In simple terms, dangerous goods are items or substances that can pose a risk to people, property, or the environment when transported by air. These include things like flammable liquids, explosives, toxic chemicals, and certain batteries. Because of these risks, airlines follow strict international regulations to ensure safety during air travel.
ICAO Annex 18, titled “The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air,” is one of the 19 annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization (Chicago Convention). It sets out the international safety standards and recommended practices (SARPs) for transporting dangerous goods by air. The document provides the following helpful definitions:
Dangerous goods
"Articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment and which are shown in the list of dangerous goods in the Technical Instructions or which are classified according to those Instructions."
Link to ICAO Annex 18 Definitions here.
