Excellence Everywhere - National University of Ireland, Galway

publishes the “Dangerous Goods RegulationsManual” (DGR Manual), which provides informationon classifying, marking, packing, labeling, anddocumenting shipments containing dangerousgoods. IATA regulations cover materials carriedon board by passengers or checked in luggage aswell as those shipped commercially. IATA DGRsare similar to the ICAO TI, but contain additionalrequirements and are more restrictive.International Maritime Organization (IMO).IMO (http://www.imo.org) has developed a uniforminternational dangerous goods (DG) code fortransporting materials by sea. The code coverspacking and stowage, and pays particular attentionto the separation of incompatible substances.appropriate packagingPackaging materials incorrectly can have severesafety and legal consequences. For example, dryice placed in an airtight container will cause anincrease in pressure in the container, potentiallyleading to an explosion. A lack of proper orientationmarkings on chemical packaging can lead toleaks and chemical mixing, possibly causing firesor explosions. Planes have crashed because safetyregulations on shipping dangerous goods were notfollowed. Fines for not following dangerous goodsshipping regulations can be severe, even if noharm results.Transportation of ResearchAnimals and PlantsConvention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES). Because most countries have specificrules about importing animals, regulations in thisarea are very complicated. CITES (also known asthe Washington Convention; http://www.cites.org/), which represents an agreement amonggovernments to regulate the movement of endangeredplants and animals and their derivativesacross international borders, is currently enforcedin 172 countries. These regulations cover bothcommercial and noncommercial trade.Office International des Épizooties/WorldAnimal Health Organization. The goal of thisorganization, also known as the Office Internationaldes Épizooties (OIE; http://www.oie.int), isto prevent zoonoses, infectious diseases that canbe transmitted from animals to humans and viceversa. It has developed the “Terrestrial AnimalHealth Code” and the “Aquatic Animal HealthCode,” which provide recommendations for membercountries as they set up or revise regulationsabout importing animals and animal products.IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR). The IATALAR is a global standard for transporting animalsby air. These regulations cover animal containersand methods to ensure the welfare of animalsbeing shipped by air, among other topics. BothCITES and OIE recognize these regulations.Labeling, Packaging, Paperwork,Licenses, and PermitsComplying with regulations governing theinternational transport of hazardous materials orliving organisms and their derivatives requiresthe use of proper labels. These include labelsdescribing the substance (for example, “InfectiousSubstance” or “Biological Substance, Category B”or “Dry Ice”), as well as those stating the propershipping name, the UN identification number, andthe correct orientation of the shipping container.Potentially hazardous biological substances,including infectious substances and geneticallymodified microorganisms, must be triplepackaged, with a leak-proof primary container,a secondary container that contains enoughabsorbent material to absorb all of the liquid in thesample, and an outer container large enough tocontain the required labels. The two outer packagesmust meet UN performance standards andare available from commercial suppliers. Packagingmust meet additional requirements if ice, dry ice,or liquid nitrogen is included in the shipment.Shipments must be accompanied by a Declarationfor Dangerous Goods form if hazardous materialsare being sent. Other documents that might berequired include export permits and/or licenses,moving materials and equipment169