1.6.1.6    Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) manufactured before 1 January 2003 in accordance with the requirements of marginal 3612 (1) applicable up to 30 June 2001 and which do not conform to the requirements of 6.5.2.1.1 regarding the height of letters, numerals and symbols applicable as from      1 July 2001 may continue to be used.

Type approvals for drums, jerricans and composite packagings made of high or medium molecular mass polyethylene issued before 1 July 2005 in accordance with the requirements of 6.1.5.2.6 in force up to 31 December 2004, but which are not in accordance with the requirements of 4.1.1.21, continue to be valid until 31 December 2009. Any such packagings manufactured and marked on the basis of these type approvals may be used until the end of their period of use determined in 4.1.1.15.

Existing orange-coloured plates which meet the requirements of sub-section 5.3.2.2 applicable up to  31 December 2004 may continue to be used provided that the requirements of 5.3.2.2.1 and 5.3.2.2.2 that the plate, numbers and letters shall remain affixed irrespective of the orientation of the vehicle are met.

Type approvals for drums, jerricans and composite packagings made of high or medium molecular mass polyethylene, and for high molecular mass polyethylene IBCs, issued before 1 July 2007 in accordance with the requirements of 6.1.6.1 (a) in force up to 31 December 2006, but which are not in accordance with the requirements of 6.1.6.1 (a) applicable as from 1 January 2007, continue to be valid.

IBCs manufactured before 1 January 2011 and conforming to a design type which has not passed the vibration test of 6.5.6.13 or which was not required to meet the criteria of 6.5.6.9.5 (d) at the time it was subjected to the drop test, may still be used.

IBCs manufactured, remanufactured or repaired before 1 January 2011 need not be marked with the maximum permitted stacking load in accordance with 6.5.2.2.2. Such IBCs, not marked in accordance with 6.5.2.2.2, may still be used after 31 December 2010 but must be marked in accordance with
6.5.2.2.2 if they are remanufactured or repaired after that date. IBCs manufactured, remanufactured or repaired between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2016 and marked with the maximum permitted stacking load in accordance with 6.5.2.2.2 in force up to 31 December 2014 may continue to be used.