The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninety-sixth session (11 to 20 May 2016), approved the Guidelines on consolidated IMO provisions for the safe carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form by sea following the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, at its second session, and the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping, at its second session.

Amendments to the IMDG Code will enter into force on 1-January-2018, with voluntary application from 1-January-2017, and includes many technical and editorial changes to the Code’s operational requirements.Owners and operators of ships intending to carry packaged dangerous goods cargoes will have to implement the new requirements by 1-January-2018, and are encouraged to consider their early implementation from 1-January-2017.