I. United States — PHMSA and Federal Regulatory Initiatives
A. Harmonization NPRM Advances
During this period, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) advanced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to align more closely with international standards. The proposal would:
Revise proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, and special provisions in the Hazardous Materials Table (§ 172.101) to reflect changes in the 2025–2026 ICAO Technical Instructions and Amendment 42-24 of the IMDG Code;
Amend packaging authorizations, vessel stowage requirements, and air transport quantity limits consistent with international norms;
Introduce new entries for sodium-ion batteries (UN 3551, 3552) and improved emergency-response information for UN 3536 (battery energy storage systems); and
Align stowage and construction provisions for certain compressed gases and novel substances.
- IHMM is drafting comments on this proposed regulation at this writing.
This NPRM, if finalized, would (i) modernize U.S. DG transport law under 49 C.F.R. Parts 171–180, (ii) reduce friction for international multimodal shipping, and (iii) better integrate U.S. requirements with UN Model Regulations, ICAO TI, IMDG, and other principal DG instruments.
Legal import: Although not yet final, parties handling cross-border DG consignments should begin evaluating these proposed harmonization changes for impacts on classification tables, lithium/sodium-ion battery entries, packaging, emergency response information, and stowage criteria.
B. ANPRM on Spacecraft HAZMAT
PHMSA also published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking feedback on updating the HMR to address the transportation of hazardous materials associated with spaceflight operations. This initiative acknowledges the increasing movement of spacecraft components and volatile propellants by road, rail, and vessel to spaceports and recovery sites.
Legal import: Although preliminary, this reflects PHMSA’s recognition that traditional DG frameworks must evolve to address emerging transport modalities such as space launch support logistics.
C. Important News — Aircraft DG Rules 2026
In related aviation news, new Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules 2026 are being widely circulated and interpreted by carriers and shippers. These emphasize safe stowage, contamination control (including radioactive materials), and emergency segregation of incompatible DG aboard aircraft — all consistent with ICAO and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations.
II. Europe — ADR 2025 Enforcement and Agricultural Exemptions
A. ADR 2025 Enforcement Continues
Across ADR Contracting Parties, enforcement of ADR 2025 remains in full effect. National competent authorities are reinforcing compliance, particularly with respect to:
Classification and packaging of lithium/sodium-ion battery consignments;
Transport documentation, marking, and placarding; and
Packaging and segregation requirements for hazardous waste and asbestos.
No new treaty amendments were adopted during the week, but authorities continue to issue interpretive guidance and inspection alerts consistent with the UNECE ADR regime.
B. UK CDG Exemption Retained
In related European news, the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) exemptions for agricultural transport — allowing farmers to move fuel and fertilizers under certain conditions — remain in force after coordinated stakeholder engagement with industry and enforcement partners.
Legal import: This preserves operational flexibility for agricultural operators while emphasizing the continued relevance of CDG frameworks in EU/UK road transport law.
III. Asia — International Standards Enforcement and Carrier Practices
A. IMDG 42-24 and ICAO/IATA 2026 Standards in Effect
In Asia, no major new domestic DG statutes were promulgated during this period. However, carrier and port enforcement of:
IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 (mandatory as of January 1, 2026); and
ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA DGR 2026 (effective January 1, 2026)
has continued to intensify, particularly for battery shipments, hazardous waste, and high-consequence DG. Industry commentary notes that significant battery-related updates — including lithium state-of-charge limits — are being enforced by air carriers as part of the 2026 DGR suite.
Legal import: Asian shippers must ensure that air and sea freight bookings reflect the 2026 DGR and IMDG standards, including updated UN entries and special provisions to avoid rejection or carrier denial of hazardous cargo.
B. Safety News — Road Tanker Blast and Calls for Reform
In Ghana, a road tanker explosion near Nsawam prompted the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to call for strengthened safety protocols across bulk oil and hazard transport operators, including enhanced training, loading practices, and vehicle maintenance standards.
Legal import: Even where no new regulation is promulgated, such high-impact incidents often lead to enforcement reviews, revision of licensing conditions, and potential rulemaking proposals at national transport agencies.
IV. Africa — Practice-Led Convergence and Operational Expectations
A. Ongoing Practical Alignment
No African DG regulatory changes were published this week. However, ports and customs authorities continue to:
Enforce documentation consistent with UN classification and numbering;
Apply IMDG 42-24 maritime container and segregation protocols; and
Increase desktop and physical inspections of high-risk battery and waste consignments.
Legal import: As in prior reporting periods, African jurisdictions continue to de facto transfer global standards into practice, even absent new legislation; contractual risk and carrier acceptance policies are increasingly aligned with ADR/UN expectations.
V. Central & South America — Regional Baselines and National Enforcement
A. MERCOSUR DG Regime Stable
The MERCOSUR Agreement on the Land Transport of Dangerous Goods (as modernized by CMC Decision 15/2019) remains the regional DG framework, with no new regional amendments reported this week. Its provisions continue to be interpreted in alignment with the UN Model Regulations.
B. National Enforcement and Reporting in Focus
National authorities continue active enforcement under existing laws:
Argentina: Targeted inspection of battery-powered equipment and vehicles;
Brazil: Enforcement clarifications for sodium-ion battery entries under ANTT Resolution 5.998/2022; and
Colombia: Continued enforcement of the DG transport registry, with reporting and traceability obligations operational.
Legal import: While MERCOSUR provides harmonized technical benchmarks, compliance risk is increasingly driven by national implementation practice and enforcement priorities.
VI. Cross-Cutting Compliance Themes
Across regions for this period, four themes predominate:
PHMSA Harmonization Efforts — U.S. federal regulatory modernization is actively aligning DG law with international standards, affecting everything from battery classification to packaging and stowage.
International Standards Enforced Operationally — Carriers and ports worldwide are applying IMDG 42-24 and IATA DGR 2026 without transitional exceptions.
Incident-Driven Safety Reform — Safety events such as tanker explosions spur enforcement pressure and potential regulatory review.
Regulatory Practice Outpacing Statute — In multiple regions, practice and carrier policy now embody UN/ADR principles irrespective of legislative changes.
VII. Conclusion
For the week of February 17-23, 2026, dangerous goods and hazardous materials transportation law is characterized by harmonization initiatives, enforcement rigour, international standard implementation, and incident-driven attention to operational safety rather than by discrete regulatory enactments.
Practitioners should treat:
PHMSA’s harmonization NPRM as a signal of impending alignment with ICAO/IATA, IMDG, and UN standards;
The mandatory application of IMDG 42-24 and IATA DGR 2026 as the operative transport compliance floor;
National enforcement practice as a driver of real-world compliance risk; and
Carrier acceptance policies as functionally determinative for many DG shipments.
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