The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for stronger, collaborative action across the air cargo supply chain, with a multilayered approach, to counter the risks posed by undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods.
“Well-established dangerous goods regulations enable their safe passage by air,” IATA said. “Yet, a significant number of incidents involving dangerous goods – some 80% – reported to IATA in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden dangerous goods. Lithium batteries and other concealed hazardous commodities, such as undeclared e-cigarettes and aerosols, were among the products most commonly identified.”
Part of the problem, IATA says, is that existing cargo security screening systems were designed primarily to detect explosives and other security threats, not the full range of dangerous goods.
In its Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain white paper, IATA recommends a multilayered approach to combatting undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods, calling on governments, manufacturers, shippers, airports, airlines and ground handlers to strengthen oversight and ensure correct identification. Airports are being called on to improve coordination and information sharing across the cargo community.
The call comes amid discussions among regulators on the role of existing aviation security screening processes as a key line of defense. IATA stresses that security screening is an important layer of protection but not a primary solution.
In related news, Malaysia calls for more training to deal with dangerous air cargo
