Cargo Types

Live Animals (LAR)

Definition

Live Animals Regulations (LAR) are the worldwide standard for transporting live animals by commercial airlines, maintained by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The LAR serves as the essential standard to ship animals in a safe, humane and cost-effective manner, whether it is a pet, an animal transported for zoological or agricultural purposes or for any other reason. The LAR covers animal transport of all kinds and contains comprehensive information about the requirements for protected and endangered species as lab animals, livestock and domestic animals, comprising a comprehensive classification of thousands of animal species along with the container specifications required for their transport. Live animals cannot be entered on the same Air Waybill as other items being shipped and require their own specific Air Waybill that includes a 24-hour emergency contact in the "Handling Information".

Examples

A Lufthansa Cargo shipment AWB 020-12345678 transports thoroughbred racehorses from JFK to FRA using container requirement CR2 specifications with specialized equine containers. A FedEx Express AWB 023-87654321 carries day-old chicks from MEM to CDG in CR20 containers with proper ventilation openings and density limits per bird as specified in the 52nd edition LAR.

Also known as

  • LAR
  • animal cargo
  • livestock air freight
  • IATA Live Animals Regulations
  • pets cargo
  • AVI

Frequently asked questions

What container requirement number applies to wild cats like fishing cats under the 2026 LAR updates?
Container requirement number 82 now applies to all Prionailurus genus species including the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), changed from the previous requirement number 72 in the 52nd edition.
How often are the IATA Live Animals Regulations updated and when do new editions become effective?
The IATA LAR is revised annually by the IATA Live Animals and Perishables Board in light of available scientific evidence and practical experience, with a new edition becoming effective each October 1st and the previous edition becoming obsolete.