Dangerous goods, called hazardous materials in the US, are strictly governed in the interest of public safety. Different aspects are covered by different agencies. For instance, in the US, transport of dangerous goods is regulated by the Department of Transportation, while manufacturing is regulated by the Department of Labor.

Perhaps the best way to understand what regulations apply to dangerous goods is to break them down by agencies. We will first discuss US agencies and then show how the international agencies affect them. Please click on a US agency below to learn more about them:

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Justice
• Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, US Department of Transportation
• International Fire Code
• National Fire Protection Association
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration, US Department of Labor
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, US Department of Transportation
• US Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce
• US Department of State

International Regulations

International shipping and hazard communication regulations affect most first world countries carrying on international commerce. The purpose is to globally harmonize the regulations of each state (country) so that a shipment remains compliant no matter where it goes. The alternative includes costly modifications of shipment labeling and documentation at each border, as well as complicated computer programming.

International regulations are typically not mandatory until implemented by a country. Anyone doing business in that country is then subject to the regulations of the country, which include those international regulations it has chosen to adopt. In many cases a country may choose to have exceptions to the international rules, maintaining a customized version of the international regulations. A good reason to have variances in different countries is that each may be unique in their market or geographical characteristics. However these exceptions are typically kept to a minimum in order to maximize consistency with the regulations other countries.

International regulations of interest are promulgated by the following bodies:

• United Nations
• International Maritime Organization
• International Civil Aviation Organization
• European Commission

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