Which Rules Does DGR Cover?
DGR should not be treated as a reference to the IATA manual alone. The UN Model Regulations establish the common foundation for dangerous goods transport, while each mode converts that foundation into binding or operational requirements.
ICAO Annex 18, Doc 9284 and IATA DGR
Classification, limitations, packing, declaration, acceptance and operating rules for international air transport.
IMDG Code
Sea transport, stowage, segregation and emergency information for dangerous goods in packaged form.
ADR
Requirements for substances, packaging, vehicles, equipment, documentation, drivers and road operations.
RID
Technical and operational provisions for the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
ADN
Vessel, tank, equipment and operational requirements for inland-waterway transport.
The 7 Steps Before a Shipment Is Accepted
Identify the Product Precisely
Do not rely on the trade name. Collect composition, physical state, concentration, flash point, pressure and relevant test data.
Review the SDS and Technical Data
SDS Section 14 is a useful starting point, but it should be read with Sections 2, 9, 10 and 11. A missing or outdated SDS does not remove responsibility.
Verify the Classification
Check the UN number, Proper Shipping Name, primary class, subsidiary risk and packing group, where applicable, against the current Dangerous Goods List.
Define the Mode and Route
Air, sea, road, rail and transfer points can apply different provisions. A multimodal shipment must comply with every leg.
Apply the Packing Instruction
Confirm permitted inner and outer packaging, quantity limits, closure method, compatibility and any required UN performance marking.
Complete Marks, Labels and Documents
Prepare the UN number, Proper Shipping Name, hazard labels, orientation arrows and transport document so that all information is consistent.
Obtain an Independent Check and Carrier Acceptance
A second competent person should check package condition, documents, State variations and operator variations before tender.
The 9 Classes of Dangerous Goods
A class identifies the primary nature of a hazard. Some substances also have a subsidiary risk; the class number alone does not determine packaging or acceptance.
Explosives
Substances and articles capable of mass explosion, projection or fire effects. Divisions 1.1-1.6 and compatibility groups require separate consideration.
Gases
Flammable gases (2.1), non-flammable non-toxic gases (2.2), and toxic gases (2.3). The pressure receptacle is itself a significant source of energy.
Flammable Liquids
Paints, solvents, fuels and some perfumes or mixtures that can produce flammable vapour. Classification cannot be based on the product name alone.
Flammable Solids and Reactive Substances
Flammable solids, self-reactive substances, substances liable to spontaneous combustion, and substances that emit flammable gas in contact with water.
Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
Oxidizing substances (5.1) that may intensify combustion and heat-sensitive organic peroxides (5.2). Segregation from combustibles can be critical.
Toxic and Infectious Substances
Toxic substances (6.1) harmful through inhalation, ingestion or contact, and infectious substances (6.2) that may contain pathogens.
Radioactive Material
Radioactive contents controlled through activity, package type, transport index and competent-authority requirements.
Corrosive Substances
Acids, alkalis and other substances capable of causing severe damage to living tissue or metals.
Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
Lithium and sodium-ion batteries, dry ice, environmentally hazardous substances, elevated-temperature materials and other miscellaneous hazards.
UN Number, Proper Shipping Name and Packing Group
A four-digit UN number identifies an entry for a substance or article in transport. The Proper Shipping Name must use the wording prescribed in the regulations and may require a technical name. Packing Group I can indicate high danger, II medium danger and III lower danger, but packing groups do not apply to every class.
- ✓ A product name is not a substitute for a UN number.
- ✓ A UN number alone does not prove the correct packing instruction or acceptance.
- ✓ Primary risk, subsidiary risk and special provisions must be read together.
- ✓ Data for the mixture as a whole matters more than the identity of its most hazardous component alone.
Packaging, Marking and Overpack Controls
A package bearing a UN performance mark is not automatically suitable for every dangerous good. Its code, test level, material compatibility, permitted net quantity and closure instructions must match the applicable packing instruction.
Packaging
Check the type of inner and outer packaging, leakproofness, pressure or drop performance, and the manufacturer's closure instructions.
Marks and Labels
Ensure the UN number, Proper Shipping Name, hazard labels, orientation arrows and special marks are visible, durable and correctly sized.
Overpack
If required marks and labels inside an overpack are not visible, reproduce them outside and add the word OVERPACK where required.
Segregation
Do not place substances capable of dangerous interaction together in an incompatible package, pallet, vehicle or cargo position.
Dangerous Goods Acceptance in Air Cargo
Air transport can impose stricter quantity and packaging limits because of altitude and limited intervention options. The 2025-2026 edition of ICAO Doc 9284 remains valid through 31 December 2026, while the 67th Edition of the IATA DGR is effective from 1 January to 31 December 2026.
- ✓ Permissions and quantity limits may differ between passenger and cargo aircraft.
- ✓ A Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be complete and prepared by a qualified person when required.
- ✓ Required Air Waybill statements must be consistent with the DGD and the physical package.
- ✓ State variations and airline operator variations must be checked before booking.
- ✓ Carrier acceptance does not remove the shipper's responsibility for correct classification and preparation.
Critical Checks for Lithium and Sodium-ion Batteries
Acceptance depends on battery chemistry, watt-hour rating or lithium content, whether it is shipped alone, packed with equipment or contained in equipment, state of charge, the UN 38.3 test summary and whether it is damaged.
01Protect terminals against short circuit.
02Secure batteries against movement within the package.
03Do not tender damaged, swollen, recalled or safety-defective batteries as ordinary cargo.
04Treat power banks as spare batteries, not batteries contained in equipment.
05Obtain a valid UN 38.3 test summary from the manufacturer or distributor.
What Information and Documents Are Required?
- ✓ Current product-specific SDS
- ✓ UN number and Proper Shipping Name
- ✓ Class, subsidiary risk and Packing Group where applicable
- ✓ Net quantity, packaging type and package count
- ✓ Shipper's Declaration or mode-specific transport document
- ✓ Emergency information and required contact number
- ✓ Function-specific training record
- ✓ State and operator variation check
Current Framework for Other Transport Modes
Sea
The 2024 Edition of the IMDG Code, including Amendment 42-24, became mandatory on 1 January 2026. Stowage, segregation, container packing and emergency information must be reviewed together.
Road
ADR 2025 has applied since 1 January 2025. In addition to classification and packaging, it covers vehicles, equipment, drivers, documents and operating conditions.
Rail and Inland Waterways
RID 2025 and ADN 2025, effective since 1 January 2025, use the same UN foundation but add mode-specific technical and operational requirements. Every mode must be checked for an intermodal shipment.
Pre-shipment DGR Checklist
01Product composition and physical properties have been verified.
02Current SDS and required test reports are available.
03UN number, Proper Shipping Name, class and subsidiary risk are confirmed.
04Packing Group and special provisions have been checked.
05The mode-specific packing instruction has been followed.
06Quantity limits and passenger/cargo aircraft restrictions have been checked.
07Marks, labels and overpack information are complete.
08Transport documents and package details are consistent.
09State, route and operator variations have been checked.
10A trained person has completed and recorded an independent final check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SDS Section 14 enough to classify a shipment?+
No. Section 14 is a useful starting point, but currency, composition, test data and the applicable transport regulations must also be checked. The shipper remains responsible for correct classification.
Can every dangerous good be transported by air?+
No. Some are forbidden, while others are permitted only on cargo aircraft, in limited quantities or with competent-authority approval. The current entry and operator variations determine acceptance.
Is a UN specification box sufficient by itself?+
No. Its code, test level, material, permitted mass and closure method must match the substance and applicable packing instruction.
Who is responsible for the dangerous goods declaration?+
The shipper is responsible for correct information, classification, packaging and declaration. Outsourcing a task does not automatically remove responsibility for inaccurate or incomplete information.
Can perfume, paint, aerosols or power banks be dangerous goods?+
Yes. Many everyday products are regulated in transport because of flammability, pressure, corrosivity or battery hazards. Technical data—not the product name—must be checked.
Official Sources and Currency Note
This training guide was checked against the following official frameworks as of August 2026. Regulations, addenda and operator variations change, so the current text must be used for an operational decision.