Transport of Dangerous Goods

US FRA Final Rule Clarifying Enforcement Attorneys' Prosecutorial Discretion Under 49 CFR Part 209

The US Federal Railroad Administration has adopted a final rule, effective 28 May 2026, clarifying that its enforcement attorneys may decline or dismiss technical violations that do not raise a practical safety issue in proceedings under 49 CFR Part 209. This codified discretion should reduce enforcement exposure and administrative burden for minor infractions while keeping regulatory focus, and associated compliance risk, on violations with meaningful rail safety consequences.

12 May 2026, 18:46federalregister.govUnited States

US PHMSA Seeks Comment on Modifications to Hazardous Materials Special Permits

On 12 May 2026, US PHMSA published a Federal Register notice listing applications from multiple companies to modify existing hazardous materials special permits under the Hazardous Materials Regulations, with public comments due by 27 May 2026. These changes could alter which hazardous materials, packaging designs, and transport modes are authorised for major shippers such as Albemarle, Amazon, Zipline and Blue Origin, so affected operators should review the proposed modifications and consider submitting feedback before PHMSA decides.

12 May 2026, 15:32federalregister.govUnited States

US PHMSA Invites Comments on New Hazardous Materials Special Permit Applications

PHMSA has published a Federal Register notice listing new hazardous materials special permit applications, many involving lithium-ion batteries and rail operations, and is accepting public comments until 11 June 2026. These applications could prefigure future regulatory expectations for damaged and prototype batteries, alternative packaging, and electronic train consist management, so affected shippers, carriers, and recyclers should review and engage.

12 May 2026, 15:32federalregister.govUnited States

Spain DGAC Publishes Addendum No. 1 to ICAO Dangerous Goods Technical Instructions on Lithium Batteries and Portable Devices (Doc 9284/AN/905, 2025–2026)

Spain’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has given legal effect to ICAO Addendum No. 1 to the 2025–2026 Dangerous Goods Technical Instructions, tightening lithium battery, power bank and portable electronic device carriage rules for airlines, passengers and crew from 27 March 2026. Air operators serving Spain must update dangerous goods manuals, cabin baggage policies and staff training to reflect the new capacity limits, packaging requirements and on-board use restrictions for lithium-powered devices and power banks, or risk non-compliance with EU air operations law.

12 May 2026, 14:29boe.esSpain

US FRA Final Rule Clarifies Prosecutorial Discretion In Railroad Safety Enforcement

In April 2026, the US Federal Railroad Administration finalized amendments to 49 CFR Part 209 to codify its enforcement attorneys’ discretion to decline or dismiss certain technical railroad safety violations that lack a practical safety impact, effective 28 May 2026. This shifts FRA’s enforcement focus toward violations with real safety consequences, potentially lowering civil penalty exposure and administrative burden for railroads, including those moving hazardous materials, while keeping underlying safety standards unchanged.

12 May 2026, 14:28federalregister.govUnited States

Illinois Proposes RCRA Hazardous Waste Rule Updates on e-Manifest and Ignitable Spent Refrigerants

The Illinois Pollution Control Board has proposed amendments to its hazardous waste regulations to align the state’s RCRA Subtitle C program with recent US EPA updates on e‑Manifest and alternative standards for recycling ignitable spent refrigerants, with comments due roughly 45 days after the 8 May 2026 Illinois Register publication. If adopted, these changes will require hazardous waste generators, transporters, TSDFs and refrigerant recyclers in Illinois to update manifesting, electronic reporting, e‑Manifest fee, financial assurance and emergency preparedness procedures in line with the modernised federal framework.

11 May 2026, 11:43ilsos.govUnited States

Spain: Málaga Port Authority Approves Conditions for Supply of Petroleum, Biofuel and Synthetic Marine Fuels

Spain’s Málaga Port Authority has adopted binding conditions for companies supplying petroleum, biofuel and synthetic marine fuels in the port, effective upon BOE publication in May 2026. Fuel suppliers now face stricter authorisation, reporting, environmental management, financial guarantee, insurance and fee obligations that will reshape bunkering operations, risk exposure and competitive positioning at the port.

9 May 2026, 07:14boe.esSpain

Minnesota DOT Updates State Rail Plan With Hazardous Materials Safety and Passenger Rail Actions

Minnesota has adopted a new 20‑year State Rail Plan that prioritises safer hazardous‑materials movements, upgraded freight infrastructure, and expanded passenger rail services through 2045. The plan signals larger public investment in grade‑crossing risk reduction, short‑line upgrades, and intercity passenger corridors, reshaping how chemicals and other freight move across Minnesota’s rail network over the next decade.

9 May 2026, 07:05lrl.mn.govUnited States

Pennsylvania HB2450 (Amended) Would Raise Radiation Protection Fees For Nuclear Facilities And Radioactive Material Transport

On 6 May 2026, Pennsylvania’s House Energy Committee advanced HB2450, a bill amending the state Radiation Protection Act to define independent spent fuel storage installations and substantially increase nuclear reactor site and radioactive material transport fees. If enacted, this would materially raise ongoing regulatory cost obligations for nuclear operators and specialized waste shippers in Pennsylvania while strengthening funding for radiological emergency preparedness and cost recovery at both operating and shut-down reactor sites.

8 May 2026, 18:57palegis.usUnited States

Pennsylvania HB 2017: Senate First Consideration of Radiation Protection Act Amendments for Microreactor and Small Modular Reactor Fees

In May 2026, the Pennsylvania Senate began considering HB 2017, a bill amending the 1984 Radiation Protection Act to define small modular and microreactors and adjust nuclear facility and transport fee provisions. If enacted, the measure would give regulators more flexibility to tailor fees for new reactor technologies, potentially reducing cost barriers while still funding radiation protection and emergency preparedness.

8 May 2026, 18:09palegis.usUnited States

Italy Ministry of the Interior Classifies Four Explosive Products as Category 2

Italy has formally classified four Owen Oil Tools/Weatherford explosive articles as second-category explosives under national public security rules, assigning them UN 0440 1.4D and confirming CLP-based labelling and packaging obligations. This creates specific, legally binding labelling and documentation requirements for imports and handling of these products in Italy, tightening compliance expectations for explosives used in oil and gas operations.

8 May 2026, 18:06gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

UK Department For Transport Updates Dangerous Goods Annual Report Template

On 6 May 2026 the UK Department for Transport updated its official template that dangerous goods safety advisers use to prepare annual reports on the carriage of dangerous goods in Great Britain. The revision refines how ADR and UK carriage of dangerous goods regulatory duties on incidents, training, high-consequence security and Class 7 arrangements are documented, so operators and DGSAs should adopt the new template and ensure their audit processes and records align with it.

8 May 2026, 11:06gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Commission Implementing Decision Authorising National Derogations Under Directive 2008/68/EC on Inland Transport of Dangerous Goods

In May 2026 the European Commission adopted Implementing Decision C(2026)2863 amending Directive 2008/68/EC to authorise new Member State-specific derogations for inland transport of dangerous goods. Dangerous goods shippers and carriers operating within the EU should review the Decision and relevant national measures to understand any country- or route-specific deviations from standard Directive 2008/68/EC requirements.

8 May 2026, 08:33ec.europa.euEuropean Union

US TSA Seeks Comment on Extension of HME Security Threat Assessment Information Collection

In May 2026, the US Transportation Security Administration opened a 60-day comment period on extending its existing information collection for security threat assessments of commercial drivers seeking hazardous materials endorsements. This continuation of biometric and biographic data collection under OMB control 1652-0027 maintains current vetting requirements for hazmat carriers while giving industry and states a limited window to influence TSA’s burden estimates and process design.

8 May 2026, 06:46federalregister.govUnited States

US ATF Final Rule Removes Triplicate Filing Requirement for Importing Plastic Explosives

ATF has issued a final rule, effective 05 June 2026, removing the obsolete triplicate attestation paperwork requirement for importing plastic explosives while leaving all substantive explosives safety and detection-agent obligations unchanged. Importers and brokers handling plastic explosives can simplify their Form 6 import procedures and documentation templates, but must continue to provide a single compliant attestation and maintain robust controls under ATF’s explosives regulatory regime.

8 May 2026, 06:46public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

US FMCSA Seeks Comment on Renewal of Hazardous Materials Safety Permits Information Collection

In May 2026, the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration opened a 60-day comment period on renewing its OMB-approved information collection for Hazardous Materials Safety Permits, covering communications and recordkeeping for permitted hazardous materials shipments by motor carriers. The renewal keeps existing permit tracking and six-month record retention duties in place, so affected carriers should confirm their systems meet these requirements and consider whether to challenge the burden estimates or suggest refinements before the comment deadline.

8 May 2026, 06:45public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

US Coast Guard Opens Comment on Draft PEIS/OEIS for Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Fairways

The US Coast Guard has released a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement on establishing shipping safety fairways and related vessel routing measures along the US Atlantic Coast, opening a public comment period that runs to 22 June 2026. For shipping and port operators, including those moving hazardous cargoes, this is an early-stage but strategic signal that future rulemakings may formalise new routing corridors and anchorages, reshaping navigational planning and environmental risk management along key Atlantic routes.

8 May 2026, 05:40federalregister.govUnited States

EU Council Lists Decision on EU Position for 59th OTIF Dangerous Goods Committee

The Council of the EU has listed for adoption a Decision establishing the Unions position for the 59th session of OTIFs Committee of Experts on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods, following Coreper approval on 24 April 2026. This confirms the EUs negotiating mandate on upcoming changes to international rail dangerous goods rules, signalling potential future adjustments that rail operators and chemical shippers should monitor.

7 May 2026, 19:14data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Croatia: Government Accepts Final Draft Amendments to Working Time and Tachograph Law, Enabling e-ADR Monitoring

In April 2026 the Croatian Government approved final draft amendments to its working time and tachograph law, creating a legal basis for an e-ADR system to monitor dangerous goods transport and to apply EU social rules on driving times and rest periods. Hauliers transporting dangerous goods and mobile road workers should expect tighter monitoring, higher penalties and clearer 48-hour weekly working-time limits once Parliament adopts and promulgates the law, and may wish to begin aligning systems and contracts now.

6 May 2026, 19:49mmpi.gov.hrCroatiaEuropean Union

UN TDG Sub-Committee Proposal to Exempt Consumers from Dangerous Goods Training for E-Commerce Returns

In April 2026, industry group COSTHA proposed to the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods that the UN Model Regulations be amended so consumers returning dangerous goods in e-commerce channels are exempt from formal training while a new note clarifies responsibilities for reverse logistics. If adopted, retailers and parcel carriers managing return-merchandise programmes would take on clearer global obligations to identify dangerous-goods returns and give customers compliant packaging, labelling, marking and documentation instructions, tightening expectations for reverse logistics operations across jurisdictions.

6 May 2026, 19:10docs.un.orgGlobal