IMDG Code Amendment 42-24: Errata and Corrigenda

Overview of Amendment 42-24 December 2025 Corrections

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued an errata and corrigenda to the 2024 Edition, Amendment 42-24. While many of the changes are editorial in nature, several updates warrant immediate attention from dangerous goods professionals, particularly those responsible for classification, documentation, and lithium battery compliance.

Updated References to GHS and UN Manual of Tests and Criteria

In Part 1, Chapter 1.2, the definition of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) has been updated to reflect the eleventh revised edition, replacing the previous reference to Revision 9. Similarly, the reference to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria has been updated from the seventh revised edition to the eighth revised edition, including Amendment 1. These updates ensure the IMDG Code remains harmonized with the most current UN publications that underpin classification and testing requirements worldwide.

Technical Corrections to Organic Peroxides

Within Part 2, Class 5 provisions, a notable technical correction was made to the list of currently assigned organic peroxides in packaging. The word “Note:” was removed at the beginning of the relevant paragraph, and for UN 3105 METHYL ETHYL KETONE PEROXIDE(S), the packing method has been corrected from OP8 to OP7. Although subtle, this change is operationally significant for those preparing or reviewing organic peroxide shipments.

Packing and Tank Provision Revisions

Part 4 includes several packing and tank provision corrections. In Packing Instruction P208, paragraph (13)(r) now correctly refers to the “filling of this gas” rather than the “filling ratio of this gas,” clarifying the intent of the requirement. In IBC Instruction 520 for UN 3119 organic peroxides, entries were reordered alphabetically and associated temperature and capacity data aligned accordingly. Additionally, Portable Tank Instruction T50 was revised to remove “(kg/L)” from the maximum filling ratio column, and the proper shipping description for UN 1010 was simplified to “Butadienes and hydrocarbon mixture, stabilized.” These adjustments improve technical accuracy and consistency across tank instructions.

Documentation and Marking Corrections

Several important housekeeping edits appear in Part 5. The marine pollutant marking note in 5.3.2.3.2 now correctly references “1 January 2017,” replacing the previous “1st January 2017.” In the dangerous goods description requirements at 5.4.1.4.1.5, the wording was refined to specify “the packing group for the substance,” removing the previous reference to “substance or article.” While minor, this reinforces correct documentation language.

Operational and Segregation Updates

Operational provisions in Part 7 also received corrections. In the segregation provisions for Class 1 goods, the final sentence now correctly uses the plural term “units.” Additionally, a cross-reference in the incident response provisions was corrected from “7.3.2.6” to “7.8.2.6,” ensuring users are directed to the proper emergency guidance.

Lithium Battery and Special Provision Updates

Volume 2 includes updates that lithium battery shippers should review carefully. In Special Provision 188, the definition sentence for “equipment” was relocated to improve clarity and logical flow. Special Provision 328 now specifies “UN 3552 SODIUM ION BATTERIES CONTAINED IN EQUIPMENT, with organic electrolyte,” an important clarification as sodium-ion battery transport requirements continue to develop. Special Provision 400 was also corrected to reference 5.2.1.10 rather than 5.2.1.9.

Why These Corrections Matter

Finally, several index entries for tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solutions were cleaned up by removing unnecessary “, see” references. While purely editorial, these changes improve usability when navigating the Code.

Although many of the corrections are subtle, they reinforce the importance of working from the most current IMDG text. Even small wording changes can affect classification decisions, packing method selection, and documentation accuracy.

Shippers, freight forwarders, and dangerous goods professionals should ensure their internal procedures, training materials, and compliance reviews are updated to reflect Amendment 42-24 as corrected.

If you have questions about how these updates may impact your operations, contact our team for guidance.