Safety & Compliance
Dangerous Goods (DG) Export Guide
You might be shipping a Dangerous Good without knowing it. Perfumes, batteries, paints — many common Indian exports are classified as DG.
Important: Shipping a DG product declared as non-DG is a serious offence. It results in cargo rejection at the port or airport, heavy fines from DGCA and Customs, and potential blacklisting with airlines and shipping lines. If in doubt, ask us.
Common Indian exports that are DG
These products are regularly exported from India and are all classified as Dangerous Goods. Each requires specific packaging, labelling, and documentation.
Lithium batteries
Phones, laptops, EVs, power banks — Class 9
Perfumes & cosmetics
Contain alcohol — flammable — Class 3
Pesticides & agrochemicals
Toxic substances — Class 6
Some pharma APIs
Toxic or flammable — Class 3 or 6
Paints, varnishes, resins
Flammable liquids — Class 3
Compressed gases & aerosols
Class 2 — pressurised containers
Petroleum products, solvents
Flammable liquids — Class 3
Magnetised materials
Some motors, speakers — Class 9
Lead-acid batteries
Corrosive acid — Class 8
Mercury-containing equipment
Toxic — Class 6
Dry ice (CO₂)
Used for food/pharma — Class 9
Corrosive cleaners & acids
Industrial cleaners — Class 8
DG vs Non-DG — what changes?
Every aspect of the shipment is different when it is a Dangerous Good.
| Factor | Non-DG Shipment | DG Shipment |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging | Standard export carton or wooden crate | UN-certified packaging (UN number + packing group marked on box) |
| Labelling | Standard shipping marks + address | Mandatory DG labels, hazard diamond, UN number, quantity, name |
| Documents | Standard shipping documents | Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (SDDG) — signed by authorised person |
| Handler | Any freight handler | IATA/IMDG certified DG handler only |
| Airline acceptance | All airlines accept standard cargo | Must check airline DG acceptance; some airlines refuse certain DG classes |
| Cost | Standard rate | 15–30% surcharge on freight rate |
| Customs inspection | Standard channel (Green/Yellow/Red) | Often Red channel — physical examination |
| Insurance | Standard cargo insurance | Specialist DG cargo insurance — higher premium |
The 9 classes of Dangerous Goods
Every DG product belongs to one of these 9 classes. The class determines packaging, labels, and which airlines/ships can carry it.
Explosives
Common Indian exports: Fireworks, flares
Gases
Common Indian exports: Aerosols, fire extinguishers, LPG
Flammable Liquids
Common Indian exports: Perfumes, paints, adhesives, solvents
Flammable Solids
Common Indian exports: Matches, sulphur, metal powders
Oxidisers / Peroxides
Common Indian exports: Hydrogen peroxide, fertilisers
Toxic & Infectious
Common Indian exports: Pesticides, biological samples, APIs
Radioactive
Common Indian exports: Medical isotopes, industrial gauges
Corrosives
Common Indian exports: Battery acid, cleaning agents, plating chemicals
Miscellaneous DG
Common Indian exports: Lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised material
The UN Number — what is it?
Every dangerous substance has a 4-digit UN number — a universal code that identifies exactly what the substance is, regardless of its trade name. This number appears on the packaging, documents, and labels.
Common UN numbers for Indian exporters:
When you tell Ambeza what you are shipping, we identify the UN number, determine the packing group, and specify all packaging and documentation requirements. You don't need to know this — we do.
How Ambeza handles your DG shipment
Identify UN number & class
We tell you exactly what class your product falls under and what UN number applies.
Determine packing group
Packing Group I, II, or III determines how strictly it must be packaged. We specify exactly what is needed.
Specify compliant packaging
We tell you what UN-certified packaging is required and help you source it if needed.
Prepare DG documentation
Our certified team prepares the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (SDDG) — a legal declaration.
Confirm airline / carrier acceptance
We check which airlines accept your specific DG class and quantity before booking.
Supply all DG labels
Correct hazard diamond labels, UN number placards, handling marks — applied and verified.
Shipping a DG product? Talk to us before you do anything else.