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SECTION 1 The most obvious change in the 62nd edition of the DGR is the incorporation of a competency-based approach to dangerous goods training and assessment in 1.5. This had been included in the 61st edition in Appendix I to give industry and authorities time to consider how they would address the new requirements; the previous 1.5 is now moved to Attachment A of Appendix H, as there is a two-year transitional period until 31 December 2022, during which time the current training provisions may continue to be used. Elsewhere in Section 1, the list of exceptions in 1.2.7 has been expanded to include dangerous goods required for the preservation of organs intended for transplant, and dangerous goods to be dropped for pest management purposes. New entries have also been added to the indicative list of high-consequence dangerous goods in Table 1.7.A.
MORE THAN TRAINING
THE NEW, 62ND edition of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) takes effect promptly on 1 January 2021. As it has done in previous years, IATA has made available a summary of the significant changes that can be found in it, to help those subject to the DGR prepare for the new year’s incoming rules. It might have been expected that this time
travel and meeting imposed to protect against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the list of amendments adopted by ICAO’s Dangerous Goods Panel and IATA’s Dangerous Goods Board has been rather shorter than usual. Neither this article nor IATA’s list of significant changes will be sufficient for those in scope of the rules to be compliant;
SECTION 2 There are several changes to the provisions covering dangerous goods carried by passengers or crew, all involving batteries and battery-powered equipment. Passengers will now be able to carry up to two spare batteries for mobility aids (2.3.2.2) and up to two personal safety devices (2.3.4.2). The provisions for portable electronic devices (PEDs) and spare batteries for them in 2.3.5.8 have been amended to amalgamate the provisions for electronic cigarettes and for PED powered by wet non-spillable batteries; that subsection also includes a clarification that it applies to dry batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries as well as lithium batteries.
around, as it is a biennial update for the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Technical Instructions, which are incorporated in DGR, there would be a lengthy list of amendments. However, with rulemaking activity hampered like all other business operations by the restrictions on
they will still have to acquire copies of the updated DGR. However, it is hoped that the information presented here will go some way to highlighting those amendments that may have particular impact on air shippers, carriers and others active in the supply chain.
There is a change to 2.4.2(a) on the transport of dry ice as a refrigerant for UN 3373 in mail; such articles must be offered separately from other mail to allow the operator to meet requirements for acceptance and for the information to the pilot-in-command.
AIR • THE UPDATED VERSION OF IATA’S DANGEROUS GOODS REGULATIONS CONTAINS FEWER CHANGES THAN USUAL BUT A NUMBER OF THEM WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
HCB MONTHLY | OCTOBER 2020
