Joint Authority Inspections in Dangerous Goods Law Enforcement in Sweden

The authorities’ mandates for inspecting transport activities concerning dangerous goods are divided between several authorities in Sweden. This is due to the fact that the Act (2006:263) and Ordinance (2006:311) on Transport of Dangerous Goods state that the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) and Swedish Transport Agency (TS) are transport authorities and that the Transport Agency, Police, Swedish Coast Guard (KBV), Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are inspection authorities.The transport authorities, MSB and TS, issue the modal regulations; MSB is responsible for translating and putting ADR-S (road regulations) and RID-S (railway regulations) into force. The Swedish Transport Agency is responsible for putting the international IMDG-code and ICAO-TI into force. We do not use ADN in Sweden; the IMDG-code is applicable on inland waterways.The inspection authorities are:The Swedish Transport Agency: Its railway department performs inspections of rail transports of dangerous goods. The shipping department performs inspections of sea transports, with some help from the Coast Guard. The aviation department performs inspections of air transports of dangerous goods.The Swedish Police’ mandate is for road transport inspections.The Swedish Coast Guard has this role in harbours. The Coast Guard also assists the Transport Agency at sea upon request.SSM is responsible for inspecting all modes of transport involving radioactive materials and advice the other authorities on radioactive materials.MSB is responsible for inspections involving Safety Advisers for all modes of transport, as well as the security provisions (transport security according to the modal regulations) and regulations on portable pressurized tanks.Swedish authorities co-operate in inspections to help meet inspection needs. This approach is very successful, especially at terminals, airports and harbours, where modes of transport change. In harbours, the Coast Guard co-operates with SSM in the area of radioactive material, also with the Police, which conducts road checks, and with the Transport Agency.This co-operation also involves Swedish Customs on borders, and occasionally MSB as well on the part of the Safety Advisers. The co- operation can also include the Swedish Work Environment Authority, which performs particular checks on securing of cargo. At airports and road/rail terminals, the checks are performed through a similar co-operative approach.