DHL Express

Shipping Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods (also known as hazardous material or hazmat) are articles or substances capable of posing a hazard to health, safety, property or the environment. Identifying Dangerous Goods is the first step to reduce the risks posed by the product with proper packaging, communication, handling, and stowage. DHL is an established carrier with significant experience transporting Dangerous Goods.

What you need to know

  • There are shipping regulations for Dangerous Goods
  • The Shipper is legally responsible for compliance
  • Not all Dangerous Goods are accepted in DHL Express
  • You must be pre-approved by DHL Express to ship Dangerous Goods
  • DHL Express will accept Dangerous Goods under certain restrictions and conditions
  • DHL must be notified of the intention to ship Dangerous Goods
  • Dangerous Goods shipments are subject to additional charges
Many commodities that are classified as Dangerous Goods are eligible for shipping.
DHL complies with the following regulations:
  • IATA for all DHL Express air services
  • ADR applicable within all countries that have adopted the ADR convention in their legislation
  • Other applicable national legislation, depending on the origin, transit and destination of the shipment (e.g. CFR Title 49)
Open Box
Packing
Exclamation Point
Labeling
Declaring
The regulations include specific rules for properly packaging Dangerous Goods, marking and labeling packages and declaring the commodities on shipping documents.
Goods with these characteristics are considered dangerous (not exhaustive):
  • Radioactive
  • Flammable
  • Explosive
  • Corrosive
  • Toxic
  • Oxidizing
  • Infectious
  • Other regulated materials
Electronic equipment, perfumes and even food flavoring may be classified as Dangerous Goods. Some materials or chemicals may become harmful in specific circumstances.
The Material Safety Data Sheet or Safety Data Sheet from the manufacturer provides information to identify the content classification.
DHL Express requires pre-approval to ship Dangerous Goods to ensure that account holders are sufficiently trained, instructed and will prepare Dangerous Goods shipments according to the applicable regulations and DHL’s policies and procedures.
Interested in becoming a DHL pre-approved account? Our knowledgeable experts are here to provide professional help and guidance. Contact your Account Manager or Customer Service to get in touch with our Dangerous Goods experts.
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