Civil Aviation Ministry to frame dangerous goods transport rules

The Civil Aviation Ministry has proposed graded penalties of up to ₹1 crore for violations related to the transport of dangerous goods, including flammable substances, gases, lithium batteries, and radioactive materials, among others. The draft of the new rules, which has been released for public comments, also places higher emphasis on training and assessment of persons handling dangerous goods.

The handling and transport of dangerous goods is regulated as per the government rules of 2003. Airlines and freight forwarders also refer to the International Air Transport Association norms for guidance.

These stipulate measures for packing and labelling, and also lay down the responsibilities of shippers and airlines in handling and carriage of dangerous goods. The new rules classify the severity of violations and propose penalties ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹1 crore on individuals and organisations. Thus, a level 1 offence that deals with non-compliance with a training-related rule will attract a penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh; the carriage of dangerous goods without regulatory approval will attract a penalty of ₹25 lakh to ₹1 crore.