Shipping Hazardous Materials
Learn how to safely and successfully transport hazardous materials with your UPS contract. Need a contract? Connect with us and we'll get you up and running.
Shipping Dangerous Goods
Types of Dangerous Goods and Commodities
International Dangerous Goods Chemical Tables
Preparing a Dangerous Goods Parcel
Dangerous goods parcels must be prepared in accordance with ADR regulations for ground shipments and IATA regulations for air shipments. Shippers must make certain a parcel is correctly marked, packaged, labelled and documented.
Note: Preparing dangerous goods for transport by aircraft usually requires compliance with more stringent regulations than for ground transport. For example, for air shipment, parcels containing liquids must satisfy a pressure differential test specified in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Each dangerous goods parcel must also have the required IATA Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods.
Recent Regulatory Changes
Effective 1 January 2020, all manufacturers and distributors of cells, batteries and equipment powered by cells and batteries manufactured after 30 June 2003 are required to make available a test summary as specified in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.
Distributors and shippers are not required to provide printed copies of the test summary with each consignment containing lithium batteries, and are encouraged to make it available using technology, for example, by listing it on the company’s website.
For more information on IATA regulations, please visit the IATA website
or contact your local account executive or customer service representative.
Dangerous Goods regulations are subject to change on a regular basis.
UPS Ready Vendors
UPS works with third-party dangerous goods software vendors. The following vendor list offers preparation modules for the IATA Shipper's Declaration for dangerous goods. These programmes work in conjunction with WorldShip.
- Dangerous Goods Council
- Hazmat Software, LLC©
- Labelmaster
- QAD Precision
ADR – Ground Transport in Europe
The Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road is known as the ADR. Countries that have signed the ADR agreement are required to comply with the regulations for transporting dangerous goods on the ground in Europe. UPS operates in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 1.1.3.6.
Note: ADR applies only to dangerous goods shipments in Europe. See ‘UPS International Dangerous Goods Countries/Territories’ below.
Dry Ice
Dry ice can be shipped in the UPS air and ground networks domestically and internationally. Shipping Dry Ice in air services requires a special agreement with UPS.
Packages must display appropriate information on the UPS address label, as well as correct marking and labelling. If dry ice is used to refrigerate dangerous goods, then a dangerous goods contract is required.
