Safety is paramount in the global shipping industry, especially when you’re dealing with potentially dangerous cargo. Shipping chemicals internationally comes with a long list of challenges, from complying with regulations and laws to preventing leaks, spills, and other accidents.
Fortunately, we’re here to help. If you have questions about safely shipping chemicals and complying with regulations, you can find all the answers you need in this guide.
International chemical shipping starts with raw material sourcing. Chemicals often begin their journey at a processing or packaging plant, where raw materials are refined or combined with other materials to create chemicals. From there, chemicals are transported via truck to a sea port or airport where they can be loaded up and exported.
Supply chain management is crucial in chemical shipping, from risk mitigation and inventory control to procurement planning and route optimization. Every step of the supply chain has to be carefully planned and monitored.
Shippers, freight forwarders, carriers, and customs brokers all play key roles in shipping chemicals internationally.
There are strictly regulations around shipping chemicals, and failing to comply with those regulations can result in financial penalties, costly delays in transit, reputational damage, and even potential civil or criminal liability.
Chemical regulations are set by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) conventions for sea transport, IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations for air, and the UN Model Regulations.
Strict adherence to these chemical shipping regulations helps protect personnel, communities, and the environment while simplifying cross-border operations.
The UN Model Regulations are essentially the international “bible” for hazard classification, packaging performance standards, and label specifications. The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) assigns hazard classes, pictograms, and signal words to ensure global consistency.
The IMDG code covers mandatory carriage requirements, including stowage, segregation, packing group criteria, and emergency response protocols. There are yearly amendments to the IDMG code, so it’s important to consult the latest version of the code if you have any questions.
The IATA imposes strict limits on allowable quantities of chemicals per shipment, packaging tests specific to air transport, and specialized labeling for loading crews.
Operator variations and airline-specific requirements may exceed baseline IATA standards. In this case, it’s important to follow the airline-specific requirements.
The UN has nine main classifications of hazards:
The UN uses numbers as unique identifiers for substances or groups of similar hazards. These numbers are posted on hazardous shipments to ensure they’re handled properly according to the risks they present.
You can consult UN Recommendations, online databases, or government publications to find the appropriate number for the type of hazardous material you’re shipping.
Under GHS, there are three separate packing groups a shipment may be classified under:
The packing group your shipment falls under can have a significant impact on the packaging materials you choose. Different packing groups are also subject to different weight limits and inner container specifications.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide essential information about the potential risks of chemical products. Key MSDS elements include:
You might have heard the terms “MSDS” and “SDS” used interchangeably, but these are two different documents. The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a more outdated version of the SDS (Safety Data Sheet). SDS is the current global standard, and they’re required to have a consistent 16-section format for clarity and consistency.
A Dangerous Goods Declaration form can be used to declare you’re shipping chemicals. Here’s what you’ll need to complete a Dangerous Goods Declaration:
It’s important to use the exact “proper shipping name” from the UN/IMDG/IATA lists to avoid customs or carrier rejections.
Commercial invoices play a key role in customs valuation and tariff classification, so you need to have a commercial invoice that includes accurate HS codes and country-of-origin statements.
A detailed packing list supports physical inspections by listing container numbers, package counts, and net and gross weights that inspectors can check.
Export licenses or special permits may be required for controlled substances, dual-use chemicals, or destination-restricted items.
GHS classifies hazardous materials based on health, physical, and environmental hazards:
For borderline cases, you can use lab data like flash point, boiling point, and toxicity tests.
Review the latest UN volumes to verify hazard class assignments and ensure they’re aligned with local regulations. You can use the US DOT Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) to cross-reference hazardous material information to identify hazardous materials and guide emergency response actions.
UN-marked drums, jerricans, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), and fiberboard boxes are each rated for specific packing groups. Performance tests, including drop, leak, and stacking tests, justify these UN packing certifications.
Temperature-sensitive chemicals require insulated containers or active cooling to prevent reactions. Overpacks can be used for spill containment. For gaseous or self-reactive substances, use pressure-relief devices to prevent accidents.
Follow label dimension, symbol placement, and color codes for each hazard category. It’s also important to follow legibility requirements, which includes using a durable adhesive, weather-resistant materials, and meeting minimum font size requirements.
Destination authorities may require bilingual or multilingual labeling. All weight, volume, and concentration figures should use metric units (kilograms, liters, meters) to avoid conversion errors.
Sea freight is typically more cost-effective and easily available, plus you can transport larger volumes of chemicals via sea freight. Air freight is more costly, but it’s ideal when you want to ensure costly shipments arrive safely on time.
There are unique risks to each shipping method. Moisture and corrosion can be problematic at sea, while pressure and temperature fluctuations can impact air cargo.
It’s important to choose carriers who have certified personnel trained under the relevant dangerous goods regulations. Review carrier insurance policies to check for coverage for spills, environmental damage, or cargo damage.
EDI portals allow you to automatically submit declarations (ACE in the U.S., CHIEF in the UK), which results in faster clearance and reduces manual errors. EDI systems also allow you to receive real-time status updates.
Different countries have different pre-approval requirements for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, ozone-depleting substances, and narcotics. We recommend mapping out each country’s permit timelines to make sure there are no unexpected delays at border crossings.
The UN uses unique identifiers for each hazardous material, with each material being assigned a four-digit number. If you use the wrong UN number, you run the risk of having your shipment delayed or rejected by customs.
Check the UN database for hazardous materials identifiers and make sure you’re using the proper shipping name and UN number.
Non-compliant or damaged packaging can cause leaks and other potential hazards, but that’s not the only reason you should avoid using non-certified containers. In addition to leaks and spills, non-compliant containers can result in transport bans and costly fines.
Only use containers that have valid UN marking.
Typos in UN numbers, mismatched quantities, or missing emergency contact information can result in regulatory holds and delays in shipping chemicals. Before you submit any documents, take the time to review your information to make sure everything is 100% accurate.
UN, IMDG, and IATA regulations are only part of the equation when shipping chemicals, you also have to consider the destination country restrictions. Check for local bans or restrictions on chemicals to avoid confiscation of goods or repatriation costs.
The cost of shipping chemicals internationally depends on several factors, including the specific chemical, the quantity, and the origin and destination countries.
Shipping chemicals internationally can take anywhere from a week to a few months depending on the shipping method you choose and whether there are any port delays.
You may be able to ship smaller quantities of chemicals under an “excepted quantities” limit, which means you don’t have to follow the same labeling, marking, and documentation requirements.
If a shipment is non-compliant, you may receive a fine or have your shipment rejected at customs.
You can track chemical shipments using the tracking portal provided by your carrier, or by using wireless data loggers to transmit continuous data.
Shipping chemicals internationally might seem complex, that’s because it is. There are a lot of regulations surrounding global chemical shipping, and those regulations are designed to protect us and our environment. Once you learn to navigate these regulations, you can safely and swiftly ship chemicals all over the globe.
When it comes to mitigating leaks and spills, EPGNA can help. We offer a wide range of shipping solutions, including desiccant mats for spills and leaks. Contact us to learn more about shipping chemicals or get a free quote today.
Sandra Malouf is the President of Eurolog Packing Group and has spent her career focused on Industrial Packaging. With a proven track record of helping businesses avoid supply chain disruptions, Sandra’s visionary leadership elevates the industry. She’s committed to developing sustainable practices and continues to shape the future of industrial packaging by listening to the customer and offering unique solutions applicable to various industries across the world. The company’s main focus is temperature stabilization and moisture damage prevention in exports affected by extreme variations in global temperatures.
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