Full compliance with the safety requirements of the European ADR Agreement is now mandatory for all tanker vehicles transporting liquid fuels, according to an announcement by the Department of Road Transport.

As stated, this compliance requirement is set forth in the Law on the Road Transport of Dangerous Goods and the European ADR Agreement, which has also applied to domestic transport since June 2009, pursuant to Directive 2008/68/EC.

The TOM notes that the relevant Ministerial Decree, which sets the end of the transition periods for non-compliant vehicles and tanks, was issued in 2025. The Decree, it adds, brings the transition period to a close and makes full compliance with the ADR mandatory for all fuel tankers.

ADR Compliance or Immediate Grounding for Fuel Tankers—Less Than a Month to Comply

The announcement states that the Department understands the difficulties and economic repercussions that may arise for the market and industry professionals as a result of the implementation of these measures and is approaching the issue “with a sense of responsibility and cooperation.”

At the same time, it calls on gas station owners and tanker truck owners to proceed, where feasible, with modifications and upgrades to vehicles and tanks and, where this is not possible, to replace them, so that they meet ADR specifications. These specifications concern, among other things, vehicle and tank approval, driver training, signage, and equipment.

The TOM emphasizes that this issue concerns road safety and the protection of human life, public property, and the environment, as the transport of flammable fuels carries increased risks of fire, explosion, and leakage.

In conclusion, the Department of Road Transport states that it remains available to interested parties to provide information, clarifications, and guidance, with the aim of ensuring the sector’s smooth and safe adaptation to the requirements of the law.

Lawmakers Call for an Extension

The issue was brought before the House Transportation Committee, with the Committee noting that tanker operators in Cyprus are unable to fully comply with new European standards by the August 8 deadline.

In remarks made after the Committee meeting concluded, DISY MP Charalambos Pazaros said that the Republic of Cyprus must fulfill its international and European obligations.

“For many years, the provisions of the ATR agreement were not fully implemented; therefore, the burden cannot now be shifted exclusively onto businesses without a clear, workable, and fair transition plan,” he said.

Mr. Pazaros added that there is also an issue of unfair competition, as there are businesses that have invested significant capital to comply with legal requirements, and conditions cannot be created that put them at a disadvantage compared to others who, for whatever reason, did not comply in a timely manner.

“Our goal is neither to punish businesses nor to prolong a problematic situation. Our goal—and this is what the Democratic Alarm is calling for—is to find a solution that will ensure, above all, the safety of citizens, restores legality, and ensures a level playing field through a realistic and clear roadmap for implementation,” he noted.

“We ask for the understanding of the Ministry and the central government to grant companies a further extension to fully comply with European regulations,” he said, adding that it is impossible for them to fully comply by August 8.

“At this point, an extension is the only way forward, and from there on, we must specify that by a certain date, the companies themselves must be ready and assume their responsibilities; a reasonable deadline based on the preparatory work needed for them to be fully compliant,” she concluded.

Irini Charalambidou, a member of parliament for the Alma Movement, said that the European Union issued a directive on the transport of dangerous goods, such as fuels, back in 2004.

“It is now 2026, and while the minister should have issued a decree 10–15 years ago, the decree has only just been issued. Only 20% of the fleet operating in Cyprus meets the technical specifications required by the European Union for road safety,” he said.

“I understand that the respective Ministers of Transportation are responsible for all this delay. The current Minister of Transportation, having also experienced the Takata incident, where, once again, major financial interests were at play and the Department of Road Transport and the Ministry of Transportation turned a blind eye, resulting in two deaths and one very serious injury," she continued, "and she thought it was very likely that the government’s popularity could not withstand similar tragic incidents, given that there are regulations that are not being enforced."

According to Ms. Charalambidou, “there is an issue here, because now everyone has been summoned under a decree that should have been issued 15 years ago, and those directly affected took advantage of this inaction on the part of the Ministry of Transportation, decided to issue it now with immediate effect.”

There is, he noted, “a serious issue, and this is what our Committee sought to examine today, because on the one hand there is public safety, which is a paramount concern for us, and on the other hand, there is the European Directive that should have been implemented and the Minister’s decrees that should have been issued as early as 2016.”

“At the same time, there is the difficulty—as stated by all those directly involved—of making these changes immediately,” he said.

“A middle ground must be found, but the House of Representatives is certainly the last institution that should be held responsible for matters that previous governments should have addressed, leaving the House exposed to issues of public safety,” he concluded.

Source: CNA