An archived edition, clearly identified
This page concerns the historical English edition of ADR 2021. UNECE published it as ECE/TRANS/300, a set of two volumes prepared on the basis of amendments applicable from 1 January 2021.
It remains useful when checking an older training document, approval reference or company procedure. Its availability online does not establish that its provisions govern a transport operation today. Record both the edition being consulted and the date of the operation under review.
Where to find the official English text
Use the UNECE ADR 2021 files page and select the English versions of Volume I and Volume II. The page also identifies corrigenda; UNECE lists ECE/TRANS/300/Corr.1 for the English publication.
Check the document reference, language, volume and correction before saving or citing a file. Give a retained copy an unambiguous edition label. A local filename such as ADR latest or a search result without its publication year can obscure which text a procedure actually used.
Older records concerning operations in Spain
For historical Spanish references, the ADR 2021 text published in the BOE on 13 April 2021 and its correction of 23 September 2021 help identify the Spanish publication being cited.
Do not mix an English correction with an unrelated Spanish translation change. When a historical document relies on a particular provision, retain the source, language and correction details so the reference can be checked.
Compare provisions rather than page numbers
A useful comparison starts with the section or subsection number and the precise subject. Identify the goods, participant's role and document or equipment concerned. Check the older wording, the relevant corrected text and the corresponding provision in the edition applicable to the operation.
Page numbers can change between volumes, languages and editions. A matching heading or familiar UN number is insufficient to show that every condition stayed unchanged. Record any difference and its effect on the specific procedure rather than copying an old extract into a current instruction.
Which edition should a business use in 2026?
UNECE identifies ADR 2025 as applicable from 1 January 2025. Particular transitional provisions may preserve specified earlier requirements for defined cases; they need to be assessed individually. Holding an ADR 2021 file does not demonstrate that such a provision applies.
Read our ADR 2025 publication guide for current source selection. For a review of an older procedure, provide its date, edition references and the operation concerned. DGSA advisory services can help identify the transport questions requiring assessment. Contact DGSA to discuss the scope.