The International Air Transport Association (“IATA”) has published a summary of significant changes to the upcoming 65^th edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (“DGR”) that will become effective January 1, 2024. The full document for the Significant Changes and Amendments in the 65^th edition (2024) of the DGR can be found using the following link: https://www.iata.org/en/publications/dgr/

The following are notable changes in the 65^th edition DGR:

• The List of State Variations has been updated to include variations from Argentina and the Philippines and includes changes to Poland’s variations as well as other existing States.
  
  
• The List of Operator Variations has been updated to variations by several operators and notes that the operator variation for EgyptAir has significant changes.
  
  
• Packing Instruction 952 applicable to UN 3171 Battery-powered equipment and Battery-powered vehicle has been revised to include a reference to “equipment.”
  
  
• Packing Instruction 954 applicable to UN 1845, Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) has been revised to clarify the requirements for packages containing dry ice when placed in an overpack. The total net quantity of the dry ice, which is indicated on the outside of the package, must also be marked on the overpack. This update is also reflected in 7.1.7- Marking of overpacks.
  
  
• A new Appendix (Appendix H—Impending Changes) has been added to provide information on changes that will come into effect in the 66^th Edition of the IATA DGR, which will become effective January 1, 2025. Some of the impending changes identified in Appendix H are:
• The COVID-19 vaccine exception found in the DGR will apply to all pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, packed in a manner that are ready to be administered.

• Multiple new entries to the dangerous goods list will be added, including:
  • UN3551 Sodium ion batteries, UN3552 Sodium ion batteries contained in equipment, and UN3552 Sodium ion batteries packed with equipment.

• • UN3556 Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered, UN3557 Vehicle, lithium metal battery powered, and UN3558 Vehicle, sodium ion battery powered.

• Amendments and additions to multiple packing instructions, including the addition of new packing instructions for UN3551 Sodium ion batteries, UN3552 Sodium ion batteries contained in equipment, and UN3552 Sodium ion batteries packed with equipment.

• The “lithium battery mark” will be referred to more broadly as the “battery mark” due to the incorporation of new UN numbers for sodium ion batteries.

• Included but awaiting final confirmation from the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel, “data loggers and cargo tracking devices with installed lithium batteries, attached to or placed in packages, overpacks, or unit load devices” will not be subject to the provisions of regulations for lithium batteries when specific conditions are met.