The transport of dangerous goods (TDG) is carried out by road, rail, inland waterway, sea or air. The TDG regulations aim to prevent risks to people, property and the environment, and also to protect workers or consumers.

Regulations in France

The decree of 29 May 2009 relating to the transport of dangerous goods by land (known as the "TDG decree") regulates such transport on national territory. It is regularly amended following the work of the Interministerial Commission for the Transport of Dangerous Goods (CITMD).
This decree consists of 27 articles applicable to all modes of transport, unless otherwise stipulated.

Annex I contains Annexes A and B of the ADR as well as other provisions specific to the transport of dangerous goods by road.
Annex II contains the Annex of RID as well as the other provisions specific to the transport of dangerous goods by rail.
Annex III contains the regulations annexed to ADN as well as the specific provisions for the transport of dangerous goods by inland waterways.
Annex IV lists all Appendices IV.1 to IV.9 referred to in the articles of the Order and its annexes.
Moreover, the circulation of dangerous goods is strongly regulated between countries, as the slightest accident could have disastrous consequences on the environment or the population of the country in question. TDG regulations are mainly international. It is based on various international regulations, in particular :

- rail transport: the RID regulation ;
- road transport: the European ADR agreement;
- river transport: the European ADN agreement;
- maritime transport: the maritime codes and collections for TDG in packages and in bulk;
- air transport: the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The coherence between these different regulations, which is necessary for the harmonisation of multimodal transport, is ensured by the United Nations, which has drawn up and keeps up to date :

- a harmonised system of hazard classification criteria and risk communication tools (GHS) ;
- a "model regulation" which serves as a basis for all the above-mentioned international regulations.