IMDG Code Amendment Cycle

Every two years IMO publishes a new Amendment to the IMDG Code, incorporating changes approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). This chart shows the sequence of these Amendments. The general principle is:

• Each Amendment is valid for three years
• There are alternating years for implementation
• In January of the yellow years, a new Amendment is published and can be used immediately, subject to the timing of National Competent Authority adoption
• Also, during the yellow years, the preceding Amendment can also be used, so it is an overlap period
• In the green years only the current Amendment can be used.

PLEASE NOTE: THE AMENDMENT 40-20 ENFORCEMENT DATE IS 1 JUNE 2022 DUE TO DELAYS ENCOUNTERED FINALISING THIS AMENDMENT DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. AMENDMENT 39-18 MAY BE USED UNTIL THE END OF MAY 2022.