1. Home
  2. Dangerous goods

Fuel container (jerricans) compliance requirements

WorkSafe Victoria is reminding all businesses selling or importing jerricans that they must be compliant with the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code).

ADG Code

Fuel containers (jerricans) must comply with UN marking requirements

The Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code) requires all dangerous goods packages, including fuel containers (jerricans), to pass UN performance tests. These tests include drop, leak, pressure, and stack tests.

If containers pass the tests, their package design is approved and given a UN number. The fuel container must then be appropriately marked.

Image shows a UN approval marking. The image is a United Nation symbol and 6 alphanumeric strings denoting 1. Packaging code, 2. Packaging group and specific gravity, 3. Test pressure, 4. Year of manufacture, 5. Country of manufacture, 6. Name of company and approval number.

Figure 1 - Example of the UN approval marking.

The image denotes a UN symbol on the left of the approval marking. this symbol cannot be used for any other purpose other than certifying that a packaging complies with the relevant requirement in Chapter 6 of the ADG Code.

Please note: Jerricans with both the UN approval mark and the AS 2906 Fuel containers-Portable Plastics and Metal mark are compliant.

However, the Competent Authorities Panel, a national body of Australian safety regulators that deals with the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail, has advised that there are fuel containers (jerricans) being sold within or imported to Australia that don’t display the UN markings and are therefore not approved for use in the transportation of Dangerous Goods.

How to ensure your product is compliant

All products must be tested by a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory. In Victoria, there are two NATA accredited laboratories that can undertake the appropriate UN tests:

  • Australian Compliance Labs P/L
  • Falcon Test Engineers

The steps below are designed to assist you with getting your product tested and approved:

  1. Engage a test facility to conduct the required tests as per the ADG Code.
  2. The NATA laboratory will submit your design to WorkSafe for approval if the package passes all the required tests.
  3. Once approved, it will be added to the WorkSafe Victoria's Register of packaging approvals.
  4. WorkSafe will submit the package for approval to Competent Authorities Panel (CAP) for national approval.

How to apply

You can now apply for approval of a dangerous goods packaging design by completing an application.

Please note:

  • applications for packaging design approvals must be accompanied by a test certificate
  • or a report from a testing facility registered by the National Association of Testing Authorities Australia (NATA) or equivalent [regulation 57]

Related information

These obligations fall under the Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018 and the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022.

For practical guidance on how to comply, refer to the Code of Practice: The storage and handling of dangerous goods.