Transport of dangerous goods: exempt and limited quantities
A small consignment of dangerous goods does not become ordinary cargo simply because it weighs little. ADR provides different forms of partial relief for road transport. LQ means limited quantities under Chapter 3.4; EQ means excepted quantities under Chapter 3.5. Each requires an assessment of the substance, the quantity in each inner packaging, the packaging arrangement and its marks.
This guide concerns the road leg and ADR 2025, applicable at the review date of 29 October 2026. Requirements for dangerous goods by sea and air transport must be checked separately.
Establish the classification first
Obtain the UN number, proper shipping name, class and, where assigned, packing group. Section 14 of a current safety data sheet is an important starting point, but does not replace verification of classification and the applicable transport provisions.
Column 7a of ADR Table A specifies the LQ limit; column 7b gives the EQ code. A “0” in column 7a does not permit LQ carriage. Code E0 means EQ carriage is not allowed. A commercial description such as “paint” or “reagent” is insufficient to make that decision.
LQ limits apply inside the package
For LQ, check the quantity in each inner packaging. Bottles or other inner receptacles must be placed in suitable outer packaging under Chapter 3.4. The general gross mass limit is 30 kg for a combination package and 20 kg for a shrink-wrapped or stretch-wrapped tray. Additional requirements depend on the substance and packaging design.
For illustration, assume the verified Table A entry allows 1 litre per inner packaging. A box containing twenty 0.5-litre bottles with a gross mass of 12 kg meets those two quantity criteria. Packaging compatibility, leak prevention, closure and marking must still be checked. A single 10-litre jerrican does not become acceptable merely because its total contents are identical.
Apply the LQ mark and orientation arrows where required. If marks are hidden by an overpack, follow the overpack marking provisions. Writing “ADR” on a carton is not a substitute for the prescribed mark.
EQ uses smaller limits and different packaging
EQ codes E1–E5 specify maximum net quantities per inner and outer packaging. In the table below, quantities are in grams for solids and millilitres for liquids.
Code | Inner packaging | Outer packaging |
|---|---|---|
E1 | 30 g or ml | 1,000 g or ml |
E2 | 30 g or ml | 500 g or ml |
E3 | 30 g or ml | 300 g or ml |
E4 | 1 g or ml | 500 g or ml |
E5 | 1 g or ml | 300 g or ml |
These are limits attached to the assigned code, not options from which the shipper may freely choose. Gases and mixed contents require the applicable quantity rules to be checked separately.
The standard EQ arrangement requires inner, intermediate and strong outer packaging, with the appropriate absorbent and cushioning materials. Packages must meet the testing requirements in Chapter 3.5 and carry the separate EQ mark. No more than 1,000 such packages may be carried in a vehicle or container. This is a package-count limit, not the “1,000-point” calculation.
Obligations that still apply
Function-specific training under ADR 1.3 remains applicable to LQ and EQ. Cargo must be safely stowed and secured, and packages must be free from damage and leakage.
Before LQ road carriage, the consignor must inform the carrier of the total gross mass of the LQ goods in a traceable form. For a load consisting only of compliant LQ, the standard ADR transport document under 5.4.1 is generally not required; the gross-mass notification still is. Where an EQ consignment is accompanied by a document, it must include “DANGEROUS GOODS IN EXCEPTED QUANTITIES” and the number of packages.
For a transport unit with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 12 tonnes carrying more than 8 tonnes gross of LQ goods, check the vehicle and container marking requirements under 3.4.13–3.4.15. Category E tunnel restrictions apply to the relevant marked operation. Other dangerous goods on the same vehicle may change the journey’s requirements.
Agree acceptance before dispatch
The 1,000-point exemption under ADR 1.1.3.6 is a separate mechanism. It does not replace the LQ or EQ packaging conditions. If a shipment fails the selected regime, another lawful option must be assessed rather than simply removing hazard marks.
For dangerous goods logistics, send SPS the SDS, UN number, packaging description, quantity per receptacle, package gross masses and photographs of the marks. These inputs help determine acceptance for groupage transport or a dedicated vehicle. For chemical products and packaged freight, compatibility and packaging should be checked before the truck is dispatched.
