European Space Sector welcomes agreement by UN experts to remove initial proposal for special packing provision “PP5” for Hydrazine Anhydrous

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Eurospace welcomes the vote of the UN ECOSOC Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (SCE TDG) to remove an earlier proposal agreed at the end of 2023 to add a special packing provision “PP5” to the UN2029 for Hydrazine Anhydrous. This change came in response to concerns expressed by aerospace and defence industries, including the European Space Sector (see Eurospace news alert of 26 June 2024).

At its 65th session on 25 November – 3 December 2024 (see report ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/130) the SCE TDG adopted the related proposals by the United States of America of 13 September 2024 (ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2024/102).

Instead, the SCE TDG now agreed to add an additional safety factor through a new special packing provision assigned to UN2029: “PP98 For UN2029, when a pressure receptacle is used, the internal pressure at 65 °C shall not exceed the test pressure.”

This means that the assessment and initiative under the MPTB Energetic Materials Working Group (EMWG) and its dedicated PP5 Sub-Group of 2024 to remove the adverse PP5 proposal has been successful. The UN-level outcome allows the European space industry to continue to transport hydrazine in its traditional safe manner.

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