DGAC's 30 Greatest Accomplishments

#4 DGAC Gains Official Observer Status at the United Nations

A Global Community
Even 35 years ago, when DGAC was operating as HMAC under the aegis of the Transportation Association of America, globalization and harmonization were hot topics.

In today's multinational, global culture, being able to operate within the international arena is even more important.

DGAC has the distinction of having official observer status at the ECOSOC Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG), the ECOSOC Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System, and the ECOSOC Committee of Experts on the TDG and on the GHS. Learn more online here.

DGAC was the first North American-based organization to earn this coveted recognition, and this status has been instrumental to our global presence over the past three decades.

DGAC also enjoys advisory status at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The North American Impact
"There was no real North American industry representation in the UN other than through the US government in the 1970s," said Andy Altemos, who served as International Standards Coordinator for DOT at the time. European industry had several organizations championing their causes, and HMAC stepped in to fill that void for North America.

Altemos now serves as a DGAC delegate, representing the interests of DGAC members in the international arena. A regular presence in UN meetings, DGAC has come a long way from HMAC’s first tentative steps towards recognition in the 1970s.

When HMAC set out to gain official observer status at the UN there were many hurdles to overcome. Luckily, DGAC had a champion in the form of Alan Roberts. Roberts was Associate Director for Hazardous Materials Regulation in DOT at the time, and he made pitch for the HMAC delegation to gain official observer status at the UN.

Due in part to his efforts and the recognized expertise of the HMAC delegation, HMAC gained consultative status August 14, 1978 in a meeting of the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. View the Rapporteurs Report from that meeting. Item number 17 discusses the acceptance of HMAC. HMAC delegates offered comments on testing tank containers later on in that very meeting (see item #67).

HMAC's entrance into the proceedings at the UN made a difference in terms of access for many companies, who still enjoy that access today. In those early days, DOT officials offered guidance to HMAC delegates in order to assist in their initial interactions with the international forum. The close relationship that was fostered then continues today, as many former and retired DOT officials have worked for DGAC or been associated with the organization at some point after departing the government.

Room to Grow
With the ever-increasing push for harmonization on a global scale, having a voice internationally is important. DGAC members have the opportunity to serve on a delegation, comment on issue papers, and review reports of the UN meetings that DGAC attends. Companies cannot afford to ignore what is happening in the global arena, as those changes often presage changes domestically.

Members can learn more about international issues through INTEREC, DGACs International Regulations Committee. For non-members interested in learning more about DGAC membership, click here.