IATA DGR 67th Edition: What Changed in 2026

Every January IATA publishes a new edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), incorporating that year's ICAO Technical Instructions and the operator variations the airlines have filed for the year ahead. The 2026 edition (the 67th) is in force from 1 January through 31 December 2026. This post is a focused changelog: what is actually different from the previous edition and what you need to do about it.

For the underlying regulatory structure — UN numbers, hazard classes, packing groups — start with our complete guide to UN numbers and hazard classes.

1. Significant List of Changes (front matter)

Every DGR opens with a Significant List of Changes. The 2026 edition's list is unusually long because ICAO incorporated the outcomes of three full DGP working group cycles. Skim it before you read anything else — IATA flags amendments with a vertical bar in the margin, and the margin bars are concentrated in chapters 3 (classification), 4 (DGL), 5 (packing) and 9 (handling).

2. Lithium battery provisions

Lithium batteries continue to dominate the change log. For 2026:

• The harmonized lithium battery mark and Class 9 label remain unchanged in design, but the minimum dimensions are clarified for small overpacks.
• PI 965 Section II (standalone lithium-ion by air) retains the 30% state-of-charge ceiling. Several operator variations now require a shipper attestation in writing rather than allowing reliance on manufacturer documentation alone. See our SoC explainer for the practical compliance approaches.
• PI 967 and PI 970 (batteries contained in equipment) clarify that devices containing more than four cells / two batteries require additional outer-package marking when the gross mass exceeds 5 kg.
• New provisions for sodium-ion batteries (UN3551 / UN3552, introduced to ICAO in 2025) carry through with refined packing instructions.

3. New and revised entries in the Dangerous Goods List

The DGL adds and revises a number of entries:

• UN3550 — Cobalt dihydroxide powder (special provisions tightened).
• UN3551 / UN3552 — Sodium-ion cells and batteries, standalone and in equipment, full PI set carried over from ICAO.
• UN3548 — Articles containing miscellaneous dangerous goods, n.o.s. — special provisions reworked.
• Several "n.o.s." (not otherwise specified) entries have updated technical names list per Special Provision A2.

4. Packing instruction updates

Beyond lithium, the most material PI changes are:

• PI Y344 / PI 354 — minor compatibility table update for organic peroxides shipped on passenger aircraft.
• PI 620 / PI 650 — Category A and Category B infectious substances clarifications: triple packaging language aligned with the UN Model Regulations 23rd revised edition.
• PI 200 — gas cylinders test pressure table corrections.

5. State and operator variations

Operator variations are where the DGR meets reality. Sections 2.8 (state) and 2.9 (operator) of the 2026 edition reflect:

• Several US carriers strengthening UN3480 documentation and acceptance checklists.
• European carriers continuing to apply tighter rules on damaged, defective and recalled (DDR) lithium batteries — many do not accept them at all.
• Middle East and Asian operators tightening rules around aerosols and UN1950 in particular.

If you ship internationally, build the relevant operator variations into your acceptance checklist before you tender the shipment. The variations are binding even when the IATA baseline would permit the consignment.

6. What you need to do

1. Order the 2026 edition (in force since 1 January 2026).
2. Update your in-house DG manual / SOPs to reflect the changed PIs and DGL entries.
3. Refresh your operator variation matrix. Your largest 5–10 carriers probably account for 95% of your shipments.
4. Re-train acceptance staff on the lithium battery clarifications, even if they appear minor — most rejections come from edge cases.
5. Re-validate any automated DG systems against the new edition. (DG Inspector tracks the live IATA, IMDG, 49 CFR and ADR editions automatically.)

The 2026 edition is incremental rather than revolutionary, but the accumulated load of operator variations means your day-to-day compliance is more demanding than the IATA baseline. For the broader hazmat fine landscape see common hazmat shipping mistakes that cost $25,000+.