ORM-D Small Arms Ammunition Shipping Ending in December

62gr 5.56mm Ammo on Stripper Clips
Ammunition shipments will no longer carry the ORM-D label after Dec 31. IMG Jim Grant

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Institute, Inc. (SAAMI) reminds manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers they must discontinue the use of ORM-D labeling for shipping sporting ammunitions via surface transport after Dec. 31, 2020. The change in labeling requirements, rendered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), aligns shipment of sporting ammunition with international standards.

ORM-D — which stands for Other Regulated Materials–group D — labeling was discontinued for air and vessel use in 2011, while its use for highway transport remained. With the final phase-out of this labeling, those businesses that ship sporting ammunition via surface transport modes must now use the new DOT blank limited-quantity mark, seen here, placed on one side of the box.

Firearm industry manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers must ensure that no packages of Sporting ammunition for surface transportation are marked with ORM-D labels after Dec. 31, 2020.

The existing stock already bearing ORM-D labels should be shipped immediately. It is SAAMI’s understanding that DOT ORM-D packages already in transit on Jan. 1, 2021, will be allowed to continue to their destination without being subjected to enforcement. Businesses shipping qualified parcels after Dec. 31, 2020, without the new labels, should expect those shipments to be refused and returned, regardless of the carrier employed for shipment.

In addition to the change in labeling, SAAMI reminds all shippers of ammunition that they and relevant employees are required to have proper DOT hazmat training (49 CFR 172.704) and must use their own experts and legal counsel for decisions made pertaining to the shipping of hazardous materials. More information on that training can be found here. SAAMI also provides transport data sheets for shipment of ammunition as guidance. This website does not constitute training or legal guidance but provides a quick reference with appropriate regulatory citations.


About The National Shooting Sports Foundation

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect, and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org

National Shooting Sports Foundation

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hippybiker

More government Bull Shit! Ammunition according to the DOT was never considered an hazardous material. What this has done by Fiat decision, has opened a door to more Draconian restrictions! But we all know that is the insidious, and evil plan of the Socialist/Communist scum!

Link

If you think ammo is not hazardous then your a moron.
Anything that can explode is a hazard.
The markings are to alert what packages can be dangerous in case of an accident.
As a over the road truck driver I had to deal with this when I had my hazardous material endorsement.

willyd

LINK; your right about the Haz-Mat Endorsement a real P I T A_S extra testing every 4 years to renew as part of your CDL license, I’m glad that I’m retired and out of that rat race, the job just wasn’t fun in the end, with all of the other B/S and regulations, my thought now is if somebody said about being a truckdriver, take the school money and get a little more education and get an office job!!!!!!

RoyT

Yup – you’re right. Just look at Table 172.101 of Title 49, link below and scroll down to cartridges, small arms – 1.4S, UN0014
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/172.101

Last edited 3 years ago by RoyT
RoyT

hippybiker – yes it is. Refer to 49 CFR, Table 172.101 – look up cartridges, small arms – its classified as an ORM-D… ORM-Ds are hazardous material but reclassified as ORM-D because they meet the exception of 66 pounds and packaged for consumer use.

Link

To the stupid people who want to cry about this, you have no clue.
Go read the story. If you can understand what you read.
It’s to make all shipping uniform across the board.
That makes it easier for the shippers, receivers and must important, the drivers.
As a truck driver who used to do hazardous material loads having more uniform rules makes the job easier.
This will not effect end user and manufacture and shippers have had lots of time to prepare for this and switch over.

RoyT

Correct. See my post above. ORM-Ds are only for domestic shipments. Therefore, if company A ships the package marked ORM-D to company B, and company B wants to export the package outside the USA, they have to repackage the shipment as a Limited Quantity (with like marking) since ORM-Ds are only for “D”omestic shipments. Spot on!

Grigori

“It is SAAMI’s understanding that DOT ORM-D packages already in transit on Jan. 1, 2021, will be allowed to continue to their destination without being subjected to enforcement.”

Just think, if USPS handled ammo shipments, there might be packages still in transit this time next year, bearing the old labeling.

RoyT

NO KIDDING. IT TOOK ME LITERALLY A MONTH TO GET A PACKAGE SHIPPED 2 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE VIA USPS.

RoyT

Here’s a simple “formal” dumb-downed version of what’s changing.
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2020-12/ORM-D%20Phase-Out%20Poster.pdf

RoyT

Read this. Go to 173.63 – https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/01/19/2010-33324/hazardous-materials-harmonization-with-the-united-nations-recommendations-international-maritime
(b) Limited quantities of Cartridges, small arms, and cartridges power devices. (1)(i) Cartridges, small arms, and Cartridges power device (used to project fastening devices), that have been classed as Division 1.4S explosive may be offered for transportation and transported as limited quantities when packaged in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

RoyT

Ammoland states, “which stands for Other Regulated Materials–group D”. The “D” stands for domestic shipment. The ORM-D HM (Hazmat)designation can only be used for shipments that are domestic, nothing coming in or out of the country (inter-continental) can use that DOT marking. The reason it is being removed from being a valid descriptor of any HM is because an ORM-D is a DOT limited quantity of HM that is also “packaged for consumer use”. If its not packaged for consumer use, it is simply a “Limited Quantity” or LTD QTY shipment – provided the cartridges do not exceed 66 pounds.… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by RoyT
DarryH

what does this mean to individuals who ship ammo???

Link

Nothing if your under the set point.
It’s more for the transportation industry

Finnky

@Link – So what is the set point? I’ve never shipped ammo and am unlikely to do so beyond personal carry quantities. Is limit by count, overall weight, weight of certain components, or “it depends”. My guess i# the last option as primers are more hazardous than loaded rounds or even powder.

RoyT

66 pounds per package – but it still needs to be marked with a limited quantity (LTD QTY) marking. See here: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/172.315

RoyT

Not really. If anyone ships hazardous material (cartridges, hazard class, 1.4s specifically) it applies to you (as a company or an individual – it is the shippers responsibility under law to ensure the package is properly marked, labeled, and packaged in accordance with 49 CFR) because the cartridges (which were an ORM-D) are now Limited Quantities by definition – (see 49 CFR 173.63) and must ensure you have the Limited Quantity marking on the package and be under 66 pounds per package. Marking required see here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/172.315

Last edited 3 years ago by RoyT
nobodyuknow

More government Bovine Scatology!!!

RoyT

All that has changed is a marking on the box. Everything else stays the same. Just marking the package with the “Limited Quantity” marking and make sure the box is under 66 lbs and you are pretty much set for small arms cartridges.