Hazardous Materials: Harmonization with the United Nations Recommendations, International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air

SUMMARY: PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to maintain alignment with international standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport limited quantities, and vessel stowage requirements. These revisions are necessary to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations with recent changes made to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods—Model Regulations. hazardous materials transportation requirements with the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN Model Regulations). The UN Model Regulations are not regulations, but rather are recommendations issued by the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE) and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). These Model Regulations are amended and updated biennially by the UNSCOE and serve as the basis for national, regional, and international modal regulations, including the International Maritime Organization's International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions). Since publication of the 1990 rule, we have issued eight additional international harmonization rules To maintain alignment of the HMR with international requirements, in this final rule, we are incorporating changes based on the sixteenth revised edition of Federal law and policy strongly favor the harmonization of domestic and international standards for hazardous materials transportation. The Federal hazardous materials transportation law (Federal hazmat law; 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) permits PHMSA to depart from international standards in order to promote safety or other overriding public interest, but otherwise requires PHMSA to align the HMR with international transport standards and requirements to the extent practicable (see 49 U.S.C. 5120). Harmonization enhances international trade by minimizing the costs and other burdens of complying with multiple or inconsistent safety requirements for transportation of hazardous materials to and from the United States. This becomes increasingly important as the volume of international hazardous materials shipments grows. Harmonization also enhances safety for international movements, but only if the international standards themselves provide an appropriate level of safety. PHMSA actively participates in the development of international standards for the transportation of hazardous materials, frequently advocating the adoption in international standards of particular HMR requirements. When considering the adoption of …