France — ADR essentials
National regulator, the DGSA requirement and ADRplus availability, in one place.
ADR contracting party since
1960
DGSA required
Required
Competent authority
Mission Transport de Matières Dangereuses (MTMD) – Direction Générale de la Prévention des Risques (DGPR)
National ADR application
France is a formal ADR contracting party since 1960. The lead national authority for dangerous goods (ADR) matters is Mission Transport de Matières Dangereuses (MTMD) – Direction Générale de la Prévention des Risques (DGPR). A DGSA must be appointed under ADR 1.8.3.
Competent authorities and contacts
Checked against official sources · 2026-06-13
Mission Transport de Matières Dangereuses (MTMD) — Direction Générale de la Prévention des Risques (DGPR) — Mission for Transport of Dangerous Materials — Directorate General for Risk Prevention
French ADR competent authority for road, rail, inland waterway and maritime dangerous goods transport; issues regulatory texts, approves training bodies, designates CIFMD as exam body
- ecologie.gouv.fr
- +33 1 40 81 17 28
- [email protected]
- Tour Séquoia, 1 place Carpeaux, 92055 Paris-La-Défense Cedex
CIFMD — Comité Interprofessionnel pour le développement de la Formation dans les transports de Marchandises Dangereuses — CIFMD — Joint Committee for Training Development in Dangerous Goods Transport
Sole state-approved body (designated by MTMD) for organising CSTMD/DGSA certification exams in France for road, rail and inland waterway modes
- cifmd.org
- [email protected]
- Le Diamant A, 14 rue de la République, 92800 Puteaux
DREAL — Directions Régionales de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement (Contrôleurs des Transports Terrestres) — Regional Directorates for Environment, Planning and Housing — Land Transport Controllers
Roadside and on-site enforcement of ADR/TMD rules; operate under Ministry of Transport; conduct joint operations with Gendarmerie nationale
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transporting unauthorized dangerous goods; using uncertified/uninspected transport equipme | 30000 + up to 1 year imprisonment EUR | Code des transports, Art. L1252-5 I | confirmed in the act |
| Same violations as Art. L1252-5 I when they directly expose fauna, flora or water quality | 250000 (up to triple illicit gains) + up to 3 years imprisonment EUR | Code des transports, Art. L1252-5 II | confirmed in the act |
| Enterprise manager failing to designate a required safety advisor (CSTMD/DGSA) where oblig | 30000 + up to 1 year imprisonment (same as L1252-5 I) EUR | Code des transports, Art. L1252-6 | confirmed in the act |
| ADR contravention: non-compliance with ADR provisions on classification, packaging, labell | 1500 (up to 3000 on recidivism) — 5th class contravention decided by tribunal de police EUR | Code des transports, Art. R1252-9; Code Pénal Art. 131-13 | 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
Arrêté du 29 mai 2009 relatif aux transports de marchandises dangereuses par voies terrestres (dit « arrêté TMD »)
Visit official siteTransport document language
French (français)
DGSA exam
CIFMD (Comité Interprofessionnel pour le développement de la Formation dans les transports de Marchandises Dangereuses) — cifmd.org — sole state-approved DGSA/CSTMD exam body in France, designated by MTMD/DGPR
France — contact a DGSA.
Tell us about your loads, routes or operation, and a certified consultant replies personally.


