By Vincent Wen    Photo：CANVA

Air transport is one of the fastest and most efficient logistics methods in international trade, offering strong support for global goods circulation. With the digital transformation of the global supply chain and stricter carbon emission standards in aviation in 2025, air transport safety has become increasingly important. Among all, the management of Dangerous Goods remains at the core of aviation safety.

What Are Dangerous Goods?

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Dangerous Goods are substances or items that may pose a risk to health, property, safety, the environment, or aircraft during transportation. These items may be flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic, radioactive, or reactive and must be handled with great caution when transported by air.

Common categories of dangerous goods include:

- Lithium batteries and lithium-powered devices
- Industrial chemicals and cleaning agents
- Aerosol cans (with compressed gases)
- Daily products with volatile components, such as perfumes and nail polish
- Laboratory samples, biological agents, etc.

2025 Regulation Updates

Starting from January 2025, IATA has made several updates to the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), including:

- Enhanced lithium battery classification: A new ‘smart device battery tracking label’ is introduced, requiring shippers to upload battery data to the airline platform for pre-screening.
- Digital transport documents pilot: Some airlines are testing electronic Dangerous Goods Declarations (e-DGD) to improve efficiency and transparency.
- Expanded handling guidelines for climate-sensitive hazardous materials: New requirements for temperature-sensitive items such as lithium hydroxide.

How to Identify Dangerous Goods?

To determine if a product is considered dangerous goods, the most straightforward way is to request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the manufacturer or supplier. This document outlines the product’s physical and chemical properties, hazard classification, packaging and storage requirements, and disposal guidelines.

Be sure to check Section 14 of the MSDS for the UN Number, which confirms whether the product is regulated as dangerous goods. Cross-reference with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or the official DGR App for real-time verification.

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