Year after year, no transport mode sees more Dangerous Goods regulatory changes than air transport. That’s why it’s essential to have a complete grasp of each year’s changes as soon as possible—and why now is the time to order your copy of the 58th Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
Here’s a preview of what you can expect in the 2017 IATA DGR:
In late July, IATA released a document summarizing the changes that will appear in the 58th edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations (IATA DGR), which will become
EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1, 2017.
CHANGES ON THE FLY
A new paragraph was added (1.2.8.2) that clarifies what happens if the regulations change while your shipment is in transit.
Bottom line—if the shipment was compliant when it left, it’s OK through to its destination.
ABSORBING READING
When shipping liquid dangerous goods, section 2.6.5 now allows for the absorbent material to be either in the intermediate packaging or the outer packaging.
BANNED ON PASSENGER AIRCRAFT
Among the changes to the List of Dangerous Goods (4.2), the entry for UN 3480 (lithium batteries) now shows “forbidden” across columns I and J to reflect the April 1, 2016 rule that restricted UN 3480 to Cargo Aircraft Only.
THE LATEST LITHIUM LABELS
All the entries for lithium batteries in the List of Dangerous Goods (4.2) have been revised to indicate the new lithium battery Class 9 label.
This new hazard class label comes into effect January 1, 2017 with a two-year transitional period during which time the existing Class 9 — Miscellaneous hazard label may still be used.
HEAVY LIFTING
New provisions in section 5.0.1.12 have been added to allow (with the approval of the authorities of the States of origin and the operators) for the use of UN specification large packagings for articles that weigh in excess of 400 kg (880 lbs.).
These are just a few of the changes you can expect in the new IATA DGR. There are new provisions for polymerizing substances (PI 459), new subsidiary risks assigned to uranium hexafluoride (yes, both fissile and non-fissile) (4.2) and new provisions for calculating the internal pressure of liquefied gasses charged with a compressed gas in a cylinder (PI 200).
2http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/commodity_flow_survey/2012/hazardous_materials/table1a
3http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/app_e.pdf
