ADR 2025 & IATA DGR 67th Edition: What Shippers Must Know

Two regulatory clocks govern almost every dangerous goods shipment moving out of Europe: ADR 2025 for carriage by road, and the IATA DGR 67th edition for air freight. ADR 2025 has been fully mandatory since 1 July 2025, and the IATA DGR 67th edition took effect on 1 January 2026 — so if your procedures, templates or training still point at an older text, they are out of date. This guide explains how the two update cycles work, a small number of verified headline changes, and a practical checklist to keep your consignments compliant.

How the ADR update cycle works

ADR (the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) is revised on a two-year cycle and republished as a consolidated text at the start of each odd-numbered year. The current edition, ADR 2025, incorporates the amendments adopted in the previous cycle and applies from 1 January 2025.

The previous edition (ADR 2023) could still be used during a short transitional period, after which the new text became obligatory:

• Applicable from: 1 January 2025.
• Transitional period: the 2023 text could generally still be used until 30 June 2025.
• Mandatory from: 1 July 2025 — from that date, road consignments must follow ADR 2025.

The same cycle applies to the sister regulations RID (rail) and ADN (inland waterways), which are aligned with ADR. Note the terminology carefully: the current road text is ADR 2025 — there is no "ADR 2026." The next scheduled consolidated edition is due in 2027.

How IATA DGR editions work

Air transport moves faster. The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are reissued every year, giving each edition a distinct number. The IATA DGR 67th edition is the current text and became effective on 1 January 2026.

The DGR is IATA's field manual built on the ICAO Technical Instructions, and it captures State and operator variations that can change annually. Because a new edition lands every January, air shippers cannot treat compliance as a one-off exercise — the reference on the shelf has to be checked and, where needed, replaced each year.

What's new: a few headline changes

A full edition change touches many entries; the items below are widely reported headline changes that shippers ask about most. Treat them as pointers, not a substitute for the regulation — always confirm the detail and scope against the current text and with your DGSA.

IATA DGR 67th edition (air)

• Lithium-ion state of charge. The 30% state-of-charge limit for lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own, previously a recommendation, is reported to have become a requirement in the 67th edition; shipping above 30% requires written approval from the State of Origin and the operator's State.
• New hybrid-vehicle entries. New UN3166 entries for hybrid vehicles (flammable gas powered and flammable liquid powered) have been added to help identify and manage those risks.
• Standardized variations. The wording of common State and operator variations (for example excepted and limited quantities, dry ice and hazardous waste) has been standardized for consistency across carriers.
• Data loggers / tracking devices. The exception for data loggers and cargo-tracking devices is reported to have been extended to include certain sodium-ion batteries under specified conditions.

ADR 2025 (road)

• Sodium-ion batteries recognised. ADR 2025 is reported to add dedicated entries for sodium-ion cells and batteries (UN3551 / UN3552) and new vehicle entries (UN3556 / UN3557 / UN3558), with classification code M4 amended to cover them alongside lithium batteries.
• Continued alignment on batteries and classification. Beyond the new entries, the cycle continued the broader themes below — do not assume any single figure without checking.

Across both frameworks, the recurring themes each cycle are the same: lithium (and now sodium-ion) battery provisions, classification updates, documentation, and training. If you cannot confirm a specific "old value to new value" change from the regulation itself, do not act on a summary — verify it against the current text or with your DGSA.

Why using the current edition is a legal requirement

Working to the current edition is not best practice — it is the law. ADR is given legal force through national implementing legislation in each Contracting Party, and once the transitional period ends the previous edition is no longer valid for new consignments. For air, carriers, ground handlers and airports enforce the edition in force; a Shipper's Declaration or Air Waybill prepared to a superseded edition can be rejected, delayed or penalised.

The shipper carries the classification and declaration responsibility. That means the burden of proving the correct current edition was used sits with you — not with the carrier.

Your stay-compliant checklist

Use this whenever an edition changes — and at least annually for air:

1. Know your edition. Confirm you are working to ADR 2025 for road and the IATA DGR 67th edition for air. Replace superseded manuals and PDFs.
2. Retrain staff / update CBTA. Anyone who classifies, packs, marks, labels or documents dangerous goods needs training refreshed against the current text. Refresh your dangerous goods training and CBTA plan.
3. Review classifications and packing instructions. Re-check UN numbers, proper shipping names, packing groups and packing instructions for the products you ship — especially batteries. Our ADR substance lookup and the free tools on our MYDG HUB help you cross-check quickly.
4. Recheck exemptions and thresholds. Confirm your LQ / EQ and ADR 1.1.3.6 assumptions still hold with the 1.1.3.6 exemption calculator.
5. Update SDS and DGD/Shipper's Declaration templates. Align transport information in your safety data sheets and your declaration templates with the current edition.
6. Check labels, marks and placards. Verify that your hazard labels, handling marks and placards match current specifications and are in good stock before you ship.

The role of a DGSA and training

Most undertakings that consign, load, pack or carry dangerous goods by road must appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) under ADR Chapter 1.8.3. The DGSA monitors compliance, advises on the correct edition and its changes, investigates incidents and produces the annual report — in short, the person who keeps your operation aligned with ADR 2025 as it evolves.

Training underpins all of it. For air, IATA has moved to Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA), which focuses on the competencies each function actually needs rather than fixed job categories. Whichever framework applies to you, an edition change is the natural trigger to refresh training records. If you need a named adviser or a training plan, our DGSA consultancy team can help.

Frequently asked questions

When did ADR 2025 come into force?

ADR 2025 applies from 1 January 2025. The previous edition could generally still be used during a transitional period until 30 June 2025, and ADR 2025 became mandatory for road transport of dangerous goods from 1 July 2025. Confirm the exact date against your national implementing legislation, as some specific provisions carry their own transitional measures.

What is the current IATA DGR edition?

The current edition is the IATA DGR 67th edition, effective from 1 January 2026. IATA reissues the Dangerous Goods Regulations every year, so air shippers should verify — and where necessary replace — their reference each January.

Do I have to retrain my staff for a new edition?

Yes, in practice. Anyone who classifies, packs, marks, labels or documents dangerous goods must be trained on the rules currently in force. An edition change is a standard trigger to refresh training and, for air, to update your CBTA records. Your DGSA can confirm what each role needs.

Not sure your procedures reflect ADR 2025 and the IATA DGR 67th edition? Book a compliance review with our DGSA consultancy, refresh your team's dangerous goods training, or contact the MYDG.SHOP team to get started.

By the MYDG.SHOP Dangerous Goods Team — DGSA-certified