Shipping Dangerous Goods: A Starter Guide to IMDG & IATA DGR

Plenty of everyday products are legally dangerous goods: lithium batteries, aerosols, paint, perfumes, lighters, many chemicals. Shipping them is perfectly possible — but only under strict, well-defined rules.

The Two Rulebooks

—IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods) governs dangerous goods by sea, under the IMO.

—IATA DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations) governs them by air, aligned with ICAO Technical Instructions.

Both build on the UN "Orange Book" model regulations, so the core concepts — UN numbers, classes, packing groups — are shared.

The Four Things That Define a Dangerous Good

—UN Number — a four-digit ID (e.g. UN3480 for lithium-ion batteries).

—Hazard Class — one of nine classes (1 explosives, 2 gases, 3 flammable liquids, … 8 corrosives, 9 miscellaneous incl. lithium batteries).

—Packing Group — I (high danger), II (medium), III (low), for many classes.

—Proper Shipping Name — the official description, not your marketing name.

What You Must Provide

A compliant DG shipment needs: correct classification, UN-approved packaging, hazard labels and placards, and a Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) signed by a trained person. Air shipments have tighter quantity limits and additional paperwork than sea. Misdeclaration is a serious offence — it endangers lives and can bring heavy penalties.