Shipping of Biological Materials

Shipment of biological materials is regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) if sent internationally.  Anyone involved in packaging materials, preparing samples for shipping, handling such packages, preparing related paperwork, or signing to authorize shipments must undergo specific shipping training and maintain records of this training.  EHS offers a shipping training module through BioRAFT.  Please contact the biosafety officer (biosafety@dartmouth.edu) for more information and to sign up for the training.  Before shipping hazardous materials, please review Dartmouth's Hazardous Materials Shipping Policy.

If you need assistance in shipping biological materials or if you would like to sign up for the training, please email EHS or call (603) 646-1762.

Please refer to the Shipping Biological Materials Guide for more detailed information.

Use the Classification Flow Chart as a quick reference.

Additional Training Information (including online training options)

• IATA

• Cargo Training

• CargoPak Training

• DOT's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

• Saf-T-Pak Dangerous Goods Training Seminars

Links for Shipping Materials

• Berlin Packaging

• CargoPak

• Exaktpak

• Infekta

• Saf-T-Pak

Permits for the Import or Export of Biological Materials

• Permits for the Import or Export of Biological Materials

Links to Other Resources

• Federal Aviation Administration 

• Department of Transportation

• Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

• Hazardous Materials Advisory Council

• Transport Canada

• International Civil Aviation Organization