IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 67th Edition — available from Dandy Booksellers Australia

This is one of the most common questions we receive: should I buy the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations in print or digital? Both formats are readily available, but they are priced differently and suit different work styles. Here is a clear breakdown of how they compare and which option best fits your team.

Print and Digital: What Is the Same, and What Is Not

Whichever format you choose, you are working from the exact same rules. Both the printed manual and the eDGR contain the full content of the current edition: the same numbered sections, the same packing instructions, and the same Dangerous Goods List.^{[ 1 ]}

Where the two formats part company is what happens during the year. When IATA issues an addendum, the digital edition is updated by IATA, helping ensure you are viewing the latest available text and addenda. A printed book does not change on its own. Any addendum has to be obtained and inserted into the book by hand, and a copy that misses that step is out of date without anyone noticing.^{[ 3 ]} This is the single most useful difference to keep in mind when you choose, and we come back to it below.

The Printed IATA DGR: Regular or Spiral Bound

The printed DGR comes in two binding styles. The regular bound edition has a classic book spine. The spiral bound edition lies flat on the desk and stays open at the page you need, which many handlers prefer when checking entries against shipment paperwork. The content is identical. It is the same regulations, bound two different ways.

A printed copy offers several practical advantages. It can sit on a shared desk and be used by anyone without needing a login, device, or subscription. In busy counters or warehouses, this simplicity and constant availability are hard to beat.

The Digital IATA DGR (eDGR): How It Works

The digital edition is called the eDGR, and IATA delivers it through Bookshelf, its e-Reader platform.^{[ 2 ]} When you order from Dandy Booksellers, we email you a redeem code with instructions. You create a Bookshelf account online, log in, and enter the redeem code to add the IATA DGR to your account. From there you can read it online in a web browser, or install the Bookshelf app on Windows, Mac, iOS or Android to read offline.

Two practical things to know about the redeem code. It can be used only once, and only one code can be entered per Bookshelf account. If you are buying access for several staff, each person will need their own redeem code and their own Bookshelf account.

The biggest day-to-day advantage is speed. The eDGR is fully searchable, so typing a UN number or proper shipping name instantly takes you to the right section. It also receives addenda and editorial corrections digitally during the year, while printed books reflect the content as it stood at the time of printing.^{[ 3 ]} One more change to note: the eDGR has largely replaced the older CD-ROM format that IATA previously offered.

Price and Sharing: The Two Practical Differences

Two key differences often influence the decision: price and sharing. The digital edition is noticeably cheaper than the printed version. However, standard digital licences are generally intended for individual user access. Unlike a printed copy that anyone in the office can pick up, the digital edition is tied to a single login.

If several staff each need their own access, you would order a licence for each of them, or look at a multi-user option. For a single dangerous goods officer working on their own, digital is usually the better value. For a counter or warehouse where the book is shared around, a printed copy often makes more sense.

Which Should You Choose?

Here is a quick guide to help you decide.

Choose print if:

• multiple people need to share the manual through the day
• your team prefers working from paper
• your workspace is not well suited to screens

Choose digital if:

• one person primarily handles dangerous goods compliance
• you value fast searching by UN number or shipping name
• you need access from multiple locations
• you want the earliest possible addenda and updates

Plenty of offices do both. They keep one printed copy at the counter and hold a digital licence for the compliance officer who uses it most.

A note for Australian buyers: printed books are shipped from overseas, so digital delivery by email is usually faster. That matters when a compliance deadline is close.

See also: IATA DGR 67th Edition 2026: What It Is and What Changed, and ICAO Publications Explained.