The International Air Transport Association has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders across the air cargo supply chain to address the risks associated with undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods.

The association said about 80 per cent of dangerous goods incidents reported in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or concealed hazardous materials, including lithium batteries, e-cigarettes and aerosols.

It said the trend had raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing aviation security screening systems in detecting dangerous goods before they are loaded onto aircraft.

IATA said while security screening remained an important layer of protection, it was not designed to detect all types of dangerous goods and should therefore not be relied upon as the primary solution.

“Dangerous goods are transported safely by air every day. The risk comes when they enter the system undeclared or incorrectly declared. Every part of the supply chain has a role to play in identifying and stopping such incidents as soon as possible.

“Security screening, which is primarily focused on terror threats, is one layer of protection against rogue shippers, but it is not a complete solution. A comprehensive multi-layer approach beginning as far upstream the supply chain as possible is essential,” said IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, Brendan Sullivan.

The association said existing cargo security screening systems were primarily designed to identify explosives and other security threats, rather than the broader range of dangerous goods.

It noted that the existing Dangerous Goods Regulations provide a well-established framework for the safe transport of hazardous materials by air, but said compliance remained a major concern.

IATA made the call in its white paper, Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain, which outlined measures to strengthen controls and prevent undeclared or incorrectly declared dangerous goods from entering the air cargo system.

The association urged governments to improve oversight and enforcement of dangerous goods requirements throughout the cargo supply chain.

It also called on manufacturers and online marketplaces to ensure that dangerous goods are properly identified and certified where required, while providing accurate product information.