Some dye intermediates are hazardous cargo and some are not. Many aromatic amines and nitro compounds are classed as dangerous goods for transport, while many naphthalene sulphonic acid salts are not regulated. Classification is made product by product.
The answer sits in section 14 of the product's safety data sheet. That section gives the UN number, the hazard class, the packing group and whether the product is a marine pollutant.
How classification works
For sea freight, dangerous goods are classed under the IMDG Code into nine hazard classes. Each regulated substance or mixture is given a UN number and a proper shipping name. Our articles on dangerous goods cargo and the IMDG classes explain the system.
For intermediates, the classes you meet most often are these:
- Class 6.1 toxic substances, which covers many aromatic amines and nitro compounds, such as aniline (UN 1547) and nitrobenzene (UN 1662).
- Class 8 corrosive substances, which covers some free sulphonic acids and acidic or alkaline products.
- Class 9 miscellaneous, which often covers products that are only hazardous to the aquatic environment.
- Class 4.1 flammable solids, which applies to some fine organic powders and self-reactive compounds.
Marine pollutants
Many intermediates are toxic to aquatic life. A product can be a marine pollutant even when it has no other transport hazard. Under the IMDG Code such products need the marine pollutant mark and are shipped as dangerous goods, often under class 9.
This catches some buyers by surprise. A product sold as "non-hazardous" for handling may still be regulated for sea transport.
Who decides, and how to check
The shipper is legally responsible for classifying, packing, labelling and declaring dangerous goods correctly. In practice the manufacturer's SDS is the starting point, but you should not rely on it blindly.
Classification can differ by form. A dry powder, a wet paste and a solution of the same substance may fall under different entries, so the SDS must describe the form you actually buy.
Check that the SDS is current and that section 14 matches the product. Compare it with SDSs from other suppliers of the same substance. If they disagree, ask why. Then confirm the classification with your freight forwarder before booking, and check your own country's rules for import and inland transport.
If the product is not regulated, ask the supplier for a non-DG declaration for the shipping line. Our article on the non-DG certificate explains what it is.
Next step
We check SDSs and transport documents before booking, and confirm that packing and labels match the classification at loading. To discuss your intermediates, book a free sourcing review.