IATA seeks stronger controls over dangerous air cargo

The International Air Transport Association has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the air cargo supply chain to tackle the risks posed by undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods.

The association said about 80 per cent of dangerous goods incidents reported to it in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden hazardous materials, including lithium batteries, e-cigarettes and aerosols.

It said the development had heightened concerns over the effectiveness of existing aviation security screening processes in identifying dangerous goods before they were loaded onto aircraft.

In a statement, IATA stressed that although security screening remained an important layer of protection, it was not designed to detect the full range of dangerous goods and should not be treated as the primary solution.

“Dangerous goods are transported safely by air every day. The risk comes when they enter the system undeclared or incorrectly declared. Every part of the supply chain has a role to play in identifying and stopping such incidents as soon as possible.

“Security screening, which is primarily focused on terror threats, is one layer of protection against rogue shippers, but it is not a complete solution. A comprehensive multi-layer approach beginning as far upstream the supply chain as possible is essential,” said IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, Brendan Sullivan.

The association said existing cargo security screening systems were primarily designed to detect explosives and other security threats rather than the full range of dangerous goods.

It noted that well-established Dangerous Goods Regulations already provided a framework for the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air, but compliance remained a major concern.

• BASA: Unlocking untapped benefits
• Africa’s aviation costs double global average – IATA
• Untapped benefits from unutilised BASA

IATA made the call in its white paper, Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain, which outlined measures to strengthen controls and prevent undeclared or incorrectly declared dangerous goods from entering the air cargo system.

The association urged governments to strengthen oversight and enforcement of dangerous goods requirements across the cargo supply chain.

It also called on manufacturers and online marketplaces to ensure that dangerous goods were correctly identified and certified where necessary, while ensuring that product information was accurate.

Shippers, freight forwarders and postal operators were advised to improve staff training and cargo acceptance controls, as well as make greater use of customer and shipment data to identify higher-risk cargo before it reaches the airport.

IATA further urged airlines and ground handlers to strengthen checks before cargo was loaded onto aircraft. It said airports should also improve coordination and information sharing across the cargo community to ensure that potential risks were identified and addressed promptly.

The association maintained that addressing the risks required a coordinated approach involving all stakeholders, rather than relying solely on airport security screening.

The call comes amid discussions among regulators on the role of existing aviation security screening processes in preventing dangerous goods incidents.

IATA said the measures outlined in its white paper were aimed at ensuring that hazardous materials were properly declared and handled before entering the air transport system, reducing the risks associated with concealed or incorrectly declared cargo.