Is my cargo dangerous goods? Check in seconds.
Type an HSN code, a product name or a UN number, or upload the MSDS. See whether it usually ships as general cargo or as dangerous goods (HAZ) by air and by sea, the likely UN numbers, the documents and labels to prepare, and which carriers may refuse it.
From product to booking, in three steps.
Dangerous goods in plain words
Explosives (1), gases (2), flammable liquids (3), flammable solids (4), oxidisers and peroxides (5), toxic and infectious (6), radioactive (7), corrosives (8) and miscellaneous, including lithium batteries and marine pollutants (9).
Section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet gives the UN number, class and packing group. The HSN code or product name only tells you how likely it is.
Some goods allowed by sea are cargo-aircraft-only or forbidden by air, such as lithium batteries on their own, lighters and many gases. Strong magnets are DG by air only.
Shipping lines can refuse cargo that the rules allow. Charcoal, seed cake, calcium hypochlorite and fireworks are common examples. Check before you book.
Sources: YAM Logistics’ own guidance, written by our team, and the public-domain US DOT Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101) for UN numbers, names, classes and indicative air status. This tool does not reproduce the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or the IMDG Code. See also our dangerous goods shipping service, free DG labels, lithium battery checker and HSN code finder.
Questions people ask
Does the HSN code tell me if my cargo is dangerous goods?+
Not on its own. HSN is a customs tariff code; dangerous goods are classified by the substance and its properties, shown as a UN number in Section 14 of the MSDS. The same HSN heading can hold both DG and non-DG products, which is why this checker gives a likelihood and tells you what to check.
What is the difference between HAZ, DG and general cargo?+
HAZ (hazardous) and DG (dangerous goods) mean the same thing in shipping: goods with a UN number under the IMDG Code (sea) or the IATA / ICAO rules (air). General cargo is anything that is not DG. Some general cargo still needs special handling, such as perishables, valuables or out-of-gauge cargo.
Where do I find the UN number?+
In Section 14 (Transport information) of the product’s Safety Data Sheet (MSDS / SDS). If Section 14 says “not regulated” or “not dangerous goods”, the product is normally shipped as general cargo.
Why do shipping lines ask for an MSDS even for non-DG cargo?+
Lines, CFSs and airlines check chemicals, oils, powders and similar cargo to make sure nothing dangerous is misdeclared. Misdeclared cargo has caused serious ship fires, so most lines want the MSDS and a non-hazardous declaration on your letterhead.
Is this tool official?+
No. It reflects YAM Logistics’ own knowledge and experience and is for guidance only. It is not the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or the IMDG Code. The shipper is legally responsible for classification. Always confirm with a certified DG professional before booking.
What happens to the MSDS I upload?+
The page first reads it in your browser. If you choose to send it to our DG desk, it is stored securely by YAM Logistics, used to answer your enquiry and to improve our internal cargo knowledge base, and never sold or shared. You can ask us to delete it at any time.