The publication of the 63th edition of the IATA-DGR manual introduced several changes, regarding the carriage of dangerous goods by air.

The biggest point concerns the packaging instructions PI 965, PI 968, PI 966 and PI 969.

Instructions PI 965 and PI 968 have been changed and Section II has been deleted. A transitional period of 3 months is envisaged for this modification, until 31st, March  2022. during which shippers must adjust their shipments of lithium batteries in accordance with Section IB of PI 965 and PI 968. Consequently, paragraphs 1.6.1 and 7.1.5.5.1, tables 9.1.A and 9.5.A and the special provision A334 of IATA-DGR manual have also been adapted consequently.

Instructions PI 966 (UN 3481) and PI 969 (UN3091) have been revised to clarify the packaging options for Section I, which now provide:

• approved packaging conforming to the UN specifications for lithium batteries, which must then be placed, with the equipment, in a strong and rigid outer packaging; or
• approved packaging conforming to the UN specifications for cells or batteries packed with the equipment.

Among the other changes introduced with the 63-th edition of the IATA-DGR manual we point out:

• Section 2 - Limitations: the lists of States (2.8.1) and State Variations (2.8.2) have been revised;
• Section 4 - Identification: with particular reference to chap. 4.2 "List of Dangerous Goods":
  • the shipment of “tert-Amylperoxy-3,5,5-trimethylhexanoate” is no longer prohibited, as it can be transported as UN 3105;
  • the special provision A2 for UN 3094, Corrosive liquid, water reactive, n.o.s., is eliminated;
  • the entry “Fuel system components” was revised to include the reference to dangerous goods in articles.
• Section 7 - Marking & Labeling: paragraph 7.1.4.6 has been revised to clarify the reference to two or more different dangerous goods in relation to the application of the provisions for "All Packed in One" packaging.
• Section 8 - Documentation: the term "oblitared" has been added to paragraph 8.1.6.5.3 in addition to the term "removed" to allow greater operational flexibility regarding the removal/cancellation of the Cargo Aircraft Only label.

Finally, some changes have been made to specific paragraphs of chap. 10 - Radioactive Materials and updates to Appendices D, E, F H, I. In particular, with regard to this last Appendix, we point out the main changes that will be included in the 64-th edition of IATA-DGR (starting from 1 January 2023):

• revision of the criteria for assigning the packing groups of corrosive substances and mixtures;
• exclusion of the obligation to make available the summary of test reports for equipment (including printed circuits) containing only lithium button cells;
• updates to the list of dangerous goods:

• addition of the new entry UN 3550 Cobalt dihydroxide powder;
• deletion of UN 1169 Extracts, aromatics, liquids;
• modification of UN 1197 Extracts, flavoring, liquid, in Extracts, liquid;
• reclassification of UN 1891 Ethyl bromide (currently assigned to division 6.1) in class 3 with subsidiary danger of division 6.1; 
• adoption of two new packaging instructions: PI 222 for Articles containing non-flammable, non-toxic, n.o.s. when the article contains only a gas of division 2.2 without subsidiary danger, (excluding refrigerated liquefied gases and gases prohibited on passenger aircraft) and PI 975 for Articles containing miscellaneous dangerous goods, n.o.s. if the article contains only products or substances that are dangerous for the environment;
• change in the trademark for lithium batteries with the elimination of the obligation to report the telephone number; the transition period for this change is expected to run until 31 December 2026;
• revision of paragraph 9.3.7: it is necessary to provide for the replacement of trademarks that have been lost, detached or become illegible after the packages have been accepted. This change is limited to the replacement of the trademarks of: exempt quantities, limited quantities, environmentally hazardous substances and lithium batteries.

Source: IATA