Shipping “dangerous goods” (also called hazmat) internationally can feel like a hard no for ecommerce brands — especially when products are perfectly legal to sell, but carriers and customs require specific documentation, packaging, labels, and service levels.
The good news: many brands can ship common dangerous goods products to international customers. The key is to identify which SKUs are regulated, understand the shipping constraints by lane and carrier, and set up an operating process that prevents undeclared or mis-declared shipments.
This guide explains what typically qualifies as dangerous goods, how to confirm whether your products are affected, and how to ship them more safely and compliantly. For a broader context on international shipping compliance, see Passport’s guide to import customs duties and taxes explained and HS code classification.
Shipping dangerous goods to your international customers may seem impossible given the regulations involved and the complexities of international logistics, but Passport is here to help! We possess the compliance expertise and business partnerships necessary to efficiently ship dangerous goods products to international customers with minimal risk.
How do I know if my product contains dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are subject to transport, workplace, storage, consumer, and environment protection regulations to prevent accidents to persons, property, or the environment, to other goods, or to the means of transport employed. In the context of international ecommerce, these are products that can pose safety risks in transport — for example: flammable, pressurized, corrosive, toxic, or reactive items — because they can endanger people, aircraft, vehicles, and facilities if mishandled.
In ecommerce, dangerous goods often show up in everyday product categories, including:
Beauty and personal care
- Perfume, cologne, and fragrance mists (often alcohol-based and treated as flammable)
- Nail polish and nail polish remover (solvents can trigger DG rules)
- Aerosols (hair spray, deodorant spray, some sunscreens)
- Some products containing high concentrations of alcohol or other restricted solvents
Home and lifestyle
- Paints, stains, varnishes
- Adhesives and certain cleaners
- Matches, lighters
- Some hobby and craft chemicals
Temperature-controlled shipments
- Dry ice (used for cooling; regulated in transport)
Important note: “Dangerous goods” and “restricted items” are not always the same thing. Some products might not qualify as formal DG, but still face shipping restrictions based on local regulations, carrier rules, or customs enforcement. Understanding this distinction is a key part of international shipping compliance.
Oftentimes, it may be difficult to identify whether the item you are shipping contains dangerous goods. Because it is the shipper’s responsibility to correctly identify these shipments, the first place to look is to consult the material safety data sheet (MSDS) created by the manufacturer. The MSDS contains important safety information, including transportation information. This section advises if the product falls into the category of dangerous goods – including aerosol sprays, cologne, dry ice, lighters, matches, nail polish, nail polish remover, paint, perfume, solvents, some chemicals, and more.
How to Label Dangerous Goods
There are over a dozen dangerous goods labels we can use on packages. How do we know which ones are required? The two keys areas to look at are quantity and hazard type.
1) Hazard type
Hazard classes are broken out among nine different categories (each with its own label) based on the potential danger of the product. Be sure to consult the MSDS to find the hazard class label required on your package.
2) Quantity/concentration / packaging format
Whether a product can move under simplified handling often depends on:
- How much of the regulated substance is in each unit
- How many units ship per parcel
- How the product is packaged and prepared for transport
Because these thresholds can be carrier- and lane-specific, a product that ships compliantly to one country (or via one service) may be blocked or require different handling elsewhere.
How Passport Can Help
Shipping dangerous goods internationally is possible — but only when products are correctly identified, documented, and shipped under the right carrier and labeling rules. Passport helps brands evaluate which SKUs may be considered dangerous goods, collect and validate the required product safety documentation (including SDS/MSDS), and operationalize compliant cross-border shipping so orders are less likely to be delayed, rejected, or returned.
If you’re unsure whether products like perfumes, aerosols, nail polish, or dry ice can ship to your target markets, contact Passport to review your catalog and map a safe, scalable international strategy. You may also find Passport’s compliance services and landed cost resources useful as you plan international expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are dangerous goods in ecommerce shipping?
Dangerous goods are products that may pose a safety risk during transport because they are flammable, pressurized, corrosive, toxic, reactive, or otherwise hazardous. The United Nations has developed harmonized hazard classification criteria to ensure consistency across all regulatory systems and transport modes. In ecommerce, common examples include perfumes, aerosols, nail polish, nail polish remover, paints, adhesives, dry ice, lighters, matches, and some chemical-based products.
Are dangerous goods the same as hazmat?
In many ecommerce shipping conversations, dangerous goods and hazmat are used similarly. “Dangerous goods” is commonly used in international and air transport contexts under frameworks like the IATA DGR, while “hazmat” is often used in U.S. domestic shipping contexts under PHMSA regulations. The exact rules depend on the carrier, country, transport mode, and applicable regulations.
Can ecommerce brands ship dangerous goods internationally?
Often, yes. Many ecommerce brands can ship dangerous goods internationally if the product is correctly classified, documented, packaged, labeled, and accepted by the carrier and service level. However, not every dangerous goods product can ship to every country or through every carrier. See Passport’s international shipping compliance resources for guidance.
Why do carriers restrict dangerous goods?
Carriers restrict dangerous goods because mishandled items can create safety risks in aircraft, vehicles, warehouses, and customs facilities. Flammable liquids, aerosols, pressurized containers, corrosive substances, and reactive materials may require special packaging, labels, documentation, or service levels. World Bank
How do I know if my product is considered dangerous goods?
Start with the product’s SDS or MSDS from the manufacturer. Section 14 of the SDS — Transportation Information — notes any Department of Transportation restrictions surrounding the shipping of the substance. Brands should also confirm carrier acceptance because carrier rules may be stricter than the product’s general classification.
What is a UN number?
A UN number is a four-digit number used to identify dangerous goods for transport. UN numbers are set out in the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations (UNRTDG), published by UNECE. It helps carriers, customs authorities, and logistics providers understand the type of hazard involved and the handling requirements that apply.
What is a hazard class?
Under the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, transport hazards are grouped into nine classes, which may be subdivided into divisions and packing groups. Common ecommerce-relevant examples include flammable liquids, flammable solids, corrosives, toxic substances, aerosols, and miscellaneous dangerous goods. Hazard class helps determine packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements.
Does the quantity of dangerous goods matter?
Yes. Quantity can significantly affect shipping requirements. A small amount of a regulated substance may qualify for different handling than a larger shipment. Rules may depend on the amount per unit, the number of units per parcel, the packaging format, and the carrier’s route-specific policies. The IATA DGR covers storage and transport quantities, limitations, and packing instructions that vary by hazard class and substance.
Can I ship perfume internationally?
Often yes, but many perfumes and fragrances contain alcohol and may be treated as flammable liquids. Whether they can ship depends on the formulation, SDS classification, quantity, packaging, carrier, destination country, and service level.
Can I ship aerosols internationally?
Sometimes. Aerosols such as hair spray, deodorant spray, certain sunscreens, and other pressurized products may be regulated because they are pressurized and may also be flammable. Acceptance depends on the product classification, packaging, carrier, lane, and service level.
Can dangerous goods ship by air?
Some dangerous goods can ship by air, but air transport is often more restrictive than ground or ocean shipping. The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are the globally recognized reference standard for air shipments, helping shippers classify, mark, pack, label, and document dangerous goods in compliance with air transport regulations. Airlines and carriers may apply additional rules beyond the IATA DGR baseline.
What happens if dangerous goods are not declared correctly?
Under U.S. federal hazardous materials law, civil penalties for violations can reach $75,000 per violation, with a minimum of $450 for training violations. Beyond financial penalties, undeclared or mis-declared dangerous goods can be delayed, rejected, returned, or destroyed — and can create safety risks for carrier employees, aircraft, vehicles, customs facilities, and customers. Wto
Do dangerous goods require special packaging?
Usually, yes. Packaging requirements depend on the product classification, quantity, transport mode, and carrier requirements. Dangerous goods may require leakproof inner packaging, cushioning, orientation controls, pressure-resistant containers, UN-specification packaging, or other safeguards. The IATA DGR includes detailed packing instructions organized by hazard class and substance. World Bank
What should ecommerce brands do before launching international shipping for dangerous goods?
Brands should identify regulated SKUs, collect SDS/MSDS documents, confirm hazard classifications, map carrier and country restrictions, validate packaging and labeling requirements, train fulfillment teams, and configure checkout or order routing rules to prevent non-compliant shipments. For broader international expansion planning, see Passport’s guides on landed cost calculation, DDP vs. DDU shipping, and compliance services.
