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Regulatory Updates

If you ship dangerous goods, you should know about some of the changes to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods regulations. Though this summary presents some of the major changes, it's not comprehensive, so you should consult appropriate available channels to stay informed about all regulatory changes. Shippers may obtain additional information and assistance at the following locations:

• The FedEx Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials Hotline at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say "dangerous goods").
• The IATA Web site (www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dangerous_goods) where you will find many updates, including amendments to the 2009 50th edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Manual.

Disclaimer: The following update is for customer information only. It is not intended as a training source, recurrent or otherwise. FedEx Express does not warrant the accuracy of this information and accepts no liability for this information, or for future regulatory amendments that may affect any of the information provided herein or any damages resulting from the use or misuse of this information.

FedEx Express IATA Variations

For certain types of dangerous goods, our packaging and shipping requirements go beyond those applied by IATA. Check the list of FedEx Express IATA Variations for more information.

• 2009 FedEx Express IATA Variations (21 Kb PDF), effective Jan. 1, 2009

Hazardous Materials Certificate of Registration

View our FedEx Express Hazardous Materials Certificate of Registration (68 Kb PDF), which lists our registration number and the date it was issued.


Effective Jan. 1, 2009 (permitted Jan. 1, 2007)

Excepted Quantity Mark

A new Excepted Quantity mark will be required. See IATA figure 2.7.B on page 21 of the 50th edition. The mark may appear in label form.

Limited Quantity Marking Requirement

There is a new permissible marking for limited-quantity shipments. Please review section 7.1.5.1 (a) in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual for further information.


Effective Jan. 1, 2009

Lithium Battery Label Requirements

A new lithium battery label shown on figure 7.4.I in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual, page 576, is now required. See the appropriate lithium battery packing instruction for label application requirements.

Environmentally Hazardous Substances

There are new requirements for Environmentally Hazardous Substances. See section 7.1.6.3 on page 555 in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual. In addition, see a new marking requirement in figure 7.1.A on page 556.


Effective Jan. 1, 2011 (permitted Jan. 1, 2007)

Organic Peroxide Label

There is a new design for the Organic Peroxide label class 5.2. You may continue to use the old label design through 2010. Please see section 7.3.13 in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual.


Effective Jan. 1, 2011

Changes to Packing Instructions

The ICAO/IATA packing instructions are being reformatted. See appendix H on page 819 in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual.


Effective Jan. 1, 2013 (permitted Jan. 1, 2009)

Cargo Aircraft Only Label

A new Cargo Aircraft Only label will be required. See figures 7.4.B and C on page 573 in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual.


Effective Jan. 1, 2007

Description of Package

You must show the type of packaging, not just the UN specification code, on the Shipper’s Declaration (for example, "Fiberboard box," not just "4G").

Diagnostic and Clinical Specimen Shipments

Patient specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present are not subject to these regulations if the specimen is packed in packaging that will prevent any leakage and that is marked with the words “Exempt human specimen” or “Exempt animal specimen” as appropriate. See IATA section 3.6.2.2.3.6 for additional information.

The new proper shipping name for UN 3373 is Biological Substance, Category B. Up to Jan. 1, 2007, Diagnostic Specimens, Clinical Specimens or Biological Substance, Category B, could be used as proper shipping names for UN 3373. There are now additional marking and air waybill requirements for these shipments. Please review the appropriate sections in the 2009 IATA Dangerous Goods Manual.

For more details, see the information on shipping clinical samples, Biological Substance, Category B, and environmental test samples in our How to Pack brochure (2.36 Mb PDF).

Gross Weight (G)

You are required to mark the gross weight and the letter "G" on the outer packaging in certain instances. See IATA section 7.1.5.1 (d) for additional information.

When the letter "G" follows the quantity in columns H, J or L in the IATA Dangerous Goods Manual’s List of Dangerous Goods, you must indicate the gross weight of each package, rather than the net quantity, on the Shipper’s Declaration, and the letter "G" must be added following the unit of measurement. See IATA section 8.1.6.9.2 (a).

Radioactive Material — Excepted Package

Any "Radioactive Material — Excepted Package" shipment must have the "Radioactive Material — Excepted Package" label affixed to the outer package. This applies to UN 2908, UN 2909, UN 2910 and UN 2911. See IATA section 10.7.8.1.

Shipper’s Dangerous Goods Declaration

The format of the Shipper’s Declaration will change. The UN number will become the first sequence of information, followed by the proper shipping name, hazard class and subrisk (when applicable) which will be listed together, with the subrisk in parentheses, followed by the appropriate packing group (when appropriate).

Department of Transportation (DOT) 49 CFR Class ORM-D

Reminder: Per DOT regulations, shippers of Class ORM-D materials must provide a description of the outer package on the Shipper's Declaration.

Batteries

For additional information about shipping batteries, download the helpful brochure Shipping Batteries Safely: What FedEx Wants You to Know (582 Kb PDF).

Lithium metal batteries (UN 3090 Primary Non-Rechargeable) require preapproval to ship. This applies both to those that are fully regulated and those that fall under Part 1 of Packing Instruction 968 in IATA. For details on shipping lithium batteries (Primary Non-Rechargeable and Rechargeable), see Shipping Lithium Batteries.

FedEx Express will not ship batteries covered by a battery recall program, any other defective batteries or any defective electronic device being returned with its battery power source. For more information, see SAFETY ALERT: Defective Batteries and Electronic Equipment (16 Kb PDF). In addition, see IATA Special Provision A154.

Package Segregation Requirements

When offering a shipment prepared as All Packed in One, Overpack, or a combination of All Packed in One and Overpack, please be advised that both the ICAO/IATA and DOT 49 CFR regulatory requirements for segregation apply.

Leak-Proof Liner for Liquids

If you are using outer packaging that is not liquid-tight, a leak-proof liner is required for certain packing groups. See IATA Section 5, Table 5.0.B for further information.

Preapproval to Use Inaccessible Dangerous Goods Label

If you regularly ship Class 7 Radioactive Materials which have a subsidiary risk of hazard class or division 1.4, 2.1, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 8 or 2.2 with a "Cargo Aircraft Only" label, please contact FedEx Express Dangerous Goods Administration/Corporate Safety at dgadmin@fedex.com to become preapproved to ship using the FedEx IDG (Inaccessible Dangerous Goods) Label. Or call 1.901.434.7233 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST weekdays.

Typically, these shipments must be loaded in positions that are accessible to the aircraft crew. Shipments from preapproved customers that follow the FedEx Express IDG Label Job Aid for Shippers, however, and are consistent with DOT-SP 14516, may be loaded inaccessibly on FedEx Express aircraft, which affords us greater flexibility in handling and transporting your dangerous goods.

Requirement for Shipments to or From the European Union

Customers who offer dangerous goods shipments to or from European Union countries participating in the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) are now required to include the following statement in the Additional Handling section of their Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods:

• “ADR European Transport Statement: Carriage in accordance with 1.1.4.2.1.”

If this statement is missing, your shipment may be delayed by local regulatory agencies in Europe.

This requirement applies to shipments to or from the following European Union countries:

Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Great Britain

Hungary Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland

These countries are participants in the ADR, to which the 1.1.4.2.1 reference is applicable. This is not an IATA reference.

For more information, call the FedEx Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials Hotline at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say "dangerous goods").