Shipping dangerous goods wrong doesn’t just risk a fine. It risks the shipment being refused at acceptance, held at a terminal, or in worst cases, causing genuine safety incidents in transit. Lithium batteries, aerosols, chemicals, and dozens of other everyday commercial products fall under dangerous goods regulations, and many Australian importers and exporters don’t realise their cargo is classified until a shipment gets rejected.
This guide explains how dangerous goods are classified, what IATA DGR and IMDG Code compliance actually require, and how to avoid the mistakes that most commonly hold up dangerous goods shipments.
What are dangerous goods in shipping?
Dangerous goods are substances or articles that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during transport, classified into nine hazard classes under international regulations including IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations for air freight and the IMDG Code for sea freight.
Common examples that catch businesses by surprise:
- Lithium batteries in electronics, tools, and consumer devices
- Aerosols and pressurised containers
- Perfumes and cosmetics containing flammable alcohol
- Paints, solvents, and adhesives
- Cleaning chemicals and disinfectants
- Dry ice used for cold chain packaging
- Vehicle parts containing airbags or fuel residue
Many businesses ship dangerous goods without realising it, because the classification applies to the substance itself, not the intended use or the packaging it arrives in.
What are the nine hazard classes?
The nine dangerous goods hazard classes are explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidising substances, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive material, corrosives, and miscellaneous dangerous goods, each with specific packaging, labelling, and handling requirements.
The classification system:
- Class 1 — Explosives: fireworks, ammunition, explosive devices
- Class 2 — Gases: compressed, liquefied, or dissolved gases, including aerosols
- Class 3 — Flammable liquids: fuels, solvents, paints, perfumes
- Class 4 — Flammable solids: matches, certain metals, self-reactive substances
- Class 5 — Oxidising substances and organic peroxides: bleaches, certain fertilisers
- Class 6 — Toxic and infectious substances: pesticides, certain pharmaceuticals, medical waste
- Class 7 — Radioactive material: medical isotopes, certain industrial equipment
- Class 8 — Corrosives: acids, alkalis, batteries
- Class 9 — Miscellaneous dangerous goods: lithium batteries, dry ice, environmentally hazardous substances, magnetised material
Most commercial dangerous goods shipments from everyday businesses fall under Class 3, Class 8, or Class 9, particularly lithium batteries under Class 9, which is one of the fastest-growing compliance issues in international shipping.
How are dangerous goods classified for shipping?
Dangerous goods are classified by identifying the correct UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class, and packing group based on the substance’s properties, using the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air freight or the IMDG Code for sea freight.
The classification process:
- Identify the substance or article and its hazardous properties
- Determine the UN number (a four-digit code identifying the specific substance)
- Confirm the proper shipping name as listed in the regulations
- Determine the hazard class and, where applicable, subsidiary risks
- Determine the packing group (I, II, or III) indicating the degree of danger
Packing groups matter because they determine packaging requirements: Packing Group I (high danger) requires the most robust packaging, Packing Group III (low danger) requires less stringent packaging.
Getting classification wrong is the single most common cause of dangerous goods shipment rejection. A product with the wrong UN number or missing subsidiary risk can be refused at airline or shipping line acceptance, sometimes after the goods have already been delivered to the terminal.
What is IATA DGR compliance for air freight?
IATA DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations) compliance means classifying, packaging, labelling, and documenting dangerous goods according to the International Air Transport Association’s regulations, which govern what can be carried by air and how it must be prepared.
Key IATA DGR requirements:
- Correct classification using current IATA DGR tables, updated annually
- UN-specification packaging tested and certified for the specific hazard class and packing group
- Hazard labels and markings on the outer packaging, including UN number and proper shipping name
- Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods, a formal document certifying compliance, required for most (but not all) dangerous goods shipments
- Trained and certified personnel preparing the shipment, since IATA requires dangerous goods training for anyone involved in preparation
Some dangerous goods, particularly certain lithium battery configurations, are entirely forbidden on passenger aircraft and can only move on dedicated freighter aircraft, or in some cases are forbidden from air transport altogether.
What is IMDG Code compliance for sea freight?
IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code) compliance means classifying, packaging, labelling, and documenting dangerous goods according to International Maritime Organization regulations for safe transport by sea.
Key IMDG Code requirements:
- Correct classification and UN number identification
- UN-specification packaging appropriate to the hazard class
- Placarding and marking on packages and containers
- Dangerous Goods Declaration, the sea freight equivalent of the air Shipper’s Declaration
- Container packing certificate confirming the container was packed correctly and safely
- Segregation requirements, since certain dangerous goods classes cannot be stowed near each other on a vessel
Sea freight generally has more flexibility than air freight for dangerous goods, since some substances forbidden on aircraft can still move by sea, but the packaging and documentation standards remain strict.
What are lithium battery shipping requirements?
Lithium battery shipping requirements depend on whether batteries are standalone, packed with equipment, or contained in equipment, and on the battery’s watt-hour or lithium content rating, with different rules applying to each configuration under both IATA DGR and IMDG Code.
The three configurations:
- Lithium batteries alone (UN 3480 lithium ion, UN 3090 lithium metal): subject to the strictest requirements, including quantity limits and, for air freight, passenger aircraft prohibitions in many cases
- Lithium batteries packed with equipment (UN 3481, UN 3091): moderate requirements, batteries shipped alongside but not installed in the device
- Lithium batteries contained in equipment (UN 3481, UN 3091): generally the least restrictive configuration, batteries installed inside the device they power
Consumer electronics, power tools, e-bikes, and medical devices all commonly trigger lithium battery classification. Businesses importing or exporting these products need to confirm battery configuration and watt-hour rating before shipping, since incorrect declaration is one of the most common compliance failures in current international freight.
What documentation is required for dangerous goods shipments?
Dangerous goods shipments require a Dangerous Goods Declaration (air) or Dangerous Goods Declaration/Container Packing Certificate (sea), a Safety Data Sheet for the substance, and correctly completed commercial shipping documents including the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill referencing the dangerous goods details.
Standard documentation set:
- Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods (air) or Dangerous Goods Declaration (sea)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the substance, confirming hazard properties
- Container Packing Certificate (sea freight, for containerised dangerous goods)
- Commercial invoice and packing list referencing the dangerous goods content
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill with dangerous goods notation
For the general shipping documentation these sit alongside, see our guide on Bill of Lading explained.
What are the most common dangerous goods compliance mistakes?
The most common dangerous goods compliance mistakes are failing to recognise a product is classified as dangerous goods, using outdated regulation editions, incorrect packing group determination, incomplete documentation, and inadequate staff training.
Six mistakes that repeatedly cause shipment rejections or delays:
- Not recognising the classification: businesses often don’t realise everyday products (perfumes, certain electronics, cleaning products) are classified as dangerous goods
- Using an outdated DGR or IMDG edition: both are updated annually or biennially, and using superseded classifications creates compliance gaps
- Wrong packing group: affects required packaging robustness, and getting it wrong can mean inadequate protection or unnecessarily expensive over-packaging
- Missing Safety Data Sheet: required to confirm hazard classification and often requested by freight forwarders or authorities before acceptance
- Untrained personnel preparing shipments: both IATA and IMDG require documented dangerous goods training for anyone classifying, packing, or documenting shipments
- Incomplete declaration for lithium batteries: watt-hour rating, configuration, and quantity all need to be correctly stated
Each of these is preventable with proper classification review before the shipment is booked. Once cargo has been rejected at acceptance, resolving it costs time and often means missing the planned sailing or flight.
How does dangerous goods classification affect freight cost?
Dangerous goods classification affects freight cost through additional handling fees, specialised packaging requirements, potential restrictions to specific vessels or aircraft, and mandatory documentation and training overhead that doesn’t apply to general cargo.
Cost factors specific to dangerous goods:
- Dangerous goods surcharges applied by airlines and shipping lines
- UN-specification packaging typically more expensive than standard commercial packaging
- Limited carrier options: not every airline or vessel accepts every dangerous goods class, which can reduce routing options and increase cost
- Documentation and compliance overhead: preparing correct declarations takes specialist time
Businesses that ship dangerous goods regularly benefit from working with a forwarder who has dangerous goods handling built into standard process, rather than treating each shipment as a one-off compliance exercise.
How Sealogic supports dangerous goods shipments
Sealogic coordinates dangerous goods shipments for both air and sea freight, managing classification review, UN-specification packaging coordination, Dangerous Goods Declaration preparation, and carrier booking for cargo requiring specialised handling. This connects to our broader international air freight from Australia and sea freight services across Australia capability, so dangerous goods compliance is built into the shipment plan from the start rather than discovered at acceptance.
FAQs
What are dangerous goods in shipping?
Dangerous goods are substances or articles that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during transport, classified into nine hazard classes under IATA regulations for air freight and the IMDG Code for sea freight.
Do lithium batteries count as dangerous goods?
Yes. Lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods under both IATA DGR and IMDG Code, with specific requirements depending on whether the batteries are standalone, packed with equipment, or installed inside equipment.
What documentation is needed to ship dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods shipments typically require a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods (air) or Dangerous Goods Declaration (sea), a Safety Data Sheet, and correctly completed commercial shipping documents referencing the dangerous goods content.
Can all dangerous goods be shipped by air?
No. Some dangerous goods, particularly certain lithium battery configurations, are forbidden on passenger aircraft and can only move on dedicated freighter aircraft, or in some cases are prohibited from air transport entirely.
What is a packing group in dangerous goods shipping?
A packing group indicates the degree of danger a substance presents, ranging from Packing Group I (highest danger, requiring the most robust packaging) to Packing Group III (lowest danger, requiring less stringent packaging).
Do I need training to ship dangerous goods?
Yes. Both IATA and the IMDG Code require documented dangerous goods training for anyone involved in classifying, packing, or documenting dangerous goods shipments.
Does Sealogic handle dangerous goods shipments?
Yes. Sealogic coordinates dangerous goods shipments for both air and sea freight, managing classification, packaging coordination, documentation, and carrier booking for compliant, safe transport.
Conclusion
Dangerous goods compliance is one of the highest-stakes areas of international shipping. Getting classification right the first time avoids rejected cargo, missed sailings and flights, and potential safety incidents. Reviewing your product range against dangerous goods classification before you ship, not after a rejection, is the difference between a smooth shipment and an expensive delay. To discuss dangerous goods classification and compliance for a specific shipment, contact the Sealogic team.