Can hazardous materials be packed together?

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Time of issue：

2025-09-19 16:23

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The distinction between hazardous materials and ordinary chemical products

Chemical product exports are typically divided into two categories: general chemicals and hazardous materials. For general chemicals, a "Certificate of Cargo Transport Conditions" must be provided to confirm that the goods do not fall under the category of dangerous cargo before they can be shipped as standard freight.

If classified as a hazardous material, it must be listed under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and the national standard "List of Hazardous Goods Names." Such materials exhibit characteristics like flammability, explosiveness, toxicity, corrosivity, or radioactivity, necessitating special protective measures. For instance, caustic soda falls into Class 8—corrosive substances—while paints typically belong to Class 3—flammable liquids. If these two are transported together and a leak occurs, they could potentially cause severe environmental contamination.

Diagram of International Transportation for Dangerous Goods

Classification and Identification Methods for Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials are classified into 9 major categories, and you can check whether a chemical is listed on the Dangerous Goods List by its chemical name or CAS number. Accurate classification is essential for ensuring compliant shipment.

Example of Hazardous Materials Symbol

The fundamental principle of strictly prohibiting mixed loading

Different categories of hazardous materials must not be mixed during transportation.

The protective requirements vary depending on the type of hazardous material, as do the storage and transportation conditions. Mixing them together could trigger chemical reactions, leading to combustion, explosions, or the release of toxic gases—severely endangering both human safety and marine ecosystems.

Dangerous goods must not be mixed with ordinary cargo.

To prevent accidents, international maritime regulations explicitly prohibit the transportation of dangerous goods together with non-dangerous items in the same container. All such restrictions are designed to ensure transport safety and mitigate environmental risks.

Three Types of Dangerous Goods Maritime Transportation Scenarios

The Core Requirements for Compliant Exporting

Companies engaged in the export of hazardous materials must select qualified manufacturers who can provide MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) in both Chinese and English, as well as meet the requirements for applying for a dangerous goods packaging certificate and holding import-export business licenses.

MSDS Document Example

Although the transportation costs for hazardous goods containers are higher than those for general cargo, it is essential to adhere to proper declaration and legal operations. Any attempt to underreport or falsely declare hazardous materials—once it leads to a safety incident—will result in criminal liability for the individuals involved, while the company could even face bankruptcy. We urge all international trade professionals to strictly follow the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, ensuring safe and compliant shipments every time.

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JK Container

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