Dangerous Goods are
articles or substances which are capable of posing a significant
risk to health, safety, property or the environment when transported by air.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classified
dangerous goods in 9 classes, which are:
Class
1 |
Explosives |
| Class 2 |
Gases |
| Class 3 |
Flammable liquids |
| Class 4 |
Flammable solids; Substances
liable to spontaneous combustion; Substances which,
in contact with water, emit flammable gases |
| Class 5 |
Oxidizing substances
and Organic peroxides |
| Class 6 |
Toxic and infectious
substances |
| Class 7 |
Radioactive material |
| Class 8 |
Corrosive substances |
| Class 9 |
Miscellaneous dangerous
substances and articles |
Regulations that a Shipper or a Forwarder Should
Comply with When Offering or Handling Dangerous Goods for
Air Carriage
Under the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations Chapter 384 Subsidiary Legislation, consignors i.e. shippers and freight
forwarders must ensure all dangerous goods are properly
classified, packed, marked, labelled and documented before
they are offered for air transportation. A person who contravenes
these Regulations commits an offence and is liable to a
fine of $250,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years. Under
Section 5 of Chapter 384, every director and every officer
concerned in the management of the company maybe convicted
of the like offence. Even if you do not physically handle
the dangerous goods for air carriage, you may still be liable
for an offence committed by other persons under Dangerous
Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations Chapter
384 Subsidiary Legislation. Therefore, you have to adopt
measures to ensure the dangerous goods are in proper condition
for air carriage and as a Director or a managerial officer,
you must supervise your staff to prevent the commission
of offence.
If you are uncertain whether the goods you consign is dangerous
goods, you can contact your supplier or manufacturer of
goods to obtain the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which
shows the physical and chemical properties of goods. Then
you can contact your freight forwarder or airline for
advice and assistance in any special arrangements required.
You must never falsely describe the goods, or offer the
goods for air carriage when you have doubts about their
properties. False description of dangerous goods and improper
packing and handling can result in a maximum fine of $250,000
and to imprisonment for 2 years.
Technical
Instructions
The "Technical Instructions"
is referring to the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous
Goods By Air" published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It contains detailed
requirements applicable to the international civil transport
of dangerous goods by air. You are required by the Dangerous
Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations Chapter
384 Subsidiary Legislation to ensure your dangerous goods
comply in every respect with the requirements specified
in the current edition of Technical Instructions.
Packaging
and Packing Method
You can only use packaging
which complies with the provisions of the current edition
of Technical Instructions and follow the Packing Instructions
applicable to your goods. If you are required to use UN
packaging, you must purchase those packaging made by a qualified
UN packaging manufacturer. A qualified UN packaging manufacturer
has obtained authorization from a competent authority to
produce UN packaging and has successfully tested their packaging
in accordance with the testing procedures specified in the
Technical Instructions.
Every UN packaging for air carriage of dangerous goods bears
a UN Specification Marking similar to 4G/Y145/S/99/NL/VL823.
The UN Specification Marking of UN packaging for sea or
road transport of dangerous goods are also similar to the
above marking. If you are uncertain whether your UN packaging
are made for air transport of dangerous goods, you can obtain
a test report of the packaging from the packaging supplier
or manufacturer for verification.
Documents
Needed for Offering Dangerous Goods for Air Carriage
Under
the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations
Chapter 384 Subsidiary Legislation, the documents required
are Air Waybill and dangerous goods transport document i.e.
Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods unless otherwise
specified in the Technical Instructions. Dangerous Goods
consignors i.e. shipper and freight forwarder must keep
these documents for at least 6 months.
Shipper's
Declaration for Dangerous Goods
In accordance with Regulation 7 of the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations Chapter 384 Subsidiary Legislation. Only person who has completed appropriate
dangerous goods training within the past 24 months can sign
the "Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods".
Any untrained person signing that declaration is liable
to a maximum fine of $20,000 and 6 month's imprisonment.
A properly trained freight forwarder or a qualified person
acting on behalf of shipper can sign the "Shipper's
Declaration for Dangerous Goods" if they have undertaken
shipper's responsibilities as required by the Technical
Instructions.
Dangerous Goods Advisory Circulars (DGAC)
Offering
Guns (Including Sporting Guns) and Ammunitions for Air Transport
In accordance with Article
43 of the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995, any weapons,
ammunitions or article containing an explosive or any noxious
liquid, gas or other thing which is designed or made for
use in warfare or against persons are classified as "Munitions
of War". The carriage of "Munitions of War"
on aircraft must obtain prior approval (i.e. Permission
for carriage of Munitions of War in Aircraft from Director-General
of Civil Aviation and comply with conditions relating thereto.
Passengers and cargo consignors who would like to offer
weapons, guns (say sporting guns) and ammunitions for air
transport must notify their airlines in advance and ask
them to apply for a permission from the Director-General
of Civil Aviation. Please
click here to download the application for Permission for
Carriage of Munitions of War (MUW) in Aircraft.
If you need further information
on the transport of Dangerous Goods or carriage of Munitions
of War in aircraft, you may write to: