Dangerous goods (DG) cargo is any substance or article that meets the criteria for a hazard class under the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. For sea freight, those rules are applied through the IMO's International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
If your chemical is DG, it can still be shipped, but every step is controlled. The product must be classified, packed in approved packaging, marked and labelled, declared, and accepted by the carrier before it is loaded.
Which rules apply
- Sea freight follows the IMDG Code, which is mandatory under the SOLAS convention. As of October 2026, Amendment 42-24 is the version in force, mandatory since 1 January 2026.
- Air freight follows the ICAO Technical Instructions, applied by airlines through the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. See shipping hazardous chemicals by air.
- Road transport in Europe follows ADR, and other regions have their own road and rail rules.
How you know if your product is DG
Section 14 of the safety data sheet should state the transport classification. If it gives a UN number, a class and a packing group, your product is DG. If it says not regulated for transport, it is not.
Do not rely on the product name. Many chemicals that sound harmless are DG, such as some solvents and many dyes in solution. Others that sound dangerous may not be. Caustic soda is a common example of a product that is DG in most forms, covered in whether caustic soda is dangerous cargo.
Classification is the shipper's responsibility. In most export deals, that is the Indian manufacturer or exporter. As the buyer, you should still check it, because a wrong classification can mean a refused booking, a fine or a dangerous incident.
Check early, at the quotation stage. Whether a product is DG changes the packaging, the carrier, the freight cost and the delivery date, so it belongs in the first conversation with a supplier.
What changes when goods are DG
- Packaging must be UN-approved for the class and packing group, as explained in UN-approved packaging.
- Packages must carry the UN number, proper shipping name and hazard labels, and containers must carry placards.
- The shipper must sign a DG declaration, and the person who packs the container signs a packing certificate.
- The carrier must accept the booking. Not every line, vessel or port takes every class.
- Some classes must be kept apart from others on board, and some can only be stowed on deck.
- Costs and transit time usually rise, because fewer carriers, vessels and terminals handle DG cargo and each step needs extra checks.
Next step
Confirm the transport classification with the manufacturer and your freight forwarder before you agree an Incoterm and a delivery date. We check the SDS, packaging and marks before loading. To plan a DG shipment, book a free sourcing review.