Dangerous Goods
Dangerous & Restricted Goods
Quick Summary: How to declare dangerous or restricted items on your products so couriers can process them correctly.
Overview
Some products are classified as dangerous goods (also called hazardous materials or hazmat) under international shipping regulations. Items like lithium batteries, liquids, magnetised materials, and certain chemicals are subject to special handling and documentation requirements.
When you declare dangerous goods on your products in FedEx, the system uses that information to:
- Select courier services that accept the item type
- Flag orders that may need additional safety documents
- Prevent label generation failures due to undeclared hazmat restrictions
Important: Dangerous goods regulations vary by courier, destination country, and item type. Contact your Account Manager before shipping any restricted items to confirm carrier acceptance and documentation requirements.
Declaring Dangerous Goods on Products
When creating or editing a product, use the dangerous goods checkboxes to declare items correctly:
| Field | When to Enable |
|---|---|
| Has Battery | Product contains or is packed with batteries |
| Battery Type | Select the battery chemistry (e.g., lithium-ion, lithium-metal) |
| Battery Weight | Enter the gross battery weight in kg |
| Has Liquids | Product contains liquids |
| HazMAT | Product contains other dangerous materials not covered above |
When dangerous goods are declared, you may need to upload supporting documents such as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or UN 38.3 test reports. Upload them on the product detail page.
Tip: Incorrect or missing dangerous goods declarations can cause courier rejections, shipment delays, or additional charges. Declare all items accurately.
Dangerous Goods Classifications
The following nine classes are used in international shipping regulations (based on IATA/UN classification). Knowing your product's class helps you communicate with your Account Manager about shipping options.
| Class | Type | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Explosives | Dynamite, fireworks |
| Class 2 | Gases | Lighters, carbon dioxide, aerosol sprays |
| Class 3 | Flammable Liquids | Paints, alcohol, petrol |
| Class 4 | Flammable Solids | Matches, sodium |
| Class 5 | Oxidising Substances / Organic Peroxides | Bleaches |
| Class 6 | Toxic / Infectious Substances | Nicotine, pesticide, bacteria |
| Class 7 | Radioactive Material | Uranium, plutonium |
| Class 8 | Corrosives | Battery acids, mercury |
| Class 9 | Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods | Asbestos, lithium batteries, magnetised material |
Note: Not all couriers accept all classes. Availability depends on the courier, route, and your account configuration.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries are the most common dangerous goods in e-commerce shipments. They are regulated as Class 9 and split into two main types:
| Battery Type | UN Number | Common In |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion (rechargeable) | UN 3480 / UN 3481 | Power banks, laptops, smartphones, e-bikes |
| Lithium-metal (non-rechargeable) | UN 3090 / UN 3091 | Watches, calculators, some medical devices |
Regulations also depend on how the batteries are shipped:
- Contained in equipment (e.g., phone with battery installed) — usually fewer restrictions
- Packed with equipment (e.g., battery alongside device in same box) — moderate restrictions
- Shipped without equipment (e.g., standalone batteries) — strictest regime
Most couriers require that lithium batteries be tested to UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Part III Subsection 38.3, and an MSDS is usually required.
Warning: Lithium battery shipping regulations are complex and change frequently. Always verify current requirements with your Account Manager before shipping.
Prohibited Items
The following items are commonly prohibited or heavily restricted by most couriers under IATA and UPU regulations:
- Explosives, ammunition, or fireworks
- Compressed gases and flammable aerosols
- Flammable liquids (paints, solvents, fuels)
- Radioactive materials
- Live animals or insects
- Illegal drugs or controlled substances
- Obscene, offensive, or libellous material
- Counterfeit goods or items infringing intellectual property
- Weapons, firearms, bladed items, or martial arts equipment
Food supplements and pharmaceutical products may be restricted depending on the destination country and may require licences or certificates.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Each courier maintains its own list of prohibited and restricted items. Check with your Account Manager or the courier's published terms before shipping.
Magnetised Material
Items containing magnets (speakers, hard drives, magnetic toys) may be classified as dangerous goods if the magnetic field exceeds certain limits. The thresholds are defined in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and vary by field strength at specified distances from the package.
If your product contains magnets, declare it under HazMAT on the product and contact your Account Manager for guidance. An MSDS and testing certification may be required.
Workflows
Workflow: Declare a Product as Dangerous Goods
When: You have a product that contains batteries, liquids, or other restricted materials.
Steps:
- Navigate to Inventory → Products and open the product
- Under dangerous goods, enable the relevant checkboxes (Has Battery, Has Liquids, HazMAT)
- If enabling Has Battery, select the Battery Type and enter the Battery Weight
- Upload any required supporting documents (MSDS, test reports)
- Click Save
- Contact your Account Manager to confirm courier acceptance for the declared item
Result: The product is marked for dangerous goods handling. The system will use this information when selecting couriers and generating labels.
Workflow: Check If an Item Can Ship
When: You are unsure whether a product can be shipped through your available couriers.
Steps:
- Open the Shipping Calculator
- Enter your warehouse, destination, and package details
- Set Batteries to Yes and select the battery type if applicable
- Set Liquids to Yes if the product contains liquids
- Click Search or Get Quote
- If no results appear, the route may not support dangerous goods — contact your Account Manager
Result: You see which couriers accept the shipment for the route. If none appear, consult your Account Manager.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Label generation fails with hazmat error | Product is not declared as dangerous goods, or the selected courier does not accept the item type | Verify the product has the correct dangerous goods checkboxes enabled. If so, the selected courier may not accept the item — switch to a DG-capable courier |
| Product rejected by courier despite declaration | Item falls outside the courier's dangerous goods policy | Contact your Account Manager to confirm acceptance and check if an alternative courier is available |
| No couriers shown in Shipping Calculator for battery items | No courier available for the route that accepts the declared battery type | Contact your Account Manager to discuss options or alternative routes |
| Required documents missing | MSDS or test report not uploaded | Upload the required documents on the product detail page. Contact the product manufacturer or supplier if you do not have them |
Related Documentation
- Products Overview — create and manage products [pref can_access_shipping_calculator]
- Shipping Calculator — get rate quotes with battery/liquid flags [endpref]
- Understanding Rates — how shipping rates are calculated
- Contact Support — reach your Account Manager