Industry Resources

Air Transportation

IATA: International Aviation Transportation Association (IATA): Dangerous Goods (find significant changes and addenda to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR))

Additional Resources

• IATA Accredited Training
• Dangerous Goods (HAZMAT)
• IATA Forms (IATA DG Documentation website - find significant changes, the nickel metal hydride battery guidance document and links to other forms)
• IATA Lithium Batteries

ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization: Technical Instructions For The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air

Additional Resources

• ICAO State Variations: The variations that appear on this site are reproduced from the 2025-2026 Edition of the Technical Instructions and also include new and modified variations submitted by States since the publication of the Instructions. This site will be updated on a regular basis to incorporate additional changes submitted. 

Batteries

IATA Battery Resources

• IATA Battery Guidance Documents (including guidance document on: Lithium Metal, Lithium Ion, Sodium-Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries, Packaging Requirements, and more)

US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Lithium Battery Resources

• Lithium Battery Guide for Shippers
• Transporting Lithium Battery Safety Webpage (includes links to Safety Advisory Notices
• Shipping Batteries Safely by Air: What You Need to Know
• Lithium Battery Test Summaries

US DOT Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

• PackSafe - Lithium Batteries (Watt Hours Calculator)

Additional Battery Resources

• The https://battery-news.de/en/home/ website may be useful for you, it includes a “Battery Atlas” for Europe with names of manufacturers, material suppliers, testing facilities, etc. 

Carrier Guidance

FedEx Resources

• Dangerous Goods Resources: Job Aids, Checklists, Declarations, & Other Resources
• How to Ship Dangerous Goods / Hazardous Materials (includes: Lithium Batteries, Dry Ice, Non-Radioactive, Radioactive, etc.)

UPS Resources

• Shipping Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)
• How to Ship Batteries

US Postal Service (this includes small parcel carrier postal options)

• USPS Publication 52: Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable (PUB 52)
• Poster 298 Domestic Hazardous Materials Warning Labels and Markings
• USPS - Make HAZMAT Shipping Safer for Everyone

DHL Resources

• Shipping Dangerous Goods
• How to Ship Batteries Internationally
• Safety First: Shipping Lithium-Ion Batteries by Air
• Guide to Shipping Batteries & Electronics Internationally

Country / Region Specific 

Dangerous Goods Regulatory Resources

Argentina

Argentina's regulations from the Secretary of Transportation

Australia

Australia Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code) 

Bolivia

Bolivia: Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Transportation (ATT)

Brazil

Brazil's regulations from the National Land Transportation Agency

Canada

TDGR: Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations

Additional Resources

• TC Basic Competency Checklist
• Dangerous Goods Marks 
• What's New: Transportation of Dangerous Goods in Canada
• Canada Gazette Publications

Chile

Chile's regulations from the Ministry of Transportation 

Colombia

Colombia's regulations from the Ministry of Transportation 

Costa Rica

Costa Rica's regulations from the Ministry of Public Works & Transport (MOPT) 

Ecuador

Ecuador's regulations from the Ministry of Transportation 

India

Directorate General of Civil Aviation

MERCOSUR

The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials)

Mexico NOMs

Mexico's Normas Oficiales Mexicanas for land transport of DG 

New Zealand

New Zealand: Regulating Dangerous Goods Ministry of Transport (includes link to Dangerous Goods Regulatory System Map)

Paraguay

Paraguay's regulations from the Ministry of Transportation - also see MERCOSUR

Peru

Peru's regulations from the Ministry of Transportation

United Kingdom (UK)

UK Department for Transport

United Nations

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

UNECE (ADR, ADN, UN Model Regulations, UN Test & Criteria, GHS)

• ADR: Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• ADN: European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways | UNECE
• UN Model Regulations (aka "UN Orange Book"): recommendations on the transport of DG which are then incorporated into the modal regulations and state specific regulations
• UN Manual of Tests & Criteria: contains criteria, test methods and procedures for classification of DG
• GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - guidance on Safety Data Sheet (SDS) creation and chemical labels for consumers and workplaces

United States

US Department of Transportation (PHMSA, FAA, FRA, FMCSA, USCG)

US DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations

• 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations

Resources:

• DOT Chart: Marking, Labeling & Placarding Guide
• Hazardous Matters Quarterly Newsletter. Stay informed on the latest news from PHMSA, subscribe here today

Uruguay

Uruguay's regulations from the Ministry of Transportation

Venezuela

Venezuela's regulations from Fondonorma 

Emergency Response

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

Developed by Canada, Mexico and the United States for emergency responders, includes instructions on how to deal with dangerous goods accidents; Argentina is now party to the ERG; available in English, French and Spanish and as a downloadable app for your smart phone

Canada ERAP

Determining if an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) is required

Hand Sanitizer (Surplus Disposal / Recycling Resources)

Hand sanitizer has been a staple product for the last few years as the world has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many companies are now dealing with a shelf life issue for excess sanitizers. Several COSTHA members are looking for possible ways to deal with surplus hand sanitizer that does not trigger hazwaste disposal requirements. COSTHA is collecting solutions (recycling partners, Federal or State EPA-recognized solutions, etc.) and resources for handling this growing problem.

Please find information and resources below. If you have any additional information / recommendations, please send them to mail@costha.com 

US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Resources

• Hand Sanitizer Transportation Exception for Flammable Liquid (Ethyl Alcohol Only) 2025

Regulatory References

• 40 CFR: See ethanol-based hand sanitizer recycling under the following exemption in the Hazardous Waste regulations: 40 CFR 261.6(a)(3)(i)
• FDA: Q&A for Industry | Withdrawal of Temporary Hand Sanitizer Guidances

Other Resources

• Links to Hazardous Waste Programs and U.S. State Environmental Agencies

3rd Party Facilities to Manage Reclamation of Excess Hand Sanitizer that is Past / Approaching Expiration Date

• Parallel Products - Louisville, KY
• Dynamic Recycling – Bristol, TN

Incident Reports

PHMSA

• https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat-program-management-data-and-statistics/data-operations/incident-statistics 
  

FAA Lithium Battery Incidents

• https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/resources/lithium_batteries/incidents 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

• https://www.bts.gov/content/hazardous-materials-fatalities-injuries-accidents-and-property-damage-data 

Inspections

What To Do When the Inspector Calls 

• COSTHA’s Dangerous Goods Supply Chain Logistics Transportation Panel members reviewed and updated COSTHA’s What to Do When the DOT Hazardous Materials Inspector Comes Calling document (June 2023)

FAA: The Inspection Process

• Learn about the inspection process and what to expect here

Press Release: Dangerous Goods Warehousing White Paper (December 14, 2021). The International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA) partnered with the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), National Cargo Bureau (NCB) and World Shipping Council (WSC) to combine their expertise and experience to develop a Dangerous Goods Warehousing White Paper.

See links to press release, white paper and warehouse checklist below. 

Press Release

White Paper

Checklist

PHMSA Interpretations / Special Permits / Approvals

• PHMSA Letter of Interpretation FAQs
• PHMSA oCFR - Interpretation Letter Search
• PHMSA Online CFR (oCFR) Quick Reference Guide
• PHMSA Special Permits & Approvals

Radioactives

IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials

• IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material

Road & Rail

ADR

• ADR: Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• ADR Instructions in Writing: Linguistic versions of ADR written instructions for drivers on what to do in the event of an accident or emergency
• ADR Tool: ADR Tool for route planning and placarding job aid

Australia

• ADG: Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail

Canada

• Dangerous Goods Placards

RID

• RID: Regulations Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (primarily used in the EU)

United States: US DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations

• 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations
• DOT Chart: Marking, Labeling & Placarding Guide
• 49 CFR Guidance: How to Use the Hazardous Materials Regulations
• PHMSA FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions compiled and grouped by topic
• US National Hazardous Materials Route Registry: US list of Designated, Preferred and Restricted Routes

Training Resources

PHMSA Hazardous Materials Transportation Training Modules Access here

• The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) has developed this free online training module program to meet the requirements for general awareness/familiarization training and to serve as the basis for function-specific training. The “8.0 Security Requirements” training module meets the requirement for security awareness training.
• All hazmat employees (as defined in § 171.8 of the HMR) must receive training that includes general awareness/familiarization training, function-specific training, safety training, and security awareness training. See Subpart H of Part 172 of the HMR for all training requirements. 

COSTHA Member - Training Services

• Click here for a listing of our member companies that provide hazardous materials / dangerous goods training courses & services.
• Looking for training publications, regulations, placards, consulting, testing, etc., click here for a listing of our member companies that offer these services. 

Vessel

• IMO: International Maritime Organization
• FAL Declarations and Certificates
• Register for a free IMODOCS public account here

UNECE: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

• ADN: European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways | UNECE
• CTU Code: IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code)

Other Resources

• World Shipping Council
• TT Club: Book it right and pack it tight: This guide is intended to support shippers, forwarders, shipping line booking staff and those who pack dangerous goods into cargo transport units for carriage by sea in the technical aspects of the IMDG Code. 

Vessel Operator Prohibition and Restrictions Lists (P&R)

2M Alliance

• MAERSK  -  This one is a contact your local office
• ZIM – This one is a contact your local office
• SM Line

Ocean Alliance

• CMA CGM local offices – select location then Export
• OOCL - This one is a contact your local office

THE Alliance

• Hapag-Lloyd Restricted Commodities
• HMM DG Center 
• Yang Ming Dangerous Goods Policy

Prohibition & Restricted Cargo Lists

• Evergreen
• HMM
• Hapag Lloyd
• ONE
• SM Line
• Wan Hai 
• Yang Ming

Vessel Port Restrictions / Issues

Terminals hazardous/customer service emails/numbers:

West Coast / California: 

• Los Angeles / Long Beach:
  • ytilaoutbound@yti.com / Phone: 310-548-8252
  • wbctcs@wbct.us / Phone: 310-519-2349
  • customerserviceclerk@totalterminals.com / Phone: 562-256-2649, or 562-256-2650, or 526-256-2657
  • trapac.explax@trapac.com / Phone: 512-794-1400
  • cybook.ocu@itslb.com / Phone: 562-590-6876
• Oakland
  • trapac.expoak@trapac.com / Phone: 512-794-1400
  • oictoutbound@ssamarine.com

East Coast

• Savannah: customerservice@gaports.com / Phone: 912-963-5526
• New York / New Jersey: customerservice-usa@globalterminals.com
• South Carolina Ports Authority: solutionscenter@scspa.com / Phone: 843-577-8124
• North Carolina Port Authority: containers@ncports.com / Phone: 910-343-6381
• Virginia International Terminals, Inc.: POVcustomerservice@vit.org / Phone: 757-440-7160
• Jacksonville, FL: trapac.jax@trapac.com / Phone: 512-794-1400

Gulf

• Houston: hazpro@porthouston.com
• Mobile: mobcs@apmterminals.com   /  TSC@apmterminals.com

United Nations

US DOT PHMSA

• PHMSA International Program
• Implementation of the UN Model Regulations and Competent Authorities for the Transport of Dangerous Goods

UNECE

• Competent Authorities for the Transport of DG: for “Road”, “Rail”, “Inland Waterways”, and application of various UN marks
• Country Information (Competent Authorities, Notification): list of Competent Authorities for Application of ADR