What Are Dangerous Goods and How Do You Ship Them?

Shipping seemingly harmless items such as hair sprays, nail polish, perfume, and battery-operated toys carry a significant risk. These items are classified as dangerous goods and require compliance with various international regulations. Continue reading to learn more about shipping dangerous goods.

1. Dangerous goods meaning and 9 classifications

What is DG cargo?

Dangerous goods (DG cargo), also known as hazardous materials or hazmat, are substances that may pose a risk to people’s health, safety, property, and the environment if mishandled. They can be explosive, flammable, toxic, radioactive, or corrosive. Therefore, the sourcing, packaging, shipping, and storing of dangerous goods must strictly comply with dangerous goods regulations and rules to prevent accidents.

Manage Dangerous Goods Classification

In international transit, there are 9 classes of dangerous goods, which are classified according to the dangerous level and the major danger of hazardous materials. And this part contains a lot of content, you can jump to the following dangerous class you want to know.

Explosives
Gases
Flammable liquids
Flammable solids
Oxidize substances & organic peroxides
Toxins and infectious substances
Radioactive material
Corrosives
Miscellaneous dangerous goods

Class 1: Explosives

Explosives are materials or items that have the ability to produce violent chemical reactions, instantly producing a large amount of gas and heat, causing a sharp rise in surrounding pressure, and potentially exploding, causing damage to the surrounding environment from high temperatures, pressures, and impacts.

Common examples include fireworks, igniters, ammunition/cartridges, and fuses.

Class 2: Gases

When gases are heated, impacted, or strongly vibrated, the pressure in the container can increase sharply, causing the container to rupture and explode. This can also cause the cylinder valve to loosen and leak gas, leading to fire or poisoning accidents. Gases can be compressed, liquefied, dissolved, refrigerated, or mixed, and can come in aerosol dispensers or articles containing gas.

Common examples include hair spray, sunscreen spray, fire extinguishers, and insecticide gases.

Class 3: Flammable liquids

Flammable liquid refers to a liquid or mixture of liquids that emit flammable vapor at its flash point temperature, or a liquid containing solid substances in solution or suspension. The volatile vapors can cause combustion and explosion, and can even enter the human body through the skin, digestive tract, and respiratory tract, resulting in corrosion and poisoning.

Common Examples: paints, varnishes, alcohols, perfumes, superglue, gasoline, and petrol.

Class 4: Flammable solids

Common Examples: paints, varnishes, alcohols, perfumes, superglue, gasoline, and petrol.

Class 5: Oxidize substances & organic peroxides

This type of hazardous material refers to substances that are highly oxidized with strong oxidizing properties, which can easily release oxygen and heat upon decomposition. They can form explosive mixtures with soft powder combustibles and are sensitive to heat, vibration, or friction, even if they are not always combustible on their own.

Common examples: bleach, potassium permanganate solution, and laundry detergent, among others.

Class 6: Toxins and infectious substances

Toxic substances are those that can cause changes in body fluids and tissues, disrupting or damaging normal physiological functions. They can enter the body through swallowing, inhalation, or skin contact, and can cause temporary or permanent pathological conditions, or even death.

The definition of toxic substances is relative, as they enter the body in small doses and can cause health damage through chemical or physical effects. Infectious substances, on the other hand, contain microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause diseases in humans or animals.

Common Examples: of toxic substances include ratsbane, arsenic, and pesticides, while COVID-19 vaccines and living organs are not toxic substances.

Class 7: Radioactive material

Radioactive materials are substances that contain radionuclides with a specific activity of more than 74×104 Bq/kg. These materials naturally emit energy and rays that are invisible and cannot be felt by humans. However, exposure to radioactive materials can lead to radiation sickness and even death.

Radioactive materials and radiotherapy equipment are frequently used in medical and industrial settings.

Common Examples: radium, uranium, and radioactive developer.

Class 8: Corrosives

Corrosive products are solids or liquids that have the potential to cause harm to human tissue, as well as damage to metal and other materials. Contact with corrosives can result in visible skin necrosis within a span of 4 hours. Additionally, if 20# steel is exposed to corrosives at a temperature of 55C, it can experience an average annual corrosion rate of more than 6.25mm.

Common Examples: 84 disinfectant, paint, medical thermometers, batteries, tetc.

Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous goods

With the exception of the 8 hazardous goods classes listed above, all other hazardous substances and products are classified as “Miscellaneous dangerous goods.” These may include substances that are magnetic, narcotic, toxic, or possess other properties that could potentially compromise flight safety and cause discomfort to passengers during transit.

Common Examples: phones, lithium batteries, airbags, dry ice, and ammonium nitrate fertilizers, among others.

Note: Certain hazardous classes contain sub-divisions, such as class 2 which is divided into three categories: flammable gases, non-flammable non-toxic gases, and toxic gases. It can sometimes be difficult to determine which category your dangerous goods fall under, so you may want to consider consulting with a professional testing institution for assistance.

2. Dangerous goods regulations

The dangerous goods regulations establish guidelines for the safe and efficient transportation of DG cargo via different modes of transportation. These regulations are developed by international organizations and local authorities, based on recommendations provided by the United Nations (UN).

Sea Transport

If you are shipping DG cargo by sea, it is important to ensure that your shipments comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). The IMDG Code is an international code that regulates the maritime transportation of dangerous goods in packaged form, with the aim of ensuring safe shipping and preventing marine pollution. This code is adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

It is worth noting that most international dangerous goods shipments are transported via sea, which is a cost-effective and safe option with relatively few regulations and handling restrictions.

Air Transport

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association that focuses on making air traffic businesses profitable, safe, and efficient. It sets standards such as DGR for its member airlines. If you are shipping DG cargo via IATA’s member airlines, your dangerous goods must comply with IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has established standards for DG cargo transported by air. For example, if your DG cargo is being shipped from China to the US by air and you encounter any shipping regulation disputes with China or the US, you can seek assistance from ICAO to help resolve the issue.

Express Transport

In addition to air and sea transport, some express shipping companies also accept dangerous goods. However, these companies must comply with both international and national regulations when transporting DG cargo.

It is important to note that express companies, such as FedEx and UPS, have their own regulations for dangerous goods shipments. It is important to understand that not all express companies will ship the same categories of dangerous goods.

In addition to understanding the international dangerous goods regulations, it is important to familiarize yourself with local government regulations as well. For example, if you are shipping from China, it is important to pay attention to the Chinese port you choose. Many Chinese ports accept some DG classes but ban others. For example, while you can ship dangerous goods of class 8 and 9 from Tianjin port, for classes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, you will need to use other ports like Shanghai port.

Given the complexity of DG cargo shipments, it is recommended that you consult with your freight forwarder or sourcing agent for guidance.

3. What are UN number, proper shipping name, packaging group?

When packaging, labeling, or preparing customs declaration documents for hazardous materials, there are three things you’ll need to keep in mind.

UN Number

An UN number, also known as a United Nations number, is a four-digit number that ranges from 0004 to 3548. It is assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and can be found in the Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, also known as the UN Orange Book. It identifies hazardous materials like:

UN1490 – Potassium permanganate
UN1993 – Flammable liquids
UN 0009 – Ammunition, incendiary
UN 3090 – Lithium batteries

Proper Shipping Name

The Proper Shipping Name is the name that accurately describes the hazard properties and the composition of dangerous goods. It is required in all shipping documents, notifications, and packaging, and must be shown in uppercase form.

For example, if your dangerous goods are wastes, the proper shipping name is WASTE. The UN number and the proper shipping name are usually used together to describe the DG cargo, and both must be included in the Dangerous Goods Declaration. Here are some examples:

UN 1987 ALCOHOLS, N.O.S.
UN 1993 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, N.O.S.
UN 2902, PESTICIDE, LIQUID, TOXIC, N.O.S.
UN 1263, PAINT, N.O.S.

UN Packaging Group

Dangerous goods can be packed into 3 UN packaging groups based on their level of danger:

Packing Group I: High danger
Packing Group II: Medium danger
Packing Group III: Low danger

The packaging group determines the degree of protective packaging required for your dangerous goods. Packages and containers must pass certain tests, so it’s important to pack your goods properly.

Note: Dangerous goods of class 2, division 6.2 and class 7 are not assigned into 3 packing groups based on the dangerous level of DG goods.

4. How to package dangerous goods?

Proper packaging is crucial when it comes to shipping dangerous goods. It helps prevent accidents, delays, and customs fines. Unlike regular goods, packaging for DG cargo must strictly comply with regulations.

Dangerous goods should be tightly packaged to prevent leakage and damage. For materials sensitive to moisture and heat, special containers such as temperature-controlled containers are necessary.

As mentioned earlier, there are three UN packaging groups. To determine the appropriate packaging material and method for your DG cargo, check the test report to identify the packing group requirement.

Let’s take fireworks packaging as an example, which falls under dangerous goods class 1. Fireworks packaging requires two types of packaging: sales packaging and transportation packaging.

Sales packaging for fireworks must be moisture-proof plastic, paper, etc. and must be sealed. The manufacturer should package the fireworks neatly and tightly. The inner packaging material should also not react with the pyrotechnic composition.

As for transportation packaging, corrugated boxes and wooden cases that have passed the stacking and dropping tests are generally used. The gross weight of fireworks products should not exceed 30 kg.

5. How to label dangerous goods?

Correctly labeling and marking dangerous goods is a legal requirement. The labels, markings, symbols, and placards on the packaging provide information about the dangerous goods and remind people to handle them with care.

Make sure to attach the correct DG labels to the package by checking the UN number and DG class.

For example, let’s take labeling fireworks. China has been the dominant exporter of fireworks, accounting for 85% of the international market over the past decade. Since most fireworks are shipped by sea from China, it is important to follow the marine requirements for fireworks labeling.

Take firework labeling for example

Given that fireworks fall under the dangerous goods division 1.3, affixing the appropriate label on the box is crucial. The UN number and proper shipping name – UN 0335 FIREWORKS, should also be placed on the box. Here are the specifics for labeling fireworks as regulated by IMDG:

Label Material: Hazard warning labels are made with adhesive material and remain clear and identifiable even after being immersed in seawater for three months.
Label Size: The label should be no less than 100mm*100mm, with a dashed outer edge line. The distance between the outer edge dashed line and the inner edge solid line should not be less than 5mm. The height of the UN number should be no less than 12mm. For goods of 30L or less than 30kgs, the height should not be less than 6mm.
Label Position: The labels should be prominently placed on the package, such as boxes, and must be clearly visible with a sharp contrast in color to the background of the outer package.
Label Quantity: Each package of goods must be labeled with danger signs.

6. What dangerous goods documents are needed?

Transport documents for dangerous goods typically include the DGR (Dangerous Goods Request), MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), and DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration), which are closely related to each other.

DGR: Provided by the seller to the forwarder before the goods are packaged, it is also known as the Dangerous Goods Application. The DGR is usually submitted along with the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
MSDS: This document contains information on the goods and provides guidance on how to handle accidents that may occur during shipping.
DGD: After the forwarder accepts the DGR, the seller packages the dangerous goods and prepares the DGD. The signed DGD is then given to the forwarder, who arranges and packs the DG cargo into a vessel.

NOTE: If you lack experience in handling these documents, you can seek the assistance of a sourcing company to help you arrange all the necessary details. You can find a suitable sourcing company by visiting this link: https://onestopimport.com

Conclusion

As discussed earlier, shipping dangerous goods (DG) can be a daunting task due to the need to prepare various documents and comply with numerous domestic and international regulations.

Onestopimport is a top sourcing provider in China, committed to assisting our clients in finding quality products from China at the most competitive prices while also providing reliable shipping services that alleviate the stress of importing DG. If you are interested in wholesale or dropshipping goods, including dangerous goods (document, declaration) from China, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

CATEGORY

Seek Cooperation

SEARCH