Regulation overview
IATA DGR and the IMDG Code: Air and Sea Transport of Dangerous Goods
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) are the industry standard for shipping dangerous goods by air, and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code governs shipping them by sea. Both are built on the UN Model Regulations, so UN numbers, proper shipping names, classes and packing groups are largely the same across modes, but each adds its own packaging, quantity, documentation and training rules.
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Who they apply to
They apply to shippers, packers, freight forwarders and carriers who prepare or move dangerous goods on aircraft or ships, and to the people who train and certify them. The IATA DGR reproduce the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions in a practical format, adding airline-specific variations. The ICAO Technical Instructions are binding through international law and national regulation. The IMDG Code is issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is made mandatory by the SOLAS and MARPOL conventions, with national authorities enforcing. Both are updated on a regular cycle, and you must use the edition in force on the date of shipment.
What they require
- Classification into UN hazard classes and packing groups, with the UN number and proper shipping name.
- Packaging that meets performance standards, with UN specification markings and packing instructions.
- Quantity limits. Air transport sets maximum quantities per package, differing between passenger and cargo-only aircraft, and has excepted-quantity and limited-quantity provisions. Sea transport has its own limited-quantity and stowage provisions.
- Marking and labelling of packages, with class labels and handling labels such as orientation arrows or "cargo aircraft only".
- Documentation. A shipper's declaration for dangerous goods, with the details required by the mode, and a container packing certificate or similar for sea transport.
- Training. Personnel involved must be trained and, for air, certified in line with the competency-based requirements.
- Special provisions for particular substances, and variations by state and operator.
How they connect to SDS Section 14
Section 14 of the SDS is where suppliers list the UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group and environmental hazards for each mode. The air entry should follow the IATA DGR or ICAO Technical Instructions and the sea entry the IMDG Code. In addition, the marine pollutant designation relates to environmental information in Section 12. Because regulations are updated on a cycle, a sheet's transport entry can be outdated; check the date in Section 16 and verify against the current edition before shipping. See Section 14 for how to read it.
Differences between modes, and versus OSHA HazCom and US DOT
- Air versus sea. Air rules are stricter on quantities and have forbidden items on passenger aircraft; sea rules focus on stowage, segregation and the marine pollutant designation.
- Versus DOT HMR. The US HMR incorporate or align with the international rules for international shipments, but domestic US shipments may follow HMR-specific provisions. A shipment can comply with one regime and not another, so use the regime that applies to each leg.
- Versus OSHA HazCom. HazCom concerns workplace communication through GHS labels and sheets; these codes concern the safe movement of dangerous goods by labels, marks, placards and papers. OSHA does not enforce SDS Section 14.
- Classification differences. A material can be hazardous under GHS but not regulated as dangerous goods, or in a different class, see DOT hazard classes.
Practical points
- Never self-certify a shipment on the basis of an SDS alone. Use trained, certified staff or a qualified dangerous goods adviser or forwarder.
- Check the edition date of the regulations used for the shipment.
- Make sure the 24-hour emergency contact on the paperwork can be reached. In the US, CHEMTREC (1-800-424-9300) is used by many shippers for chemical transport emergencies. See the disclaimer page for emergency numbers.
- For wider context see UN GHS and EU REACH.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IATA DGR?
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are a manual used by shippers and airlines for the safe shipment of dangerous goods by air, based on the ICAO Technical Instructions.
What is the IMDG Code?
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, issued by the IMO, which governs the transport of dangerous goods by sea in packaged form.
Do I need training to ship dangerous goods by air?
Yes. Staff involved in preparing and offering dangerous goods for air transport must be trained and certified according to the rules, and trained again periodically.
Is Section 14 of the SDS enough to ship a product?
No. It provides the transport classification but you must also follow the packaging, marking, documentation and training rules of the relevant mode and edition.