The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has released a new Addendum and Corrigendum revising the 2015 – 2016 Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, commonly referred to as the ICAO TI or simply TI.
The TI are the set of regulations that, together with national regulations like the 49 CFR in the United States, help govern the transport of Dangerous Goods (usually referred to as Hazardous Materials in the United States) when shipped by air. Regulatory texts like the International Air Transport Association’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (IATA DGR) and Labelmaster’s AIR Shipper (Air International Regulations) are both in effect translated versions of these ICAO TI regulations. The ICAO TI can be thought of, in some ways, as very generally analogous to the United Nations Model Regulations (UNMR), but designed specifically for the aviation community. They serve as the basis for harmonized regulatory action across most of the world, and they bear the force of law where so authorized. In the United Sates, the ICAO TI are incorporated by reference in to the 49 CFR, for example. (See 49 CFR 171.7(t)(1)). The new revisions were finalized on August 19th, 2015, and released for distribution within the last few days.
A brief review of the document reveals some interesting actions, summarized below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and all users should take time to review and incorporate the document into their current ICAO TI:
- Multiple corrections of typographical/formatting/reference errors
- A formula revised in 6.2.2.4.7 for toxic substances comprising a mixture
- There are edits to Packing Instructions 565, 961, and 970
- Section 4.1.5.1 is edited in reference to batteries in the Dangerous Goods description
- Provisions for DG carried by passengers and crew (8-1-4) have had the batteries/electronic devices section revised/clarified
- Many airlines have added lithium battery restrictions
- A New airline; Nepal, is added
- 2 and US.3 have edits referencing batteries
- 16 has edits regarding UN3268 Safety Devices
- Other (international) state variations have been amended
- FedEx: FX-02 and FX-18 have been amended
- UPS: 5X-03 bears clarified wording
- UPS 5X-07 has first bullet mentioning batteries change from UN3090 to UN3480
- UPS 5X-08 is new. It deals primarily with Lithium Battery issues
- A large number of international airline variations have also been revised
- There are a variety of changes to the data concerning national authorities
Here is a link to the new Addendum/Corrigendum:
Users across the world, and the regulatory agencies governing them, will now get busy incorporating these changes into the appropriate documents and policies that they administrate.
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