Section 2.2 — Hidden Dangerous Goods
2.2.1 Operators' acceptance staff must be adequately trained to assist them to identify and detect dangerous goods presented as general cargo.
2.2.2 Cargo declared under a general description may contain dangerous goods that are not apparent. Such dangerous goods may also be found in baggage. With the aim of preventing undeclared dangerous goods from being loaded on an aircraft and passengers from taking on board those dangerous goods which they are not permitted to have in their baggage, cargo and baggage acceptance staff should seek confirmation from shippers and passengers about the contents of any item of cargo or baggage where there are suspicions that it may contain dangerous goods.
2.2.3 In addition to dangerous goods training for cargo acceptance and passenger check-in staff as required by 1.5.1.1.1, those staff and cargo reservations and sales staff must be provided with information on: (a) general descriptions that are often used for items in cargo or in passengers' baggage which may contain dangerous goods; (b) other indications that dangerous goods may be present (e.g. labels, marks); and (c) those dangerous goods which may be carried by passengers in accordance with Subsection 2.3.
GHS Pictogram Note
Diamond-shaped GHS pictograms on packages may indicate the presence of dangerous goods. While some pictograms identify substances that only pose a hazard for supply and use, other GHS pictograms contain symbols that are largely equivalent to the symbols contained in the hazard labels used in transport and which may therefore be classified as dangerous goods. For more information, see Table B.4.A in Appendix B.
2.2.4 — Typical Examples of Hidden Dangerous Goods
Experience has shown that when shippers offer packages containing the following commodities, they must be asked to check their consignments against the class definitions and special provisions in the Regulations. See 8.2.6.1 for more requirements on information to be included on the air waybill.
| Cargo Category | Possible Hidden Dangerous Goods |
|---|---|
| AIRCRAFT ON GROUND (AOG) SPARES | See AIRCRAFT SPARE PARTS/AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT. |
| AIRCRAFT SPARE PARTS / AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT | May contain explosives (flares or other pyrotechnics), chemical oxygen generators, unserviceable tyre assemblies, cylinders of compressed gas (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or fire extinguishers), paint, adhesives, aerosols, life-saving apparatus, first aid kits, fuel in equipment, wet or lithium batteries, matches, etc. |
| AUTOMOBILES, AUTOMOBILE PARTS/SUPPLIES | May contain motor fuel/petrol, may contain lithium batteries/magnetised material but which may be subject to special stowage requirements due to the possibility of affecting aircraft instruments (see 3.9.2.1). May also contain engines, including fuel cell engines, carburettors or fuel tanks which contain or have contained fuel, wet or lithium batteries, compressed gases in tyre inflation devices, fire extinguishers, shock/struts with nitrogen, air bag inflator/air bag modules, flammable adhesives, paints, sealants and solvents, etc. |
| BATTERY-POWERED DEVICES/EQUIPMENT | May contain wet or lithium batteries. |
| BREATHING APPARATUS | May indicate cylinders of compressed air or oxygen, chemical oxygen generators or refrigerated liquefied oxygen. |
| CAMPING EQUIPMENT | May contain flammable gases (butane, propane, etc.), flammable liquids (kerosene, gasoline, etc.), flammable solids (hexamine, matches, etc.) or other dangerous goods. |
| CARS, CAR PARTS | See AUTOMOBILES, etc. |
| CHEMICALS | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances. |
| COMAT (COMPANY MATERIALS) | Such as aircraft parts, may contain dangerous goods as an integral part, e.g. chemical oxygen generators in a passenger service unit (PSU), various compressed gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, gas lighters, aerosols, fire extinguishers, flammable liquids such as fuels, paints and adhesives and corrosive material such as batteries. Other items such as flares, first aid kits, life-saving appliances, markers, impregnated material, etc. |
| CONSOLIDATED CONSIGNMENTS (GROUPAGES) | May contain any of the defined classes of dangerous goods. |
| CRYOGENIC (LIQUID) | Indicates refrigerated liquefied gases such as argon, helium, neon and nitrogen. |
| CYLINDERS | May indicate compressed or liquefied gas. |
| DENTAL APPARATUS | May contain flammable resins or solvents, compressed or liquefied gas, mercury and radioactive material. |
| DIAGNOSTIC SPECIMENS | May contain infectious substances. |
| DIVING EQUIPMENT | May contain cylinders (such as scuba tanks, wet bottles, cylinders of compressed gas (air, oxygen, etc.)), high intensity diving lamps which can generate extremely high heat when operated in air. In order to be carried safely, the bulb or battery must be disconnected. |
| DRILLING AND MINING EQUIPMENT | May contain explosive(s) and/or other dangerous goods. |
| DRY SHIPPER (VAPOUR SHIPPER) | May contain liquid nitrogen. Dry shippers are subject to these Regulations when they permit the release of any free liquid nitrogen irrespective of the orientation of the packaging. |
| ELECTRICAL / ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT | May contain magnetized materials or mercury in switch gear and electron tubes, wet batteries, lithium batteries or fuel cells or fuel cell cartridges that contain or have contained fuel. |
| ELECTRICALLY POWERED APPARATUS | (Wheel chairs, lawn mowers, golf carts, etc.) May contain wet batteries, lithium batteries or fuel cells or fuel cell cartridges that contain or have contained fuel. |
| EXPEDITIONARY EQUIPMENT | May contain explosives (flares), flammable liquids (gasoline), flammable gas (propane, camping gas) or other dangerous goods. |
| FILM CREW OR MEDIA EQUIPMENT | May contain explosive pyrotechnic devices, generators incorporating internal combustion engines, wet batteries, lithium batteries, fuel, heat producing items, etc. |
| FROZEN EMBRYOS | May contain refrigerated liquefied gas or carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice). |
| FROZEN FRUIT, VEGETABLES, ETC. | May be packed in carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice). |
| FUELS | May contain flammable liquids, flammable solids or flammable gases. |
| FUEL CONTROL UNITS | May contain flammable liquids. |
| HOT AIR BALLOON | May contain cylinders of flammable gas, fire extinguishers, engines internal combustion, batteries, etc. |
| HOUSEHOLD GOODS | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods including flammable liquids such as solvent based paint, adhesives, polishes, aerosols (for passengers, those not permitted under Subsection 2.3), bleach, corrosive oven or drain cleaners, ammunition, matches, etc. |
| INSTRUMENTS | May conceal barometers, manometers, mercury switches, rectifier tubes, thermometers, etc. containing mercury. |
| LABORATORY / TESTING EQUIPMENT | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances, lithium batteries, cylinders of compressed gas, etc. |
| MACHINERY PARTS | May contain adhesives, paints, sealants, solvents, wet and lithium batteries, mercury, cylinders of compressed or liquefied gas, etc. |
| MAGNETS AND OTHER ITEMS OF SIMILAR MATERIAL | May individually or cumulatively meet the definition of magnetized material (see 3.9.2.1). |
| MEDICAL SUPPLIES / EQUIPMENT | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances or lithium batteries. |
| METAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL, METAL FENCING, METAL PIPING | May contain ferromagnetic material which may be subject to special stowage requirements due to the possibility of affecting aircraft instruments (see 3.9.2.1). |
| PARTS OF AUTOMOBILE (CAR, MOTOR, MOTORCYCLE) | May contain wet batteries, etc. |
| PASSENGERS' BAGGAGE | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods. Examples include fireworks, flammable household liquids, corrosive oven or drain cleaners, flammable gas or liquid lighter refills or camping stove cylinders, matches, ammunition, bleach, aerosols (those not permitted under Subsection 2.3), etc. |
| PHARMACEUTICALS | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances. |
| PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES / EQUIPMENT | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly heat producing devices, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances or lithium batteries. |
| PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL | See PASSENGER BAGGAGE. |
| RACING CAR OR MOTORCYCLE TEAM EQUIPMENT | May contain engines, carburettors or fuel tanks which contain fuel or residual fuel, flammable aerosols, cylinders of compressed gases, nitromethane, other fuel additives, wet batteries, lithium batteries, etc. |
| REFRIGERATORS | May contain liquefied gases or an ammonia solution. |
| REPAIR KITS | May contain organic peroxides and flammable adhesives, solvent based paints, resins, etc. |
| SAMPLES FOR TESTING | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly infectious substances, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances. |
| SEMEN | May be packed with carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) or on refrigerated liquefied gas. Also DRY SHIPPER. |
| SHIP'S SPARES | May contain explosives (flares), cylinders of compressed gas (life raft), paint, lithium batteries (emergency locator transmitters), etc. |
| SHOW, MOTION PICTURE, STAGE AND SPECIAL EFFECTS EQUIPMENT | May contain flammable substances, explosives or other dangerous goods. |
| SPORTING GOODS / SPORTS TEAM EQUIPMENT | May contain cylinders of compressed or liquefied gas (air, carbon dioxide, etc.), lithium batteries, propane burners, first aid kits, flammable adhesives, aerosols, etc. |
| SWIMMING POOL CHEMICALS | May contain oxidizing or corrosive substances. |
| SWITCHES IN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OR INSTRUMENTS | May contain mercury. |
| TOOL BOXES | May contain explosives (power rivets), compressed gases or sealants, flammable gases (butane), solvents or adhesives, flammable adhesives or paints, corrosive liquids, lithium batteries. |
| TORCHES | Micro torches and utility lighters may contain flammable gas and be equipped with an electronic starter. Larger torches may consist of a torch head (often with a self-igniting switch) attached to a container or cylinder of flammable gas. |
| UNACCOMPANIED PASSENGERS BAGGAGE / PERSONAL EFFECTS | May contain items meeting any of the criteria for dangerous goods, such as fireworks, household liquids, corrosive cleaners, flammable gas or liquid lighter refills or camping stove cylinders, matches, bleach, aerosols, etc. (those not permitted under Subsection 2.3). |
| VACCINES | May be packed in carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice). |
Important Note
Articles and substances which do not fall within the definitions of dangerous goods as shown in these Regulations and which in the event of leakage may cause a serious clean-up problem or corrosion to aluminium on a long term basis must be checked by the shipper to at least ensure that the packaging is adequate to prevent leakage during transportation. These may include brine, powdered or liquid dyes, pickled foodstuffs, etc.
Source: IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), 67th Edition, 1 January 2026, Section 2.2, pages 17-19.
Content verified against source PNG pages 0049-0051.