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Significant Changes and Amendments to the 2005 IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations with regards to Infectious Substances, Diagnostic Specimens and Dry Ice

(Please Read Before you Ship)

Significant changes regarding Infectious Substances and Diagnostic Specimens introduced in the 2005 International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)

The new IATA Regulations go into effect January 1, 2005!

There have been significant changes to the Classification of Infectious Substances in the 2005 IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. These include:

The classification of Infectious substances and Biological products has been completely revised to remove all reference to risk groups. A simplified system of classification for Infectious substances and Diagnostic specimens has been adopted. This system involves:

Category A Infectious substances (UN 2814 or UN 2900 & Packing Instruction 602) and Category B Diagnostic specimens or Clinical specimens (UN 3373 & Packing Instruction 650).

Category A: An Infectious substance which is transported in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease to humans or animals. Indicative examples of substances that meet these criteria are given in Table 3.6.D in the IATA regulations.

Category B: An infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A. Infectious substances in Category B must be assigned to UN 3373 except that cultures, as defined below, must be assigned to UN 2814 or UN 2900, as appropriate.

Cultures (laboratory stocks) are the result of a process by which pathogens are amplified or propagated in order to generate high concentrations, thereby increasing the risk of infection when exposure to them occurs. This definition refers to cultures prepared for the intentional generation of pathogens and does not include cultures intended for diagnostic and clinical purposes.

New in 2005

Category A Infectious Substances – UN 2814 & UN 2900

Identification

Special Provision A140 (SP140) permits shippers of Category A infectious substances to omit the technical name from the proper shipping name marking on the package. In addition, where the name of the pathogen is not known, SP A140 permits shippers to omit the technical name from the proper shipping name on the Shipper’s Declaration and instead show “suspected Category A infectious substance”.

Packing Instructions

Category A Infectious substances will be packed under Packing Instruction 602. Changes to Packing Instructions 602 include:

Outer packagings are now required to be rigid

The requirement for a statement regarding “prior arrangements” to be added to the Shipper’s Declaration has been deleted.

Category B Infectious Substances & Diagnostic Specimens - UN 3373

Identification

Proper shipping name of UN 3373 is Diagnostic specimens or Clinical specimens

Packing Instructions, Marking and Labeling

Category B Substances will be packed under Packing Instruction 650. Changes to Packing Instruction 650 include:

The quantity limits have been revised to permit up to 1 L per primary receptacle, with a total of 4 L per package for liquids. For solids the package limit is 4 kg, the primary receptacle may contain up to 4 kg.

As with PI 602, the outer packaging must be rigid.

The packing instruction has also been amended to permit small quantities (30 mL or less) of substances in Classes 3, 8 or 9 to be packed with the infectious substances.

The mark illustrated below must be displayed on the external surface of the outer packaging. The mark must be in the form of a square set at an angle of 450 (diamond-shaped). The mark must be at least 2” X 2” and include the UN number- UN3373. The proper shipping name “Diagnostic specimens” or “Clinical specimens” must be marked on the outer package adjacent to the diamond-shaped mark.

When packages are placed in an overpack:

The overpack must be marked with the word "OVERPACK”

The package markings must be reproduced on the outside of the overpack

Infectious substances assigned to UN 3373 which are packed and marked in accordance with Packing Instruction 650 are not subject to any other requirement of these Regulations except for the following:

The name, address, and telephone number of a responsible person must be provided on the air waybill or on the package.

Incident reporting requirements must be met.

Inspection for damage or leakage requirements must be met.

Please note, air carriers will begin adhering to the 2005 IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations January 1, 2005. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration is resident at the major U.S. carriers and enforces the rules on the carriers. It is likely that non-compliant packaging will be refused or returned if the changes to the DGR have not be adopted by shipper’s of Infectious substances and Diagnostic specimens.

If you are a WU employee who received training in 2004 you will need to attend an update training session prior to shipping. These sessions can be arranged for large groups by calling Tracy Brodt at 362-6866. There will also be “Update” sessions scheduled in January and February, these sessions will be posted on the EHS website at www.ehs.wustl.edu. Click on “Training”.

Please contact Tracy Brodt (362-6866) if you have questions about the changes to the regulations.