‘Industry needs qualified personnel for Dangerous Goods Handling’

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers shares, “In the realm of Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) cargo handling and transportation, a crucial issue has emerged, casting shadows over the smooth flow of DG goods. Since the implementation of a new format, circulated by IATA, effective from January 1, 2023, institutes and instructors have been awaiting approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct the IATA DGR course. However, the absence of this approval has led to a stalemate, preventing officials of IATA approved freight forwarders/agents from renewing their certificates. Compounding the problem is the imposition of an age limit cap of 70 years for DGR instructors, exacerbating the shortage of qualified personnel in the market. The consequence of this bottleneck is the non-compliance of DGR cargo handling processes for both export and import cargo, potentially disrupting the movement of DG goods through the country. Although the DGCA has assured that approvals will likely be granted by the end of May, the delay has raised concerns among trade associations and bodies. It is imperative for the DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation to swiftly resolve this issue to prevent any adverse impact on the international cargo movement originating from India. The industry remains hopeful that the movement of DGR cargo will not be unduly hampered, as any disruptions would undoubtedly reverberate throughout the broader landscape of international cargo transportation.”