear material as defined by the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (NISR).