The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the updated 2027 editions of key industry manuals for cargo and ground operations, incorporating major changes and revisions to align with evolving global standards.
Highlights include revisions to the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) for clarity on packaging, restrictions and requirements for spare batteries and power banks, and requirements for lithium battery-powered mobility aids, including new operator obligations for devices exceeding 300Wh.
The Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR) now include provisions for hybrid batteries with lithium-ion and sodium-ion cells, and clarify exclusions from the 4-cell/2-battery limit for certain battery shipments.
The Live Animals Regulations (LAR) add specific pathogen-free laboratory animals to species listings, standardized terminology, and updated aircraft cargo compartment cleaning and disinfection procedures.
IATA also described enhanced digital tools, which will increasingly leverage artificial intelligence (AI), to link its manuals more efficiently to industry processes.
