Transport of Dangerous Goods

Galicia Announces 2026 Exams for Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Certificate for Road and Rail Transport

Galicia’s transport authority has opened the 2026 exam cycle for dangerous goods safety advisers, with applications accepted from 23 May to 23 June and written exams scheduled for October 2026. Companies moving dangerous goods by road or rail in Spain must ensure their designated advisers obtain or renew certification within this window to remain compliant with EU and national transport safety rules.

25 May 2026, 15:46xunta.galSpain

Council Of The EU Prepares Draft Position For OTIF CTE Non-Binding Items

In May 2026 the Council’s General Secretariat issued a note outlining the European Union’s coordinated draft position on non-binding technical items for the 18th session of the OTIF Committee of Technical Experts on 9 June 2026. While this step does not itself create new legal obligations, it signals how OTIF interoperability, telematics, accessibility and dangerous-goods rules are expected to evolve in line with EU rail law, so rail operators and shippers should monitor subsequent Council approval and the outcomes of the Bern meeting.

25 May 2026, 15:33data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

UN TDG Sub-Committee Proposes Class 9 Subdivisions for Increased Hazard Awareness

In April 2026, the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods received a United States proposal to subdivide Class 9 dangerous goods into four new divisions with distinct criteria and labels for environmentally hazardous substances, energy storage devices, low-hazard energetic articles and other miscellaneous entries. If adopted and carried into modal and national rules, this would significantly reshape how many Class 9 UN numbers are classified, labelled and documented in transport, requiring future updates to packaging, documentation, and hazard communication for affected dangerous goods shipments.

23 May 2026, 19:02docs.un.orgGlobal

Netherlands Reports Q1 2026 Implementation Status of Key EU Chemicals and HSE Directives

In May 2026 the Dutch government reported Q1 2026 progress and delays in implementing several EU directives on waste electronics, RoHS lead exemptions, dangerous goods transport and asbestos exposure at work. These updates confirm retroactive and upcoming national measures and highlight infringement risks, signalling tighter compliance expectations for electronics, transport and construction supply chains in the Netherlands.

23 May 2026, 09:14zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

Latvia Adopts Amendments to ATEX, Electrical Safety and Pressure Equipment Rules

Latvia has adopted Cabinet amendments updating national ATEX, electrical safety and pressure equipment regulations, with the key changes applying from 30 May 2026. These measures strengthen the framework for conformity assessment and market surveillance—especially for explosive-atmosphere equipment designated as crisis-relevant goods—so operators and notified bodies should review their procedures ahead of any future EU internal market emergency.

22 May 2026, 18:52vestnesis.lvLatvia

Taiwan CAA Adopts Amendment to Air Transport Dangerous Goods Lists to Align With ICAO 2025–2026 Instructions

Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration has brought into force an amendment to its air transport dangerous goods lists, effective 20 May 2026, in line with the latest ICAO technical instructions. Airlines, shippers and logistics providers moving dangerous goods by air to, from or within Taiwan should review the revised national lists and carriage provisions to ensure their classification and baggage acceptance practices remain compliant.

22 May 2026, 18:48gazette.nat.gov.twTaiwan

California Assembly Advances AB 2788 Hazardous Materials Transport Compliance Bill to Third Reading

California’s omnibus transportation bill AB 2788, which would write federal hazardous materials regulations into the state Vehicle Code for highway transport, has cleared second reading and been ordered to third reading in the Assembly in May 2026. If enacted, it would create an explicit state-level obligation for California motor carriers and shippers to comply with U.S. hazardous materials regulations for highway shipments, tightening compliance expectations for fleets and logistics partners operating in the state.

20 May 2026, 17:53leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

UN Sub-Committee on Transport of Dangerous Goods Issues Addendum to Provisional Agenda for 68th Session

The UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods has published an addendum to the provisional agenda for its 68th session, updating the issues scheduled for discussion. This signals that additional topics may be considered for future amendments to UN-based dangerous goods transport rules, so companies moving hazardous chemicals should track the session’s working papers and outcomes for potential changes to classification, testing and packaging requirements.

20 May 2026, 10:02docs.un.orgGlobal

Germany Publishes Error List 1 to RID Amendments (BGBl. II 2026 Nr. 103)

Germany has issued an official error list correcting NHM commodity codes and several provisions in the RID dangerous goods rail rules following the latest RID amendment. Rail freight operators and chemical shippers should update RID-based classifications, coding and documentation to align with these corrections and avoid mis-declaration and compliance disputes.

20 May 2026, 07:08recht.bund.deGermany

Thailand DIW and Police Raid Factory Over Illegal Hazardous Waste After Lithium Battery Explosion

Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works and environmental-crime police have raided a plastics factory in Samut Sakhon following a lithium-battery truck explosion, uncovering more than 4,000 cubic metres of illegally stored e-waste and solar-panel waste and enforcing the Thai Factory Act and Hazardous Substances Act. This enforcement shows regulators are closely tracing hazardous-waste flows linked to battery incidents and will pursue operators whose licensing, waste handling, and storage practices fall short, raising compliance and reputational risk for waste handlers, recyclers, and manufacturers in Thailand.

20 May 2026, 07:06diw.go.thThailand

EU Council Working Party on Land Transport Meeting on Vehicle Dimensions, Rail Dangerous Goods and Clean Corporate Vehicles

In March 2026, the EU Council’s Working Party on Land Transport met to review legislative files on road vehicle dimensions, rail dangerous goods, road traffic safety and a proposed clean corporate vehicles regulation. These agenda items signal forthcoming changes to vehicle dimension rules, rail dangerous goods requirements and corporate fleet decarbonisation obligations that transport operators, automotive manufacturers and chemicals shippers should monitor as negotiations progress.

20 May 2026, 06:48data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

UN Sub-Committee Working Paper Proposes Hazard-Based Classification for Lithium and Sodium Batteries

The UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods has issued working paper ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2026/34 proposing a hazard-based classification framework for lithium-ion, sodium-ion and lithium metal batteries. If taken forward into the UN Model Regulations, this could reshape global transport requirements for battery shipments, affecting future packaging, marking and compliance planning for battery and equipment manufacturers and logistics chains.

18 May 2026, 17:51docs.un.orgGlobal

California Assembly Appropriations Committee Approves AB 2788 Transportation Omnibus Bill

In May 2026, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced AB 2788, a transportation omnibus bill that would align state law more explicitly with federal hazardous materials regulations and update pilotage and automated traffic enforcement rules. If enacted, the bill would expand which carriers and shippers are clearly subject to federal hazardous materials standards under state law, increasing compliance and enforcement risk for road transport and port operations in California.

15 May 2026, 17:44leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

UN TDG Sub-Committee Publishes Document On Cylinder Valve Inlet Thread Marking For Refillable UN Pressure Receptacles

The UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods has issued document ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2026/30 on marking of closures and cylinder valve inlet threads for refillable UN pressure receptacles. While non-binding, this technical work flags potential future changes to international cylinder marking conventions that, once reflected in UN Model Regulations and national rules, could require updates to design, labelling and maintenance practices for UN pressure receptacles.

15 May 2026, 16:19docs.un.orgGlobal

UN TDG And GHS Sub-Committees Receive Proposals On Combinations Of Physical Hazard Classes

UN experts have submitted detailed proposals to amend the Globally Harmonized System so that explosives, self-reactive substances, organic peroxides and desensitised explosives are classified more consistently when they coincide with other physical hazards, and to add new precautionary statements and SDS guidance for these energetic and pyrophoric materials. If adopted at the July 2026 UN TDG and GHS sessions, these changes would reshape classification logic and labelling expectations for energetic substances across jurisdictions that follow the UN GHS and Model Regulations, so companies should start assessing which product portfolios and safety documentation could ultimately be affected.

15 May 2026, 16:19docs.un.orgGlobal

US Postal Service Final Rule Adds Hazmat Handling Fee and Hazmat Quality Compliance for Competitive Products

USPS has adopted a final rule effective 12 July 2026 introducing a non-refundable Hazmat Handling Fee, a new Hazmat Quality barcode compliance category and dimensional-weight changes for domestic competitive products. Shippers using Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, Parcel Select and related return services for hazardous materials must budget for new per-piece charges and ensure labelling, packaging data and IMpb systems fully meet the new hazmat validations to avoid additional noncompliance fees.

15 May 2026, 14:43public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

US PHMSA Seeks Comment on Trinity Industries Special Permit 22260-N for Re-Stenciling DOT-105 Tank Cars

PHMSA has opened a Federal Register comment period on Trinity Industries' special permit application 22260-N to re-stencil DOT-105 tank cars for extended TIH/PIH rail service. If approved, this could extend the usable life of affected tank cars under the Hazardous Materials Regulations, so fleet and compliance teams should assess exposure and consider commenting before the 11 June 2026 deadline.

15 May 2026, 13:30federalregister.govUnited States

US PHMSA Seeks Comment on Special Permit Application 22258-N for One-Time Transport of Unapproved Fire Extinguisher Ball

The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has opened comments on special permit application 22258-N, which would allow Veolia ES Technical Solutions to make a one-time motor-vehicle shipment of an unapproved fire extinguisher ball for disposal. While narrowly scoped, this signals PHMSA’s readiness to grant case-by-case relief from hazardous materials transport rules for unusual waste streams, which may guide others planning similar one-off shipments.

15 May 2026, 13:29federalregister.govUnited States

US DOT PHMSA Announces Special Permit Application 22281-N (Mott Corporation) for Division 4.2 Solids in Non-DOT Gas Purification Equipment

PHMSA has listed Mott Corporation’s Special Permit Application 22281-N in the Federal Register, seeking authorization to move certain Division 4.2 solid materials in non-DOT gas purification equipment across multiple transport modes, with comments due by 11 June 2026. If granted, this permit could create a precedent for alternative packaging and transport conditions for spontaneously combustible solids in gas purification systems, so hazmat shippers and carriers may want to assess impacts and consider commenting.

15 May 2026, 13:29federalregister.govUnited States

US PHMSA Special Permit Application 22246-N for Western Digital Non-DOT Hazardous Materials Packaging

PHMSA has published a Federal Register notice announcing Special Permit Application 22246-N from Western Digital Technologies to allow certain hazardous materials to be transported in non-DOT specification packaging, with comments due by 11 June 2026. If granted, this permit could alter packaging and communication requirements for Western Digital and similar electronics shippers using motor and cargo-air transport, so transport compliance teams should monitor the proceeding and consider whether to submit input before the deadline.

15 May 2026, 13:28federalregister.govUnited States