What are the rules for products with hazard labels?

Some everyday products are subject to the regulations governing hazardous substances: perfume, nail polish, aftershave, aerosol cans, and certain cleaning products. They contain alcohol, acetone, or propellant and are therefore flammable. Separate rules and agreements with the carrier apply to their transport.

How to Tell If It Applies

Check the label. If it has a diamond-shaped hazard symbol—usually a flame or an exclamation point—then the product falls under that category. Your supplier or manufacturer can provide you with the safety data sheet, where this information is clearly stated.

Why this needs to be done in advance

This is the classic issue that only comes up once the first shipment is ready to go. Carriers have their own terms and conditions for these types of items—such as liquid products that might leak or break—and not every service or destination is available. If you find this out after the fact, your inventory is already in the warehouse and you’re stuck.

What's Changing

• The selection of carriers and services may be more limited
• Not every destination is possible, especially outside the EU
• There may be requirements regarding the packaging and labeling of the box
• Air freight is almost always out of the question

Mention them during the intake interview

During the meeting, please specify which items in your product line fall under this category, even if there are only a few. We will then review on a case-by-case basis what is possible and with which party, and it will be incorporated into the overall plan rather than treated as an exception.

Your customer should know this, too

If you can't ship a particular item to all countries, be sure to note that on your product page or in your checkout process. An order that you have to cancel later costs you more than an order that was never placed.

Mixed Orders

If someone orders a perfume along with a book, the perfume determines the shipping rules for the entire order. Keep this in mind when estimating your shipping costs and delivery times, because it’s not the average that counts—it’s the heaviest item.

Keep your information up to date

If a manufacturer changes the composition of a product, the classification may also change. Be sure to verify this when switching to a new supplier or using a new formula, so that you don’t ship based on outdated information.

What You Need to Submit

Please include the safety data sheet with these items, or at least the classification listed on it. That document is used to determine how the items may be shipped. Without that information, a shipment cannot be scheduled, and your inventory will remain unsold.