How to operate international logistics of hazardous chemicals

1、 Preliminary preparation

1. Identification of cargo attributes

·Entrust professional institutions (such as Shanghai Chemical Research Institute) to conduct hazardous material classification and identification, specifying UN numbers and hazard categories (such as Class 3 flammable liquids and Class 8 corrosive materials).

·Distinguish between ordinary chemicals and non hazardous but licensed categories (such as precursor chemicals that require a Dual Use Item License).

2. Qualifications and Filing

·Export requires qualifications such as a Hazardous Chemicals Business License and Customs Import and Export Filing; Import requires the completion of the enterprises dangerous goods business registration in advance.

2、 Document preparation

1. Core documents

·MSDS (Safety Data Sheet): Chinese and English versions, including information on ingredients, emergency measures, etc.

·Dangerous Goods Certificate: It proves that the packaging meets UN standards and needs to be certified by an inspection agency.

·Dangerous Goods Transport Declaration (DGD): Fill out in accordance with the IMDG Code format and sign by trained personnel.

2. Additional files

·Export: "Customs Clearance Form for Outbound Goods" and "Classification and Identification Report for Dangerous Goods".

·Import: Import license required by the destination country (such as MOA approval for Vietnam), Chinese label.

3、 Transportation scheme selection

1. Transportation mode

·Sea freight: The mainstream method requires booking specialized dangerous goods cabins (with a cost 20% -30% higher than regular cabins), and priority should be given to direct routes to reduce transit risks.

·Air freight: suitable for emergency small batch goods, requiring UN38.3 certification (such as lithium batteries).

·Railway: The China Europe freight train is suitable for bulk non hazardous chemicals (such as plastic pellets).

2. Packaging and labeling

·Use UN certified packaging (such as UN4G material) with UN number, hazard symbol (flame icon), and sender/receiver information affixed externally.

·LCL must comply with the minimum cubic limit and avoid separating prohibited substances (such as oxidants and reducing agents).

4、 Compliance declaration and customs clearance

1. Export declaration

·Book the shipment 10 days in advance and submit the freight authorization letter, dangerous goods certificate, shipping company application form, etc.

·Registration with the Maritime Safety Administration: Submit a suitable shipment declaration form through the "single window", accompanied by a CTU packing certificate, MSDS, etc.

2. Import customs clearance

·Complete maritime declaration 48 hours before arrival at the port, provide the "Classification and Identification Report of Hazardous Characteristics", Chinese labels, import license, etc.

·The customs will focus on inspecting the compliance of packaging and the consistency between labels and documents.

5、 Precautions

1. Time nodes

·Plan the shipping schedule in advance (such as approximately 30 days from Shanghai to Hamburg), and complete the hazardous declaration before the ship departs.

2. Cost control

·LCL (Less than Container Load) shipping cost sharing (such as approximately $1500-2500 for a 20 foot container from Ningbo to Hamburg).

3. Emergency response

·Carry the "Emergency Rescue Guide" with the goods, and handle according to the corresponding measures of UN number in case of leakage (such as using lime to neutralize UN1830 sulfuric acid).

6、 Violation risk

·Unlicensed transportation may face customs fines (20% -50% of the value of the goods) or returns; Packaging that does not meet the standards may be detained.

By following the above process and collaborating with professional freight forwarders such as COSCO Shipping and Sinotrans Chemical Logistics, the safety and compliance of dangerous goods logistics can be ensured.