1.3 — Shipper's Responsibilities
State Variations: BEG-04, BHG-01, BRG-02 | Operator Variations: S0(all)00, BC-01, AY-01, DO-01, ES-01/05, ET-01, G3-01, GA-01, GK-01, HM-05, IY-01, JU-01, KC-02, KE-02, KZ-01, ME-03, MH-01, MK-06, SQ-04, NH-01, D3-02, OA-01, DU-01, CZ-01, QT-01, QY-01, PG-01, RJ-01, RO-02, ST-01, SE-02, SM-11, TK-04, UL-04/07, VA-01, WS-01, XT-01, WY-01
1.3.1 Compliance
A shipper must comply fully with these Regulations when offering a consignment of dangerous goods to IATA Member and associate Member airlines and to airlines participating in IATA interline agreements for cargo. In addition, shippers must comply with any applicable regulations as set forth by the States of origin, transit and destination.
1.3.1.2 These Regulations are fully compliant with the ICAO Technical Instructions. A shipper offering articles or substances in violation of these Regulations may be in breach of national law and be subject to legal penalties.
1.3.2 Specific Responsibilities
Before any package or overpack of dangerous goods is offered for air transport, the shipper must comply with the following specific responsibilities:
Provide information to employees to enable them to carry out the functions for which they are responsible with regard to dangerous goods.
Ensure that the articles or substances are not prohibited for transport by air (see Subsection 2.1 and Subsection 4.2).
Properly identify, classify, pack, mark, label, and document dangerous goods, and be in the condition for transport in accordance with these Regulations.
Before a consignment of dangerous goods is offered for air transport, all relevant persons involved in its preparation must have received training to enable them to carry out the functions for which they are responsible, as detailed in Subsection 1.5.
Ensure the dangerous goods are packed in compliance with all applicable air transport requirements including: inner packaging and the maximum quantity per package limits; appropriate types of packaging according to the packing instructions; other applicable requirements indicated in the packing instruction(s).
1.3.3 Dangerous Goods in Consolidations
A consolidation is a consignment of multi-packages which has been originated by more than one person. Dangerous goods in consolidations are accepted under specific conditions:
- Dangerous goods may be consolidated with goods not subject to these Regulations
- Any delays caused by discrepancies found during the check may result in delay to the complete consolidation
- Dangerous goods in consolidations must be identified, classified, packed, marked, labelled and documented in accordance with these Regulations
- Packages and overpacks containing dangerous goods must be offered to the operator separately from goods in the consolidation that are not subject to these Regulations
- Consolidations containing any "Cargo Aircraft Only" dangerous goods must be shipped on Cargo Aircraft Only
- A Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods is required for each consignment component
1.3.4 Retention of Documents
The shipper must ensure that at least one copy of the documents, appropriate to the transport by air of a dangerous goods consignment, is retained for a minimum period of three months. As a minimum, the documents of which must be retained are the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods and any other transport documents applicable to the consignment as specified in these Regulations. Documents may be kept electronically or in a computer system; the shipper must be able to reproduce them in a printed form.
1.4 — Operator's Responsibilities
State Variations: NLG-06, USG-13
1.4.1 General
In transporting dangerous goods, an operator must comply with the requirements of Section 5 for:
Acceptance
Accept only properly classified, packed, marked, labelled and documented dangerous goods. Subject consignments to acceptance check (9.1).
Storage
Store dangerous goods in designated areas, segregated according to compatibility requirements.
Loading
Load dangerous goods in accordance with loading restrictions and segregation requirements. Ensure proper stowage on the aircraft.
Inspection
Inspect packages for evidence of leakage or damage before and after flight.
Provision of Information
Provide pilot-in-command with specific information about dangerous goods loaded, including emergency response information. Ensure sufficient notices are posted at cargo acceptance areas.
Reporting
Report any dangerous goods accidents or incidents to the appropriate authorities.
Retention of Records
Retain copies of transport documents for the applicable minimum period (3 months).
Training
Ensure all personnel involved in handling dangerous goods receive appropriate training per Section 1.5.
1.4.2 Information to Operator Employees
An operator must provide, in the operator's operations and/or other appropriate manuals, information to employees so as to enable flight crews and other employees to carry out the functions for which they are responsible with regard to dangerous goods. Where applicable, this information must also be provided to handling agents.
1.4.3 Provision of Information to Passengers
Operators must inform passengers about dangerous goods which are forbidden for carriage aboard an aircraft. The notification system must be described in their operations manual. Where the ticket purchase and/or boarding pass issuance can be completed by a passenger without the involvement of another person, the system must include an acknowledgement by the passenger that they have been presented with the information. Information must be provided at: (a) the point of ticket purchase; (b) in another manner available to passengers prior to boarding pass issuance; (c) at boarding pass issuance; or when no boarding pass issued, prior to the boarding of the aircraft.
1.4.4 Passenger Check-in Procedures
Operators' check-in staff must be adequately trained to assist them to identify and detect dangerous goods carried by passengers other than as permitted in Subsection 2.3. Many innocuous-looking items may contain dangerous goods and a list of general descriptions which, experience has shown, are often applied to such items is shown in Subsection 2.2. Check-in staff should therefore seek confirmation from any passenger where there are suspicions that an item of baggage may contain dangerous goods that are not permitted.
1.4.5 Provision of Information at Cargo Acceptance Areas
An operator or the operator's handling agent must ensure that sufficient notices, prominently displayed, are provided at visible location(s) at cargo acceptance points, giving information about the transport of dangerous goods to alert shippers/agents about any dangerous goods that may be contained in their cargo consignment(s). These notices must include visual examples of dangerous goods, including batteries.
1.5 — Training Requirements
State Variations: AEG-02, CAG-11, GRG-07, INECAG, NLG-04, VEEG-05
1.5.1 Dangerous Goods Training Programs
1.5.1.1 Establishment and Maintenance
A training program must include elements such as design methodology, assessment, initial and recurrent training, instructor qualifications and competencies, training records and evaluation of the effectiveness of training. The employer of personnel who perform functions aimed at ensuring that dangerous goods are transported in accordance with these Regulations must establish and maintain a dangerous goods training program.
1.5.1.2 Objective of Dangerous Goods Training
(a) General Familiarisation Training
Personnel must be trained to be familiar with the general provisions of these Regulations.
Applicable to: All personnel who may encounter dangerous goods in the course of their duties.
(b) Function Specific Training
Training personnel must be trained to competently perform the function for which they are responsible.
Applicable to: Shippers, packers, cargo acceptance staff, ground handling agents, flight crew.
(c) Safety Training
Personnel must be trained on how to recognise the hazards presented by dangerous goods, on the safe handling of dangerous goods and on emergency response procedures.
Applicable to: All personnel involved in handling, loading, or transporting dangerous goods.
1.5.1.3 Recurrent Training and Assessment
Personnel must receive recurrent training and assessment within 24 months of previous training and assessment to ensure that competency has been maintained.
If recurrent training and assessment is completed within the final three months of validity of the previous training and assessment, the period of validity extends from the month on which the recurrent training and assessment was completed until 24 months from the expiry month of that previous training.
Example: A person attends an initial course finishing on 14 April 2019; their training validity therefore expires 30 April 2021. They may attend recurrent training any time between 1 February and 30 April 2021 and their next recurrent training date will remain 30 April 2023.
1.5.1.4 Training and Assessment Records
The employer must maintain a record of training and assessment for personnel. The record must be maintained, which must include:
- The individual's name
- The most recent training and assessment completion month
- A description, copy or reference to training and assessment materials used to meet the training and assessment requirements
- The name and address of the organisation providing the training and assessment
- Evidence which shows that personnel have been assessed as competent to perform any function for which they are responsible
Training and assessment records must be retained by the employer for a minimum period of 36 months from the most recent training and assessment completion month and must be made available upon request to the employee or appropriate national authority.
1.5.3 Instructor Qualifications and Competencies
State Variation: PLG-05
Unless otherwise provided for by the appropriate national authority, instructors of initial and recurrent dangerous goods training programs must demonstrate or be assessed as competent in instruction and the function(s) that they will instruct prior to delivering such a dangerous goods training program.
Instructors delivering initial and recurrent dangerous goods training programs must deliver such a course at least every 24 months, or in the absence of this, attend recurrent training.
1.5.4 Designated Postal Operators Training Programs
Staff of designated postal operators must be trained commensurate with their responsibilities. The subject matter to which the various categories of staff should be familiar with is indicated in Table 1.5.A.
| Training Topic | Cat (a) | Cat (b) | Cat (c) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General philosophy | X | X | X |
| Limitations | X | X | — |
| General requirements for shippers | X | — | — |
| Classification | X | — | — |
| List of dangerous goods | X | — | — |
| General packing requirements | X | — | — |
| Packing instructions | X | — | — |
| Labelling and marking | X | X | — |
| Shipper's Declaration and other relevant documentation | X | — | — |
| Acceptance of the dangerous goods listed in 2.4 | X | — | — |
| Recognition of undeclared dangerous goods | X | X | X |
| Storage and loading procedures | X | — | X |
| Provisions for passengers and crew | X | — | — |
| Emergency procedures | X | X | X |
Category (a): Staff involved in accepting mail containing dangerous goods
Category (b): Staff involved in processing mail (other than dangerous goods)
Category (c): Staff involved in the handling, storage and loading of mail
Source: IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), 67th Edition, 1 January 2026, Sections 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, pages 4-9, Table 1.5.A.
Content verified against source PNG pages 0036-0041.