IATA Addendum to DGR 55th Edition

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has complemented the Dangerous Goods Regulations 55th Edition by furthering with a new addendum recently. This addendum highlights corrections and amendments for 3 countries- including Australia, Japan and the USA, air operators, lithium batteries, packing instructions and Class 5 labels. These highlights are discussed below:

State Variations

For the transport of infectious substances other than human blood products, human urine and human tissue into Australia, it is required to get a prior approval from Australian Health Authorities. However, this requirement is now subject to a change because from January 2014, the requests for approvals should be directed to the Department of Agriculture, Biological Program.

Japan will comply with the amendment that the radioactive material (Class 7), except for “Excepted radioactive material”, must not be stored with packages containing explosives in the same container.

In the US regulations 49 CFR, the prior approval or Ex-number for an air bag module, air bag inflator, or seat-belt pretensioner is no longer required provided that the provisions of 49 CFR 173.166 have been met. The exception for dangerous goods in limited or excepted quantities, corresponding to 173.63(b), has been specified for Class 9, UN 0012, UN 0014 and UN 0055. The limitation for cargo aircraft of Division 6.1 (toxic) will apply unless the substance is also labeled for any hazard class or division except FLAMMABLE LIQUID.

Operator Variations

For Air France (AF), the restriction on the carriage of explosives classified in Division 1.1 and 1.2 and Class 8, UN 1798 has been deleted and replaced with “Not Used”.

For British Airways (BA), the provision regarding the single packaging of UN 1169, UN 1179, and UN 3334 with an exception of composite packaging has been deleted and the subsequent provisions have moved upward. The requirement relevant to UN 3164 for annotating the net weight of the non-flammable gas on the Shipper’s Declaration has also been deleted. Similarly, the restriction of carriage of UN 3356 has also been erased.

Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) is the new air operator with a permission of carriage of UN 3481, UN 3091 and lithium batteries (both rechargeable and non-rechargeable) through passenger and cargo aircrafts when meeting the corresponding requirements.

For Cathay Pacific (CX), the packaging instruction for liquid substances bears an amendment when replacing liquid substances with liquid dangerous goods.

For Federal Express (FX), the amendment that is effective from January 2014, includes the additional requirement that all the US domestic shipments of Division 4.3 will be regulated under a DOT special permit that will exempt FX from using placards during road transport. However, this requirement does not apply to the limited quantity packaging instructions. Another amendment that will be effective from April 2014, removes the requirement that the “IB” must be indicated in the Authorization Column of Shipper’s Declaration for UN 3480 and UN 3090. Among other key amendments that will be effective from May 2014, the requirements associated with handwritten Shipper’s Declaration are no more in place because the Shipper’s Declaration for all dangerous goods shipments handled by FX will be prepared electronically now.

Emirates (EK) will no more be accepting UN 3090 packages on their passenger aircrafts.

IBERIA, , Líneas Aéreas de España (IB) will be accepting shipments of UN 3091, UN 3480, and UN 3481 on their passenger aircrafts. However, they are no more allowed to carry UN 2814, UN 2900, and UN 3373 and Fissile Radioactive Material.

Japan Airlines (JL) will have to ensure suitable materials for protection of liquid dangerous goods in single packagings of the UN specifications 1A1 and 1A2 for steel drums and 3A1 and 3A2 for steel jerricans.

Atlasjet Airlines (KK) is another addition in the line of air operators with a permission to carry UN 3091, UN 3480, UN 3481 and lithium batteries (rechargeable and non-rechargeable) provided that the corresponding provisions are met.

Air Hong Kong (LD) should find LD-08 provision now in LD-07 and LD-07 in LD-08.

For Austrian Airlines (OS), the restriction on the carriage of wheelchairs or other battery powered mobility devices has been deleted because it is no more of use. The same applies to Tyrolean Airways (VO) and Croatia Airlines (OU). However, OU will also no more be accepting camping stoves and fuel containers including flammable liquid fuel in passenger baggage.

Singapore Airlines/ Singapore Airlines Cargo (SQ) will have to comply with Section II of PI 969 and PI 970 for lithium batteries packages (UN 3091).

The limitation for Air Tahiti (VT) that dangerous goods with a subsidiary risk are forbidden, with the exception of UN 1072, has been deleted along with specific limitations for Class 1 Explosives. Moreover, another restriction on the different dangerous goods packed in an outer package has also been erased because it is not used.

Lithium Batteries

Cells and batteries manufactured in accordance to the requirements of the subsection 38.3 of the UN Manual Tests and Criteria, Revision 3, Amendment 1 or any subsequent revision and amendment applicable at the date of the type testing will be permissible to be transported, despite of the fact that they are no longer allowed, unless otherwise provided in the relevant regulations. The cells and batteries manufactured before 1 July 2003 meeting the same requirements may continue to be transported if all relevant requirements are met.

Packaging Instructions

For packing instruction 101, the instruction that packagings must meet Packing Group II requirements has been deleted. The single packagings for wood replaces the specification for wood with 4C2. The packing instruction 953 now requires that the operator must stow the magnetized material according to 9.3.10. The operator variations for packing instruction 965 now adds BI-03. The additional requirements for section IB now amends marking instructions to meet the requirements of 7.1.4.1 (a) and (b) and (c). Moreover, the operator variations for packing instruction 968 are amended to include BA-01, BI03, EK-02, IB-01, KK-10, and LD-07 and to exclude BA-02 and LD-08. The additional requirements for section IB will bear the same changes as for packing instruction 965. However, it is no more essential that the IB should be located directly in the Packing Instruction column of Shipper’s Declaration provided that it meets packing instruction and is acceptable to be located in the authorization columns. For general and excepted packages containing radioactive materials, the additional marking requirements of 7.1.4.1 (d) for dry ice are now required. And finally, the packages containing the limited quantity of dangerous goods and bearing the appropriate marks for road, rail and sea transport will be permissible for air freight if they are in compliance with the pertinent regulations.

Labels

The new label for Class 5- Oxidizing Substances (Division 5.1) does not bear red background anymore.

The new label for Class 5-Organic Peroxides (Division 5.2) can be printed with black or white colored flame.