| 1.4S | Division 1.4 explosive, compatibility group S |
| ADR | European Road Regulations |
| AIR | The Air mode of transport, aka airplane |
| ANPRM | Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| BAM | German acronym for the German federal technical laboratory which is their competent authority for explosives approvals |
| BATFE (ATF) | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |
| CARACAL | CARACAL is an expert group which advises the European Commission and ECHA on questions related to REACH and CLP. It was founded as “European Commission Working Group on the Practical Preparations for REACH” in May 2004. As of September 2007, it was re-named into “REACH Competent Authorities (REACH CA)” and, as of March 2009, into “Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL)”. |
| CEN | Committee on European Normalization |
| CCSF | Certified Cargo Screening Facility |
| CERL | Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory, performs explosive classification testing |
| CFATS | Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CLP | Classification, Labeling & Packaging (EU implementation of GHS) |
| COHMED | Coop. HazMat Enforcement Develop. (fed outreach to state & local) |
| DG | Dangerous Goods (called hazardous materials by US DOT) |
| DGAC | Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (formerly HMAC) |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security |
| DOT | US Department of Transportation |
| EC | European Commission |
| ERD | Explosives Regulatory Division, Canadian regulatory authority |
| ESSB | Explosives Safety & Security Branch, NRCAN; comprised of ERD and CERL, controls explosives in Canada |
| EU | European Union |
| – DG V | Public Health and Safety At Work Directorate |
| – DG VII | Transport Directorate |
| – DG XI | Environment, Nuclear Safety & Civil Protection Directorate |
| FMCSA | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |
| FOID | State of Illinois Firearms Owner Identification Card (FOID), which may be required for drivers transporting ammo. |
| FR | Federal Register |
| GROUND | Road & Rail Modes |
| IAFC | International Association of Fire Chiefs |
| GHS | Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling |
| HM | Hazardous Materials (called dangerous goods in Europe) |
| HMR | Hazardous Materials Regulations – 49 CFR 100-185 |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organization |
| – DGP | Dangerous Goods Panel |
| – TI | Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of DG by Air |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| – Comms WG | ILO Working Group on Chemical Hazard Communication |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization (UN) |
| – DSC | Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers |
| – E&T | Editorial and Technical Group |
| IMDG | International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (by the IMO) |
| IVODGA | International Vessel Operators of Dangerous Goods Association |
| IWGDE | Informal Working Group on Desensitized Explosives |
| LQ | Unofficial acronym for Limited Quantity |
| LTD QTY | Official abbreviation for Limited Quantity on shipping papers where applicable |
| NFPA | National Fire Protection Association |
| NMFC | National Motor Freight Classification |
| NAFTA | North American Free Trade Agreement |
| – LTSS | Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee |
| MODE | Mode of transport. There are 4 regulated modes – Road, Rail, Vessel & Air. |
| NPRM | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| NRCAN | Natural Resources Canada |
| OECD | Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development |
| ORM-D | Other Regulated Material, group D |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| PHMSA | Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration |
| REACH | Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals |
| RAIL | The Rail mode of transport, aka railroad, train |
| RID | European Rail Regulations |
| Road | The Road mode of transport, aka truck, highway |
| SOLAS | Safety of Life At Sea – international convention, among other things impacting firefighting capability requirements for ships carrying dangerous goods unless as Limited Quantities |
| SURFACE | Road, Rail & Water Modes (aka Vessel, Ocean) |
| TDG | Transport of Dangerous Goods |
| UFC | Uniform Fire Code |
| UN | United Nations |
| – ECOSOC | UN Economic and Social Council (umbrella for UNSCETDG & GHS) |
| – UNMR | UN Model Regulations (Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods) |
| – UNSCEGHS | UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods |
| – UNSCEGHS | UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS |
| VESSEL | The Vessel mode of transport, aka ship, water, ocean. Vessel is another name for ship. |
| WHO | World Health Organization |