Dangerous goods

Before sending the shipment, please check whether you are sending prohibited goods.

Dangerous goods (also known as hazardous material or hazmat) are any substances or materials that are capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property. 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 Express must be notified of intent to ship
  • Dangerous Goods shipments are subject to additional charges

Many commodities that are classified as Dangerous Goods are eligible for shipping.

DHL Express 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

The regulations include specific rules for properly packaging Dangerous Goods, labeling boxes 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 have characteristics that cause them to 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 Lithium Batteries to ensure that account holders are sufficiently trained, instructed and will prepare Lithium Batteries shipments according to the applicable regulations and DHL Express policies and procedures. Interested in becoming a DHL Express pre-approved account? Our knowledgeable experts are here to provide professional help and guidance. Contact our Dangerous Goods experts