The agreement was signed by Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov and Merja Kyllönen, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications.
The agreement regulates security measures with regard to direct transportation of dangerous goods by rail between Russia and Finland. Under the terms of the agreement, freight shippers, carriers and recipients shall take necessary precautionary measures depending on the nature and quantity of the transported cargo in order to prevent emergencies, losses, injuries and environmental damage. The agreement states that employees involved in the transportation of dangerous goods, including packaging, loading, transportation and unloading, are required to undergo special training and periodic retraining.
The parties involved in the transportation of dangerous goods with high human, environmental and property risks shall have a security plan, outlining measures to prevent unsanctioned access, theft or intentional misuse of dangerous goods.
The agreement bans transportation of dangerous goods in cases when packaging and other special measures are unable to offset human, environmental and property risks. Transportation of radioactive materials and certain dangerous goods is subject to special authorisation as stipulated by the relevant law. Such authorisations must be obtained before the cargo is dispatched. In order to ensure the safety of the cargo, special authorisations can be supplemented by terms of shipment and data on the dangerous goods being transported.
In accordance with the agreement, supervisory bodies of the relevant state are entitled to check compliance with the requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods. Inspections should not create human, property or environmental risks, and should not cause significant impediments to the flow of railway traffic. Parties involved in the transportation of dangerous goods shall provide, without delay, data to the supervisory body that it needs to carry out inspections.
Source: Ministry of Transport.
