The International Air Transport Association (IATA) publishes a new edition of its Dangerous Goods Regulations for each calendar year.  In effect for the remainder of calendar year 2017 is the 58th edition.  Beginning January 1, 2018 all transport of dangerous goods subject to IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations must be in compliance with the 59th edition.  The purpose of this article is to summarize the significant changes in store for 2018 in the 59th edition.

What follows is only my summary of the full document issued by IATA (Significant Changes and Amendments to the 59th Edition – 2018).  And, IATA includes this disclaimer in their document:

The following list is intended to assist the user to identify the main changes introduced in this edition and must not be considered an exhaustive listing.

So, there’s no substitute for doing the necessary research into the regulations to ensure your transport of dangerous goods by air complies with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.  That being said, I hope my summary below will assist you in identifying where in the 59th edition you should focus your research – if at all.

Section 2 – Limitations:

Subsection 2.3 – Dangerous Goods Carried by Passengers or Crew

2.3.5.9 – Now includes limitations – with some exceptions – on the number of portable electronic devices (PED) and the number of spare batteries for the PED allowed to be carried by passengers or crew.

Subsection 2.8 – State and Operator Variations

2.8.3 – Several additions, deletions, and amendments to operator variations.

Section 3 – Classification:

3.9.2 – This subsection has been restructured to bring in all substances and articles assigned to Class 9 Miscellaneous with their respective UN numbers and proper shipping names.

Section 4 – Identification:

Subsection 4.4 – Special Provisions

A70 – Has been revised to require the shipper to provide documentation stating that a flushing and purging procedure for flammable liquid powered engines has been followed.

A203 – Identifies that vehicles powered by an engine using both a flammable liquid and flammable gas must be assigned to the entry Vehicle, flammable gas powered.

Section 5 – Packing:

5.0.1.5.1 – Has been revised to include new restrictions for some lithium batteries (UN3090 and UN3480) placed into an overpack with most Class 1; and Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1, or Division 5.1.

5.0.2.11 – A note has been added: some lithium batteries (UN3090 and UN3480) are not permitted in the same outer packaging with most Class 1; and Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1, or Division 5.1.

Packing Instructions:

PI 951 – Has been revised to require a vehicle powered by an engine using both flammable gas and flammable liquid fuels to meet relevant requirements of PI 950.

PI Y960 – A note has been added to reinforce that dangerous goods in Packing Group I are not permitted.

PI 965 and PI 968 – Text has been added to identify the restrictions on packing some lithium batteries (UN3480 and UN3090) in the same outer packaging with most Class 1; and Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1, or Division 5.1.  Restrictions are also identified on placing packages of the same lithium batteries into an overpack with most Class 1; and Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1, or Division 5.1.

Section 7 – Marking and Labeling:

7.1.5.5.2 – Text has been added recommending that the UN number(s) on the lithium battery mark be of a minimum size.

Section 9 – Handling:

9.3.2 – Has been revised to introduce segregation requirements for some lithium batteries (UN3480 and UN3090) and most Class 1; and Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1, or Division 5.1.

Appendix B – New Cargo IMP codes have been added for UN3090, Section IA and IB of PI 968-RBM and UN3480, Section IA and IB of PI 954-RBI.

Appendix D – Contact details for competent authorities have been updated.

Appendix E – Changes have been made to the list of UN Specification Packaging Suppliers and the Package Testing Facilities.

Appendix F – Changes have been made to the list of Sales Agents, IATA Accredited Training Schools, and IATA Authorized Training Centers.

Appendix I – This new appendix was added to describe the changes that will come into effect as of January 1, 2019 (i.e. the 60th edition).  These changes include:

• Replacement of most instances of the word “risk” by the word “hazard”.
• Significant changes to the provisions for the classification of corrosive substances.
• A new requirement for manufacturers and subsequent distributors of lithium cells or batteries to make available a summary of the UN 38.3 tests.
• New provisions for the classification of articles containing dangerous goods, n.o.s.
• A number of new and modified special provisions.
• Removal of the lithium battery handling label.

Step 1: Purchase the 59 the edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations

Step 2: Review the regulations to determine if their were any changes that effect your compliance.

Step 3:  Contact me for in-depth site-specific Onsite Training.

A question from an attendee of my Onsite Training (12.01.16):

Hello Daniel,The question is: On the DGD is it proper to put the outer packaging in the Quantity and type of packaging column.  (This is how we have been filling it out since you trained us with no problems from any shipping company)

The forwarder is stating it should say Plastic (Which in the inner packaging) instead of Fiberboard Box (Which is the outer packaging).

Thank you!

I got right on it and had to return to her for some clarification (12.01.16):

I am researching an answer.

• Is it two fiberboard boxes inside a third fiberboard box that makes the outer packaging?
• Or is it two plastic inner receptacles inside a fiberboard box?
• Or something else?

Please advise.

Her reply the next day (12.02.16):

A follow-up question from one of my recent Onsite Training customers (11.18.16):

Hello Daniel,

Can you please confirm that a Limited Quantity Air Shipment can go in a non-specification package?

Thank you,

My reply that same day:

Correct.

It is recognized that many dangerous goods can be safely carried in good quality combination packagings which meet the construction requirements of Subsections 6.1 & 6.2 but which have not been marked and tested in accordance with the requirements of 6.0.4.

The transportation of a hazardous material (aka: dangerous good) by air – even within the U.S. – will likely be subject to the regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).  These regulations are authorized for use within the U.S. by PHMSA/USDOT (at least, the technical instructions of the International Civil Aviation Administration are authorized for use by PHMSA/USDOT and since the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are very similar to the ICAO technical instructions and are even a little bit more strict, compliance with IATA results in compliance with ICAO and PHMSA/USDOT.  Got it?) and are adhered to by most of the world’s airlines.

Questions like this arise because, while similar in many ways – the regulations of IATA and PHMSA/USDOT differ in several key areas.

Contact me if you have questions about how to ship HazMat by air, highway, rail, or vessel.

Here is a short video produced by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that succinctly describes IATA and its Dangerous Goods Regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by air.

I couldn’t say it any better myself!

Things to consider about IATA Dangerous Goods Training:

• It is not required for employees who receive dangerous goods that were transported by aircraft unless they work at an airport or aircraft unloading facility.
• Initial training must be provided before performing a regulated function.
• Full renewal training must be provided within 24 months of initial training.
• Employees must be tested as part of the training.  Successful completion of the test must be confirmed.

Also…

The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are updated each calendar year.  For 2017, the 58th Edition should be your only source for determining compliance.

Compliance with the Dangerous Goods Regulations of IATA are mandatory if you ship hazardous materials/dangerous goods by air either international or domestic.  In its Hazardous Material Regulations, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the US Department of Transportation (PHMSA/USDOT) authorizes the use of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations – with certain additional requirements and limitations – for the transport of HazMat/dangerous goods to, from, or through the U.S.  Make certain you comply with both the domestic and international regulations when you ship hazardous materials/dangerous goods by air.

The Dangerous Goods Regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are recognized by most of the world’s airlines as the standard for the transportation of dangerous goods by air.  In practice, anyone offering a dangerous good for transport by air must comply with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as it will be required by the operator (aka: the air carrier) as a condition of accepting the dangerous good (aka: hazardous material or HazMat) for transportation.  Similar to the Hazardous Material Regulations of the PHMSA/USDOT, IATA assigns responsibilities to a shipper of dangerous goods by air to include, but not limited to, the following:

• Identify and classify the dangerous good.
• Provide necessary information to employees.
• Ensure dangerous good is not forbidden for air transport.
• Packaging must be authorized for dangerous good.
• Markings and labels must be affixed to package.
• All relevant personnel must receive training per Subsection 1.5 of the IATA DGR.
• Required documentation, e.g. the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be completed.

For a full description of the above, refer to Subsection 1.3 – Shipper’s Responsibilities of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

The purpose of this article is to identify the shipments of articles or substances that do not require a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods when transported by air. (more…)