IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations: Significant Changes for 2022

IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations: Significant Changes for 2022

February 10, 2022

There are a lot of regulations pertaining to HAZMAT shipping, and the laws are continuously being updated to respond to new scientific knowledge as well as trends within the transportation industry.

This year is no exception, and there have been some significant changes enacted for 2022 that apply to dangerous goods shipping regulations. Read on to learn more.

Shipping regulations for batteries

The updated shipping regulations for hazardous materials via air travel in 2022 include updates to some of the sections pertaining to batteries. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published new guidelines, and the section on lithium-ion batteries is creating a buzz in the HAZMAT shipping community.

Lithium-ion batteries are considered hazardous materials, so they must be handled with care during shipping. Because they’re widely used in a variety of goods, however, the regulations for shipping affect not only the batteries themselves but also the goods that use them.

One regulation update on batteries is that Packing Instruction 965 for lithium-ion (UN3480) or lithium-polymer cells and batteries (UN3090) has been revised, with Section II being eliminated from the packing instructions. The IATA has allowed for a three-month transition time for this new regulation, during which time Section II may continue to be used until March 31, 2022. Since Section II is already unused by many shipping operations. This is not predicted to have a major impact on the industry.

Also on the list of new regulations is lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment (UN3481) and lithium metal batteries packed with equipment (UN3091) should now be packed in a UN-specification packaging and placed with the equipment in a strong, rigid outer packaging or packed with the equipment in a UN-specification packaging.

Other HAZMAT shipping updates

The IATA has also identified territories to which state regulations apply. This section has been revised to include territories that are subject to the jurisdiction of a state.

There have also been updates to help determine the appropriate A or A2 value for unlisted radionuclides.

To help prepare for the upcoming major changes in 2023, the appendix has been updated to include the impending changes that the IATA is aware of, including updates to the list of dangerous goods, new packing instructions and more.

Trust a professional shipping company

Working with a shipping company you trust will save you time and energy in the long run versus trying to handle the logistics of HAZMAT shipping on your own. You will not have to worry about shipping something in an improper manner or keeping up with the latest updates to regulations each year. This is also a good practice to help prevent accidents—which is why the regulations exist in the first place.

When looking for a company to trust for all your HAZMAT shipping needs, look no further than All Points Transport. Our team of experienced professionals are well versed in federal hazardous material law regulations. As specialists in HAZMAT shipping with a track record of excellence, we take pride in our extensive training and safety protocols.

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