The IATA DGR gets updated every year. Most shippers find out about the changes only after getting a rejection. Don't be that shipper.
The 65th Edition (effective January 2024) brought several changes that directly affect Indian exporters. Here's what's actually different and what it means for your operations.
What IATA DGR Actually Is
The Dangerous Goods Regulations is IATA's annual publication that tells airlines, ground handlers, and shippers exactly how to classify, pack, mark, label, and document dangerous goods for air transport. Over 120 airlines worldwide require compliance with it. If you're shipping DG by air anywhere in the world, this is the bible.
It doesn't replace national rules — in India, DGCA's CAR Section 8 sits alongside it. But IATA DGR is the baseline that everyone uses.
Key Changes in the 65th Edition That Affect India
Lithium battery rules got tightened again. Section 2, Table 2.3.5 now requires additional documentation for lithium ion cells exceeding 20Wh. If you're exporting EV components, power banks, or solar storage units, your PI 965 and PI 966 compliance needs to be rechecked against the new quantity limits.
Infectious substance (Category A and B) packaging requirements under PI 620 and PI 650 also changed. The triple packaging specification for Category A substances now has stricter leak-proof testing requirements. This matters if you're in pharma or diagnostics.
There are also updated guidance notes on dangerous goods in excepted quantities — useful for small shipments of hazardous samples that previously fell in a grey area.
Why Indian Shippers Specifically Struggle
Most of the rejections we see out of IGI Airport Delhi and CSIA Mumbai come down to three things: outdated Shipper's Declarations (still referencing old edition rules), wrong quantity limits, and expired training certificates.
The IATA DGR doesn't grandfather previous editions. When the new edition comes out in January, the old one stops being acceptable. Airlines update their acceptance criteria immediately. You need to update yours too.
Getting Your Team Certified
Anyone who signs a Shipper's Declaration must hold a valid IATA DG certification — Category 6 for shippers. Training is valid for 24 months. After that, recurrent training is mandatory.
In India, IATA-approved training providers operate in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. The course runs 2-3 days. It's not optional — it's a legal requirement under Aircraft Act 1934 and DGCA CAR Section 8.
Practical Compliance Checklist
Before any DG air shipment, run through this mentally: Is your DGR edition current? Is your packing instruction the right one for this UN number? Is your net quantity within the PI limit? Is your declaration complete and signed by a currently certified person? Is your packaging UN-tested and marked correctly?
If you're unsure about any of these, the answer is to ask before it reaches the airport — not after.
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