Many agrochemicals are dangerous goods for transport, but not all. The classification depends on the specific product: its active, its concentration, its solvent and its form.
The same active can be dangerous goods as a solvent-based EC and not as a dilute water-based SC. Classify each product separately, from its own test data and safety data sheet.
Common transport classes for agrochemicals
- Class 6.1 covers toxic substances, which includes many technicals and concentrated formulations.
- Class 3 covers flammable liquids, which includes many ECs because of their solvents.
- Class 8 covers corrosive substances, which applies to some acidic or alkaline products.
- Class 9 covers miscellaneous dangerous goods, including environmentally hazardous substances such as UN 3077 for solids and UN 3082 for liquids.
- Class 5.1 covers oxidisers, which applies to a small number of products.
UN numbers and marine pollutants
Pesticides have their own UN entries, such as UN 2588 for a toxic solid pesticide, UN 2902 for a toxic liquid pesticide and UN 2903 for a toxic, flammable liquid pesticide, each not otherwise specified. Some actives have chemical-family entries instead. A product may also be a marine pollutant, which needs its own mark under the IMDG Code even when the product is otherwise hazard-free for transport.
The packing group, I, II or III, shows the degree of danger within a class, with I the highest. It sets the strength of packaging needed and some limits on quantity. A concentrated technical may fall in packing group I or II, while a dilute formulation of the same active may fall in III or outside the rules.
Who is responsible
The shipper, normally the Indian exporter under an FOB sale, is legally responsible for classifying, packing, marking and declaring dangerous goods correctly. Your contract should say this clearly, and your freight forwarder must check it.
Section 14 of the safety data sheet should give the UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group and marine pollutant status. See what a safety data sheet is. If section 14 is blank or vague for a toxic or solvent product, ask why.
What dangerous goods status changes
- Packs must be UN-approved for the product's packing group and carry UN marks and class labels.
- A dangerous goods declaration must be signed for each shipment.
- Fewer shipping lines and sailings may accept the cargo, and some ports limit storage time.
- Freight usually costs more, and booking needs more notice.
- Some products cannot travel by air at all, or only in limited quantities.
Confirm before you book
Dangerous goods rules are detailed and change from time to time. This article is a general guide. Confirm the classification and the current requirements with your freight forwarder and the shipping line before you book. The general rules are explained in what dangerous goods cargo is.
Give the forwarder the SDS and pack details early. A wrong classification found at the port can mean repacking, relabelling and a missed sailing.
Next step
We check classification, UN marks and documents during production and at loading. Book a free sourcing review to plan a dangerous goods shipment.