The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged stakeholders in the air cargo supply chain to collaborate more effectively to address the risks associated with undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods. According to IATA, about 80 per cent of dangerous goods incidents reported in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden hazardous materials. This development has raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing aviation security screening processes.
IATA's Global Head of Cargo, Brendan Sullivan, emphasized that security screening, primarily focused on terror threats, is not a complete solution to the problem. He stressed that a comprehensive multi-layer approach, beginning as far upstream in the supply chain as possible, is essential to identifying and stopping incidents. IATA noted that existing cargo security screening systems are primarily designed to detect explosives and other security threats, rather than the full range of dangerous goods.
The association highlighted that well-established Dangerous Goods Regulations provide a framework for the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air, but compliance remains a major concern. To address this issue, IATA has released a white paper, Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain, which outlines measures to strengthen controls and prevent undeclared or incorrectly declared dangerous goods from entering the air cargo system.
IATA is urging governments to strengthen oversight and enforcement of dangerous goods requirements across the cargo supply chain. The association is also calling on manufacturers and online marketplaces to ensure that dangerous goods are correctly identified and certified where necessary, while ensuring that product information is accurate. This includes providing clear and accurate information about the contents of shipments.
Shippers, freight forwarders, and postal operators are 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 urges airlines and ground handlers to strengthen checks before cargo is loaded onto aircraft. This will help prevent incidents involving undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods.
The association believes that addressing the risks requires a coordinated approach involving all stakeholders, rather than relying solely on airport security screening. IATA's call comes amid discussions among regulators on the role of existing aviation security screening processes in preventing dangerous goods incidents. The measures outlined in its white paper aim to ensure that hazardous materials are properly declared and handled before entering the air transport system.
By implementing these measures, IATA aims to reduce the risks associated with concealed or incorrectly declared cargo. The association's efforts are focused on ensuring that the air cargo supply chain is safe and secure, and that all stakeholders are working together to prevent incidents. This will help to protect people, aircraft, and the environment from the risks posed by undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods.
Key points
- IATA reports that 80 per cent of dangerous goods incidents in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden hazardous materials.
- The association is calling for a comprehensive multi-layer approach to identifying and stopping incidents involving undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods.
- IATA's white paper outlines measures to strengthen controls and prevent undeclared or incorrectly declared dangerous goods from entering the air cargo system.
