Germany — ADR essentials
National regulator, the DGSA requirement and ADRplus availability, in one place.
ADR contracting party since
1969
DGSA required
Required
Competent authority
IHK Gefahrgutbüro (IHK Reutlingen / GGB)
National ADR application
Germany is a formal ADR contracting party since 1969. The lead national authority for dangerous goods (ADR) matters is IHK Gefahrgutbüro (IHK Reutlingen / GGB). A DGSA must be appointed under ADR 1.8.3.
Competent authorities and contacts
Checked against official sources · 2026-06-13
Bundesministerium für Verkehr (BMV) — Federal Ministry of Transport
ADR competent authority — national policy, framework legislation, international coordination (UNECE/ADR)
- bmv.de
- +49 30 18300-0
- [email protected]
- Invalidenstraße 44, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität (BALM) — Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility
Roadside enforcement of ADR/GGVSEB; issues Buß- und Verwarnungsgeldkatalog; formerly Bundesamt für Güterverkehr (BAG), renamed January 2023
- balm.bund.de
- +49 221 5776-0
- [email protected]
- Werderstraße 34, 50672 Köln, Germany
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) — Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing
Competent authority for dangerous goods packaging approvals, type testing, and ATR technical codes under ADR 6.2.5
- bam.de
- Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
IHK / DIHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer / Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag) — Chambers of Commerce and Industry / Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry
DGSA (Gefahrgutbeauftragte) exam body: IHK conducts exams and issues 5-year Schulungsnachweis; DIHK coordinates national question pool (updated January 2025)
ADR driver certificate — authenticity check
Countries increasingly check foreign drivers’ ADR certificates against forgeries. Genuine certificate models of every contracting party are published in the official UNECE register — compare the layout, security features and issuing authority.
Penalties with legal references
| Violation | Penalty | Legal basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum statutory fine for serious dangerous goods transport violations (§10 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, | up to 50,000 EUR | Gesetz über die Beförderung gefährlicher Güter (GGBefG) §10 Abs. 2, in | confirmed in the act |
| Maximum statutory fine for minor/other dangerous goods violations (§10 Abs. 1 other subsec | up to 1,000 EUR | GGBefG §10 Abs. 2 (remaining cases) | confirmed in the act |
Cooperation in this country
Work with companies in this country runs remotely. The DGSA certificate is recognised in all 55 ADR Contracting Parties — describe your operation, and the reply comes within one business day.
Good to know
Framework law
Verordnung über die innerstaatliche und grenzüberschreitende Beförderung gefährlicher Güter auf der Straße, mit Eisenbahnen und auf Binnengewässern (Gefahrgutverordnung Straße, Eisenbahn und Binnenschifffahrt — GGVSEB)
Visit official siteTransport document language
German (Deutsch); ADR transport documents may also be in French or English per ADR 5.4.1.4
DGSA exam
IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer) — regional chambers conduct Gefahrgutbeauftragte exams and issue the 5-year Schulungsnachweis; question pool coordinated nationally by DIHK (updated January 2025 for ADR 2025).
Germany — contact a DGSA.
Tell us about your loads, routes or operation, and a certified consultant replies personally.


