• EU transport ministers have allowed the UK to apply
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for a five-year exemption from the ADR rules on domestic whisky transport.
The ADR packaged goods regulations threatened to ban the movement of wooden casks containing more than 250 litres of spirits containing 24%-70% of alcohol (CM 10-16 November). Using casks is part of the ageing process. Cognacs and some fortified wines would have been affected as they are reclassified under ADR as hazardous goods.
Even cask hauliers who have needlessly invested thousands of pounds in double-deck trailers and training for drivers to ADR regulations are pleased by the decision.
"It would have been a big problem for distillers which will have millions of these casks maturing," says Frank Pearce of MacPhersons Transport, which claims over 40% of cask moving business.