2006 Regulation Update

An infectious substance is regulated as a hazardous material under the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). The HMR apply to any material DOT determines is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce. An infectious substance must conform to all applicable HMR requirements when offered for transportation or transported by air, highway, rail, or water.

On June 2, 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule on Infectious Substances; Harmonization with the United Nations Recommendations, 49 CFR Parts 171, 172, 173, and 175. The new rule is based on classifying and shipping infectious and biological substances scheme developed by the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, scientists and public health professionals at the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agencies. The new rule is simplified and rationalized to be more appropriate for the transportation environment to reduce the confusion of assigning risk group, thereby increasing the safety. It will also reduce transportation cost of the low-risk materials. In addition, the new rulemaking also provide harmonization with international regulations, such as the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG), which have already adopted the new system. The final rule on Infectious Substances; Harmonization with the United Nations Recommendations , 49 CFR Parts 171, 172, 173, and 175 is effective from October 1, 2006. The changes under the new rules are:

• New classification system

• New and revised definitions

• Revised marking requirements

• Revised packaging requirements

• New shipping paper requirements

• New security plan requirements

• New carriage by aircraft requirements

In describing transport safety measures, the terms "infectious substances" and "infectious materials" are considered to be synonymous. The term "infectious substances" is used in this document.