What items are classified as special cargo for the purpose of ground handling operations?

Pharmaceutical products, live animals, perishable items, wet cargo, human remains, oversized and/or heavy items, and any other items that require special handling and/or transport.

Are live animals considered special cargo under the EASA ground handling rules?

Yes, live animals are explicitly listed as special cargo.

Does the definition of special cargo include human remains?

Yes, human remains are listed as a category of special cargo.

Is wet cargo included in the list of special cargo items?

Yes, wet cargo is explicitly listed as special cargo.

Are oversized and/or heavy items considered special cargo?

Yes, oversized and/or heavy items are listed as special cargo.

Does the special cargo list include perishable items?

Yes, perishable items are listed as special cargo.

Are pharmaceutical products considered special cargo?

Yes, pharmaceutical products are listed as special cargo.

GM1 GH.OPS.505 Handling of special cargo, other than dangerous goods

Q: What is the scope of the 'any other items' category in the special cargo list?

It covers any other items that require special handling and/or transport.

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GM1 GH.OPS.505 Handling of special cargo, other than dangerous goods

ED Decision 2025/007/R

SPECIAL CARGO

The following items are considered special cargo:

(a) pharmaceutical products,

(b) live animals,

(d) wet cargo,

(e) human remains,

(f) oversized and/or heavy items,

(g) any other items that require special handling and/or transport.

[1] The published date represents the date when the consolidated version of the EAR book was generated.

[2] Euro-Lex, Important Legal Notice: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/content/legal-notice/legal-notice.html.

[3] This is the earliest date of application (i.e. the date from which an act or a provision in an act produces its full legal effects) as defined in the relevant cover regulation article. Some provisions of the regulations though may be applicable at a later date (deferred applicability). Besides, there may be some opt-outs (derogations from certain provisions) notified by the Member States.

[4] OJ L 212, 22.8.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1139/oj.

[5] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20 of 19 December 2024 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down requirements for the safe provision of ground handling services and for organisations providing them (OJ L, 2025/20, 7.3.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/20/oj).

[6] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/opinions/opinion-no-012024.

[7] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1645 of 14 July 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards requirements for the management of information security risks with a potential impact on aviation safety for organisations covered by Commission Regulations (EU) No 748/2012 and (EU) No 139/2014 and amending Commission Regulations (EU) No 748/2012 and (EU) No 139/2014 (OJ L 248, 26.9.2022, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2022/1645/oj).

[8] Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation, amending Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 1321/2007 and
(EC) No 1330/2007 (OJ L 122, 24.4.2014, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/376/oj).

[9] Easy Access Rules for Occurrence Reporting (Regulation (EU) No 376/2014) - Revision from December 2022 - Available in pdf & online format | EASA.

[10] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/203 of 27 October 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards requirements for the management of information security risks with a potential impact on aviation safety for organisations covered by Commission Regulations (EU) No 1321/2014, (EU) No 965/2012, (EU) No 1178/2011, (EU) 2015/340, Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/373 and (EU) 2021/664, and for competent authorities covered by Commission Regulations (EU) No 748/2012, (EU) No 1321/2014, (EU) No 965/2012, (EU) No 1178/2011,
(EU) 2015/340 and (EU) No 139/2014, Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/373 and (EU) 2021/664 and amending Commission Regulations (EU) No 1178/2011, (EU) No 748/2012, (EU) No 965/2012, (EU) No 139/2014, (EU) No 1321/2014, (EU) 2015/340, and Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/373 and (EU) 2021/664 (OJ L 31, 2.2.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/203/oj).

[11] The criteria have been published by the Commission (see European Commission, ‘What are “good practices”?’, European Commission website, 13 October 2021, accessed 7 April 2025, https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/page/what-are-good-practices_en) for a different purpose, but they can be extrapolated to this domain.

[12] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2117 of 12 October 2023 laying down the necessary rules and detailed requirements for the functioning and management of a repository of information pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2023/2117, 13.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2117/oj).

[13] OJ L 212, 22.8.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1139/oj.

[14] Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 of 5 October 2012 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 296, 25.10.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/965/oj).

[15] Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 of 12 February 2014 laying down requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 44, 14.2.2014, p. 1,
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/139/oj).

[16] Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 of 26 November 2014 on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks (OJ L 362, 17.12.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1321/oj).

[17] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/opinions/opinion-no-012024.

[18] OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2016/512/oj.

[19] Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation, amending Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 1321/2007 and (EC) No 1330/2007 (OJ L 122, 24.4.2014, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/376/oj).

[20] Balk, A. D. and Bossenbroek, J. W., Aircraft Ground Handling and Human Factors, NLR-CR-2010-125, Netherlands Aerospace Centre: Air Transport Safety Institute, Amsterdam, 2010, https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/Aircraft-Ground-Handling-and-Human-Factors-NLR-final-report.pdf.

[21] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1645 of 14 July 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards requirements for the management of information security risks with a potential impact on aviation safety for organisations covered by Commission Regulations (EU) No 748/2012 and (EU) No 139/2014 and amending Commission Regulations (EU) No 748/2012 and (EU) No 139/2014 (OJ L 248, 26.9.2022, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2022/1645/oj).

[22] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 of 26 September 2012 laying down the common rules of the air and operational provisions regarding services and procedures in air navigation and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1035/2011 and Regulations (EC) No 1265/2007, (EC) No 1794/2006, (EC) No 730/2006, (EC) No 1033/2006 and (EU) No 255/2010 (OJ L 281, 13.10.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2012/923/oj).

[23] Balk, A. D., Boland, E. J., Nabben, A. C., Bossenbroek, J. W., Clifton-Welker, N. et al., Ramp Resource Management Training Syllabus Development, NLR-TR-2012-483, Netherlands Aerospace Centre: Air Transport Safety Institute, Amsterdam, 2012, RRM training syllabus supporting document NLR-TR-2012-483-tr | EASA.

[24] European Civil Aviation Conference, Code of good conduct in ground handling for persons with reduced mobility, 2003, https://www.ecac-ceac.org/images/documents/ECAC_Code_of_Conduct_Ground_Handling_for_Persons_with_Reduced_Mobility_2003.pdf.

[25] ECAC.CEAC DOC 30, Part I, ECAC Policy Statement In The Field Of Civil Aviation Facilitation, 2023, 13th edition, https://www.ecac-ceac.org/images/activities/facilitation/ECAC-Doc_30_Part_I_Facilitation_13th_edition_13_Dec_2023.pdf.

Details

Source-Title: GM1 GH.OPS.505 Handling of special cargo, other than dangerous goods View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-23483 Compare versions

Domain: Ground Handling

Amendedby: Issue 1

Applicabilitydate: 27 March, 2028

Entryintoforcedate: 8 July, 2025

Regulatorysource: ED Decision 2025/007/R Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Part-GH.OPS

Typeofcontent: GM to DR

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR