Annex 18 specifies the broad Standards and Recommended Practices to be followed to enable dangerous goods to be carried safely.
The Annex contains fairly stable material requiring only infrequent amendment using the normal Annex amendment process. The
Annex also makes binding upon Contracting States the provisions of the Technical Instructions, which contain the very detailed and
numerous instructions necessary for the correct handling of dangerous cargo. These require frequent updating as developments occur
in the chemical, manufacturing and packaging industries, and a special procedure has been established by the Council to allow the
Technical Instructions to be revised and reissued regularly to keep up with new products and advances in technology.