Which of the following substances are considered high consequence dangerous goods?

• A. Category A
• B. Category B
• C. Exempt Human Specimens
• D. Genetically modified organisms/microorganisms

Answer: (A)

High consequence dangerous goods are the items that pose the greatest risk if they are mishandled during transport and therefore require the strictest controls. In the infectious substances framework, Category A includes materials that, if exposure occurs, could cause a life-threatening or severely disabling disease in healthy humans or animals. Because of this potential impact, shipments of Category A infectious substances must meet the highest safety standards, including specific packaging, labeling, documentation, and trained personnel requirements. That’s why this option is the best fit for “high consequence.”

Category B substances are infectious but do not meet the more stringent criteria of Category A, so they carry less risk and correspondingly less stringent packaging and handling. Exempt human specimens are not regulated as dangerous goods in many cases, so they aren’t considered high consequence DG under the infectious substances framework. Genetically modified organisms or microorganisms may be subject to biosafety rules and other regulatory regimes, but they aren’t automatically classified as high consequence dangerous goods for transport in the same way Category A infectious substances are.