Former ICAO panel members to unpack how air cargo rules are written

HazMat Safety Consulting will host a free Sept. 8 LinkedIn Live webinar with three former ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel members on how global dangerous goods air transport rules are developed and adopted. The session lands as regulators weigh lithium battery risks and the next update to ICAO's Technical Instructions.

Why it matters: - The ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel shapes the international rules that govern dangerous goods moved by air. - Those rules affect shippers, airlines, freight forwarders and other parts of the global air cargo chain. - Understanding the rulemaking process can help companies prepare for operational changes before new requirements take effect.

What happened: - HazMat Safety Consulting, a subsidiary of Americase International, announced a free live webinar for Tuesday, Sept. 8. - The session is titled "Inside the Room Where the Rules are Written: The ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel Explained." - The webinar will feature three former ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel members. - The event will stream on LinkedIn Live from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT. - Registration is required, and registrants will receive a recording. - More information and registration are available here.

The details: - The panel will explain how international dangerous goods air transport requirements are developed, debated and adopted. - The discussion will cover how panel members are nominated. - Speakers will walk through how proposals move from an initial idea into ICAO's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, also known as Doc 9284. - The webinar will also address where industry and other stakeholders can provide technical input. - Attendees will get a live Q&A with the panelists. - The session is aimed at dangerous goods professionals, shippers, freight forwarders, airlines and other supply chain participants. - More than 1.25 million dangerous goods shipments are transported by air each year, according to IATA. - The rules cover classification, packaging, marking, labeling, documentation, training and airline acceptance procedures. - FAA records show 93 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat aboard aircraft in 2025, compared with 89 in 2024. - Battery-related provisions continue to evolve as regulators respond to changing technology, higher shipment volumes and a more complex global supply chain.

Between the lines: - The webinar gives industry a rare chance to hear directly from people who have worked inside the ICAO process. - Bob Richard said one common misconception is that industry has no voice in the process; his point is that the voice exists, but only for organizations that know when and where to use it. - The timing suggests growing attention on lithium batteries and other emerging hazards ahead of the next ICAO Technical Instructions cycle.

What's next: - Attendees will be able to use the session to identify where new requirements may affect operations. - Companies and trade groups that follow the process closely may have more time to shape proposals and adjust compliance plans. - Regulators are expected to keep updating battery-related provisions as risks and shipment patterns change.

The bottom line: - The webinar is designed to demystify how global air cargo dangerous goods rules get made and show industry where it can still influence the outcome.