Checklist: shipping dangerous goods

Exporting is usually straightforward – but when it comes to dangerous goods, there are a few extra steps to keep everyone safe. It’s essential stuff, and once you understand the rules, it all becomes much easier to manage.

The key? Knowing which items count as dangerous (you might be surprised – perfume and mobile phones make the list!) and getting familiar with the right packaging, labels, and paperwork.

If it sounds tricky, don’t worry. Our seven-point checklist, self-assessment tool, and jargon-busting glossary are here to guide you every step of the way.

There are a number of rules and restrictions related to dangerous goods that need to be respected. One of these is around their preparation for shipping. Anybody doing this from within your business needs to have received the appropriate training and understand the regulations. Or you could always hire an external expert or company to prepare your goods for you instead.

Regulations for the shipments themselves can vary depending on the transportation being used. The rules for shipping dangerous goods by air and sea are governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), respectively. The rules for shipping dangerous goods by road are governed by a UN treaty called the ADR.

Individual carriers will also have their own restrictions on what they can and can’t carry (and where they can transport certain dangerous goods to).

Top tip: It’s essential that you are aware of – and follow – all rules and regulations before shipping your dangerous goods. A good place to start is by checking out the manuals available at the IATA, which include the Dangerous Goods Regulations as well as guides covering training and the shipping of specific dangerous goods.

Dangerous goods are not always obvious. They can be defined as those that can cause harm to health, safety, property or the environment. That makes some – such as explosives or chemicals – easy to spot. However, others are not always so apparent.

For instance, hair spray, nail varnish remover, and paint may not seem particularly risky at first glance, but they could all be classed as dangerous goods. Even Christmas crackers are on the list. So, whatever you’re shipping, it’s worth checking in advance.

Top tip: If you haven’t manufactured the goods yourself, you may be unsure as to whether they should be classified as dangerous goods when you ship them to your own customers. If that’s the case, check the Safety Data Sheet provided by the manufacturer. This should tell you what you need to know.

Assuming your shipment is classed as dangerous goods, then you need to know how to categorise it. There are nine classes of dangerous goods, with some additional sub-classes among them.

Class 1 – Explosives: Substances capable of causing an explosion or releasing energy suddenly.

Class 2 – Compressed gases or liquefied gases: Gases that can be flammable, toxic, or corrosive.

Class 3 – Flammable liquids: Liquids that can easily catch fire and sustain combustion.

Class 4 – Oxidizing substances: Substances that can provide oxygen and promote combustion.

Class 5 – Flammable solids: Solids that are easily ignited and can sustain combustion.

Class 6 – Toxic and infectious substances: Substances that can cause injury or death when they get in contact with living organisms, either through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.

Class 7 – Radioactive materials: Materials that emit radiation and can pose risks to health and the environment.

Class 8 – Corrosive substances: Substances that can cause damage to living tissues or materials through chemical reaction.

Class 9 – Miscellaneous: Items and substances not classified to any other category, such as dry ice and lithium batteries.

Top tip: It’s important to classify goods correctly, with doing so key to both safety and compliance. And don’t forget that there are additional sub-categories for some of these groups, and that goods in some categories need to be accessible to flight crew during a flight. For a complete overview of dangerous goods classifications and handling procedures, visit our pages on dangerous goods and classes and dangerous goods and handling codes.

Lithium batteries are in many products, from watches and power tools to smartphones and laptops. They are also classed as dangerous goods, so products containing them need to be shipped accordingly.

If you’re shipping lithium batteries on their own, you must use strong, rigid outer packaging and you may require special labelling, depending on the type of batteries. If you’re shipping lithium batteries in equipment, you should make sure the batteries are not damaged or defective, and you must prevent them from coming into contact with conductive materials in case they short circuit. You should also prevent the equipment from accidental activation during transport.

More information on shipping lithium batteries – both on their own and contained within equipment – is available in our guidance and instructions on shipping batteries and cells.

Top tip: Regulations covering the quantity of lithium batteries you can ship, and their power, can change regularly, so it’s a good idea to contact your shipping provider to make sure you’re clear on the requirements.

Dangerous goods need to be packed differently to other items. The requirements for individual products may vary but are likely to include using UN-specification packaging with unobscured specification markings.

You may also need to take other measures, such as having additional absorbent packing materials or having a secondary means of closure. More information on packing dangerous goods is available from the Federal Aviation Administration, while you can also check out the FedEx packaging guidelines.

Top tip: The UN has developed a series of internationally recognised codes for different dangerous goods, which are published in the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, more commonly known as the Orange Book. Each number has associated information covering the good’s risks and how to transport it safely – including how it should be packaged.

Marking and labelling packages correctly helps avoid fines, delays and is crucial to shipping the goods safely.

Everything must be visible and unobscured, and both the sender’s and the receiver’s addresses should be affixed securely (or printed durably) to the side of the box. Labels – which can be purchased from the IATA dangerous goods website – should be affixed in a diamond shape so the shipment can be immediately identified as containing dangerous goods. Old labels on re-used boxes must be removed. More details can be found at our page on labelling and marking dangerous goods.

Top tip: Before you do anything, make sure your box is big enough. All labels and markings need to be positioned on one side of the box and lie flat on the surface without wrapping round the sides. Your box must be big enough to allow for this.

While all goods crossing international customs borders require certain key documentation, in most cases dangerous goods require more. As well as the air waybill and customs documentation, you will likely need to include a shipper’s declaration inside the package. This certifies that the goods have been packed, labelled and declared according to the IATA dangerous goods regulations.

Top tip: If you’re shipping dangerous goods by road you’ll need to complete a Dangerous Goods Transport document, which is similar to the shipper’s declaration. Visit our page to find more information on how to complete both of them.

Here’s a helpful, at-a-glance glossary of terms that you may come across when shipping dangerous goods

• Class: Categories for dangerous goods, ranging from 1-9 with additional sub-sections.
• UN number: A four-digit code used to identify a specific dangerous good.
• MSDS / SDS: Material Safety Data Sheet / Safety Data Sheet, which provides information on safe use and handling of a product.
• IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations: The rules governing the transport of dangerous goods by air.
• ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
• IMDG code: International Maritime Dangerous Goods code, which governs the transport of dangerous goods by sea.
• PSN: Proper Shipping Name, a standardised name for a specific dangerous good that must be used on shipping documentation.
• Packing Group: A category assigned to each dangerous good to denote how hazardous it is and the specific packaging requirements it needs. Packing Groups range from I to III (written in Roman numerals), with group I representing the most hazardous and III the least.
• Shipper’s declaration: A document that certifies that the goods have been packed, labelled and declared according to the IATA dangerous goods regulations.
• DGSA: Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser – a person that helps businesses to prevent risks associated with shipping dangerous goods.
• ADG (Accessible Dangerous Goods): Some dangerous goods shipped by air can be defined as accessible, meaning the content of the package must be accessible during transit for security reasons.
• IDG (Inaccessible Dangerous Goods): Certain dangerous goods shipped by air can be defined as inaccessible, meaning the content of the package does not have to be accessed during transit and can be mixed with other freight.
• FDG (Fully Regulated Dangerous Goods): Certain dangerous goods shipped by road can be defined as Fully Regulated. FDG is the equivalent of an ADG/IDG handling code, and these goods cannot be loaded on an aircraft.
• LDG (Limited Quantities Dangerous Goods): Small quantities of dangerous goods packed according to ADR regulations. These cannot be loaded on an aircraft.
• REQ (Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities): Very small quantities of dangerous goods. These can be transported by air and road.
• ICE (Dry Ice): Dry Ice shipments. For more information, see our video on how to ship dry ice.

Want to know whether the items in your shipment should be classified as dangerous goods? Take this simple self-assessment:

• Are your goods powered by a lithium battery?
• Does your shipment include aerosols, sprays, or gas canisters?
• Are your goods flammable, corrosive, or toxic (remember, this can include everyday household products such as perfume, alcohol and paint)?
• Do your goods have a UN number or mention hazardous on the label?
• Have your goods ever been flagged by a courier as needing special handling?
• Does your shipment require special temperature or pressure conditions?
• Are you unsure about what’s inside your shipment (e.g. if it is from third-party supplier)?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, your item may be classified as a dangerous good. Please visit our dedicated section for more information and support.

Understanding how to ship dangerous goods is important for many businesses and is likely to become even more so – not least due to the increasing numbers of products being powered by lithium batteries. But dangerous goods are not the only items that require special care and attention. To explore other areas, you can read our article on high value goods and the careful consideration they need when shipping, as well as taking a look at how to ship delicate goods effectively.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page does not constitute legal, tax, finance, accounting, or trade advice, but is designed to provide general information relating to business and commerce. The FedEx Small Business Hub content, information, and services are not a substitute for obtaining the advice of a competent professional, for example (but not limited to) a licensed attorney, law firm, accountant, or financial adviser.