- SAP Managed Tags
Did you ever wonder why it is not allowed to include certain electronics such as power banks in checked luggage when traveling by airplane? The reason is that these include lithium-ion batteries. Airlines prohibit lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage due to safety risks outlined in international dangerous goods regulations. These batteries, while common in electronics, pose a significant fire hazard if damaged, overheated, or short-circuited. Lithium batteries are therefore classified as "Class 9 dangerous goods" due to their potential to ignite spontaneously and burn at extremely high temperatures, which is a critical concern in an aircraft's closed environment.
This classification and restriction were driven by past incidents. For example, in 2010, a UPS cargo plane carrying a large shipment of lithium batteries crashed near Dubai after an uncontrollable fire broke out in its cargo hold. Subsequent incidents on passenger flights, where smoldering batteries triggered alarms and forced emergency landings, highlighted the urgency of these restrictions. As a result, lithium batteries are only allowed in carry-on luggage, where passengers and crew can quickly respond to any malfunction. Regulations also limit the capacity of batteries that can be transported, further reducing risks associated with lithium-ion power sources during flights.
Transporting dangerous goods is not only regulated on airplanes. It is a significant and regulated part of logistics across all major modes of transport – road, rail, sea, and air. Millions of shipments of chemicals, fuels, explosives, and other hazardous materials occur daily worldwide. Road transport is the most common mode for dangerous goods, with trucks carrying approximately 60% of these materials in many countries. Rail and sea transport handle large volumes of bulk chemicals and petroleum, while air transport focuses on smaller, high-value shipments, including medical and electronic equipment.
Accidents involving dangerous goods have sometimes led to severe injuries, fatalities, and environmental damage. Dangerous goods are therefore highly regulated worldwide, with specific rules differing by region and transport mode to prioritize public safety, environmental protection, and smooth international trade. At the core of these regulations are the United Nations Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (often called the "UN Orange Book"), which set a global framework for classifying, packaging, labeling, and documenting hazardous materials. These model regulations help ensure consistency across international borders and are adopted and adapted by various regions for all major modes of transport. Examples of such regulations are:
- The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) enforces the UN’s standards for air transport, which are further refined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) through the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). IATA’s DGR is accepted globally, with requirements on packaging, labeling, and quantity limits for hazardous goods.
- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code governs hazardous materials transported by sea. The IMDG Code is followed by countries globally, including the U.S., China, and EU member states.
- For road transport, regulations vary regionally but align with the UN framework. Europe has the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), which requires specialized vehicle design, driver certification, and specific transport routes for hazardous materials. Canada and the U.S. follow the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) regulations and the Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations, respectively, covering everything from driver training to placarding requirements for trucks.
- Rail regulations are aligned with UN standards as well. In Europe, the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) apply, especially in countries with extensive rail networks. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism has adapted UN guidelines with additional national measures for rail transport, focusing on the densely populated areas that rail lines often pass through.
In every region, these regulations underscore the need for robust packaging, clear labeling, and specialized handling procedures, reducing the risks associated with transporting dangerous goods and supporting safer, more consistent global trade.
Non-compliance with dangerous goods regulations can lead to fines and delivery delays because police and customs often forbid non-compliant transports to continue their journeys. So how can companies ensure that their dangerous goods are packaged and transported safely and in compliance with the regulations? First, it is important to train the involved employees and to streamline the packaging and transportation processes. Second, all transports must be checked and labelled before they leave the company premises.
Software can help here, for example by automating dangerous goods processes such as the classification of dangerous goods and the creation of required documents. It can also automatically check all deliveries and transports against dangerous goods requirements. With SAP S/4HANA for product compliance, SAP offers such a software. It comes with embedded dangerous goods regulatory content for the 15 most important regulations of the world.
For more information, visit the web page and watch this video. Furthermore, SAP presents the solution at the 2025 SAP for EHS and Product Compliance Conference
