IATA, in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), successfully hosted the 3rd joint webinar on 17 June 2026, and the theme was, “Air Mail Safety, Global de Minimis Trend & Radiopharmaceuticals.” The session attracted more than 280 participants from across the airlines, postal operators, and regulatory communities.

The webinar focused on the safe transport of lithium batteries in airmail, which is an increasingly critical issue given the risks associated with these shipments. Experts shared insights on regulatory frameworks, operational challenges, and best practices to enhance safety in the transport of dangerous goods by air.

In addition, discussions highlighted the facilitation of Class 7 (radioactive) materials in air mail, particularly radiopharmaceuticals, emphasizing the need to reduce denial and delays in shipments that are vital for healthcare and cancer treatment.

A key part of the session addressed the global de minimis trend and its implications for air mail flows. Global de minimis is a trade rule that allows low‑value goods imports to a country duty‑free and with simplified customs procedures below a set threshold. Countries worldwide are reassessing their duty-free thresholds, and many jurisdictions are lowering previous limits. Some regions are eliminating duty-free thresholds. Guest speakers exchanged perspectives on implementation challenges and shared experiences on how postal operators and airlines can ensure compliance while maintaining efficient cross-border e-commerce movements.

The webinar underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration to strengthen safety, security, and facilitation in the air mail supply chain. Therefore, please stay tuned for our next webinar in the fourth quarter of this year.