I. Executive Overview

The week of February 11–16, 2026 reflects a continuation of the global implementation and enforcement phase of the current dangerous goods (DG) regulatory cycle. With ADR 2025 fully operative, IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 mandatory worldwide, and ICAO Technical Instructions / IATA DGR 2026 in force, regulators are concentrating on inspection rigor, harmonization, and documentation integrity, rather than issuing major new legislative instruments.

Across all regions, the principal regulatory pressure points remain:

  • Lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries (including battery-powered vehicles and equipment),

  • Hazardous waste and asbestos carriage,

  • Pressure receptacles and cylinders, and

  • Undeclared or misdeclared DG in parcel and e-commerce supply chains.

II. United States — PHMSA Enforcement and Interpretive Oversight

A. No Major Amendments to the HMR

During this period, no significant amendments were issued to 49 C.F.R. Parts 171–180. However, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) continued to apply its risk-based enforcement model, which has become the dominant regulatory force in practice.

Field activities during this week reflect continued focus on:

  • Battery shippers and packers (particularly lithium-ion and sodium-ion),

  • Cylinder requalification and testing facilities,

  • E-commerce and small-parcel hazmat flows,

  • Hazard communication and shipping paper accuracy.

PHMSA Regulatory Reviews Undertaken by IHMM

  • PHMSA – ANPRM HM-266 – Highly Automated Transport Systems – CHMMs and CDGPs Synopsis of ANPRM — PHMSA: Modernizing Hazardous Materials Regulations for Highly Automated Transportation Systems Federal Register  Deadline: March 4, 2025
  • PHMSA issued NPRM HM-215R to amend the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations Federal Register Deadline: April 13, 2026

Legal Significance

From a legal standpoint, PHMSA’s enforcement posture continues to elevate the effective standard of care beyond minimum textual compliance. U.S. shippers—especially exporters—are expected to maintain UN Model Regulations-aligned classification, packaging, marking, labeling, and training systems, even where domestic regulatory text has not changed.

Increased scrutiny of undeclared hazardous materials also heightens exposure to civil penalties and potential criminal liability where intent or gross negligence is implicated.

III. Europe — ADR 2025 Enforcement Maturity and UNECE Workstreams

A. ADR 2025 Fully Embedded

By mid-February 2026, ADR 2025 is fully normalized across Contracting Parties. During this week, national enforcement bodies continued inspections and technical clarifications addressing:

  • Correct application of newly added battery-related UN entries,

  • Waste and asbestos classification and packaging requirements,

  • Vehicle and tank approval documentation under ADR Parts 6 and 9,

  • Continued compliance with ADR driver training requirements (Chapter 8.2).

Transitional tolerance for pre-2025 practices has effectively ended.

B. UNECE Preparatory Work for ADR 2027

Under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), preparatory discussions continue toward the ADR 2027 amendment cycle, with particular focus on:

  • Regulation of DG carriage in battery-electric and hybrid heavy goods vehicles,

  • Reverse-logistics transport of returned DG and defective batteries,

  • Limited quantity (LQ) recalibration,

  • Harmonization with updated UN Model Regulations provisions.

Legal Significance

The European regulatory environment is stable but evolving. Entities operating in or exporting into ADR jurisdictions should assume that battery and reverse-logistics compliance will be tightened further in ADR 2027, and contracts should include forward-looking compliance clauses.

IV. Asia — Operational Enforcement of Global Standards

A. Limited Domestic Legislative Activity

No major national DG statutes were promulgated during this week in key Asian jurisdictions. However, operational enforcement remains stringent.

B. Mandatory Application of IMDG 42-24 and ICAO/IATA 2026

Ports and carriers across Asia continue strict enforcement of:

  • IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 (mandatory as of January 1, 2026),

  • ICAO Technical Instructions / IATA DGR 2026 for air cargo,

  • UN-aligned battery and hazardous waste classification standards.

Legal Significance

In Asia, carrier and port acceptance criteria effectively set the compliance threshold. Documentation errors or misclassification can result in cargo rejection, storage delays, and contractual liability—even absent domestic statutory changes.

V. Africa — Enforcement Through Trade Practice

A. No Major DG Legislative Changes

No significant DG statutes were enacted across African jurisdictions during this period.

B. Practical Convergence with UN/ADR Norms

Nevertheless, African customs authorities and port operators continue to:

  • Require UN-compliant shipping documentation,

  • Apply IMDG 42-24 standards for maritime shipments,

  • Increase scrutiny of battery, flammable liquid, and waste consignments.

Legal Significance

Although formal legislation may lag, practical enforcement increasingly mirrors UN/ADR standards. Compliance failures may manifest operationally (shipment holds or refusals) rather than through formal citations, but the legal and financial impact remains substantial.

VI. Central & South America — MERCOSUR Stability; National Enforcement Intensifies

A. Regional Framework Remains in Force

No new regional amendments were issued under the MERCOSUR Agreement on the Land Transport of Dangerous Goods, which remains aligned with the UN Model Regulations framework.

B. National-Level Developments

National authorities continue strengthening enforcement under existing frameworks:

  • Argentina: Continued inspection emphasis on battery-powered equipment and vehicles.

  • Brazil: Ongoing clarification under ANTT Resolution 5.998/2022 regarding sodium-ion batteries and updated UN entries.

  • Colombia: Active enforcement of its DG transport registry and reporting obligations.

Legal Significance

While MERCOSUR provides harmonized technical standards, enforcement is increasingly country-specific and inspection-driven. Operators must verify compliance with each nation’s implementing regulations, particularly with respect to documentation and reporting obligations.

VII. Cross-Cutting Themes

Across all jurisdictions during this period, four themes dominate:

  1. Battery Regulation as the Central Regulatory Driver
    Lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery transport continues to command disproportionate regulatory attention.

  2. Hazardous Waste and Reverse Logistics
    Regulators are tightening controls on waste streams, defective goods, and returned DG.

  3. Undeclared DG in E-Commerce Channels
    Parcel networks remain a primary enforcement focus globally.

  4. Harmonization as De Facto Global Law
    UN Model Regulations and ADR-aligned standards increasingly function as the operative international compliance baseline, even where domestic statutes lag.

VIII. Conclusion

For the week of February 11–16, 2026, dangerous goods and hazardous materials transportation law continues to evolve primarily through enforcement, interpretive guidance, and international harmonization, rather than headline legislative reform.

For practitioners, shippers, and IHMM certificants, the prudent course is to treat:

  • PHMSA enforcement priorities,

  • ADR 2025,

  • IMDG Code Amendment 42-24,

  • ICAO/IATA 2026 requirements,

  • and UN Model Regulations principles

as the operative global standard of care.

Documentation accuracy, packaging approvals, training currency, reverse-logistics controls, and battery-handling procedures should be reviewed accordingly.