Shipping hazardous items are not just niche or industrial. From the lithium batteries powering your best-selling gadgets to the flammable perfumes in your cosmetics line, these everyday products are classified as dangerous goods, and they require special handling.
If you are not treating hazardous item shipping seriously, you are risking regulatory fines, delayed deliveries, and unhappy customers. With the right knowledge and systems in place, compliance can be straightforward and even automated. Let’s break down what hazardous items really are, why they matter in logistics, and how to keep your shipments safe, legal, and on time.
What are hazardous items in e-commerce delivery?
Hazardous items, or Dangerous Goods (DG), are materials that pose potential risks to health, safety, property, or the environment during transportation. In e-commerce, these commonly appear in everyday items:
- Lithium batteries in electronics (DG codes: 816, 817, 818, 820)
- Flammable liquids in cosmetics like perfumes or nail polish (DG code: 812)
- Dry ice used for shipping perishable or temperature-sensitive goods (DG code: 819)
Even though these goods are frequently shipped, they must follow strict shipping rules and labeling requirements.
| Dangerous Goods Code | Dangerous Goods Code Description |
| 810 | HAZMAT Air Eligible Ethanol Package Air Eligible Ethanol Package |
| 811 | HAZMAT Class 1 – Toy Propellant/Safety Fuse Package |
| 812 | HAZMAT Class 3 – Flammable Liquid Package |
| 813 | HAZMAT Class 7 – Radioactive Materials Package |
| 814 | HAZMAT Class 8 – Corrosive Materials Package |
| 815 | HAZMAT Class 8 – Nonspillable Wet Battery Package |
| 816 | HAZMAT Class 9 – Lithium Battery Marked – Ground Only Package |
| 817 | HAZMAT Class 9 – Lithium Battery – Returns Package |
| 818 | HAZMAT Class 9 – Lithium Batteries, Marked Package |
| 819 | HAZMAT Class 9 – Dry Ice Package |
| 820 | HAZMAT Class 9 – Lithium Batteries, Unmarked Package |
| 821 | HAZMAT Class 9 – Magnetized Materials Package |
| 822 | HAZMAT Division 4.1 – Flammable Solids or Safety Matches Package |
| 823 | HAZMAT Division 5.1 – Oxidizers Package |
| 824 | HAZMAT Division 5.2 – Organic Peroxides Package |
| 825 | HAZMAT Division 6.1 – Toxic Materials Package |
| 826 | HAZMAT Division 6.2 – Infectious Substances Package |
| 827 | HAZMAT Excepted Quantity Provision Package |
| 828 | HAZMAT Ground Only |
| 829 | HAZMAT ID8000 Consumer Commodity Package |
| 830 | HAZMAT Lighters Package |
| 831 | HAZMAT LTD QTY Ground Package |
| 832 | HAZMAT Small Quantity Provision Package |
Why hazardous items matter in logistics?
A single mislabeled lithium battery or forgotten dry ice alert can bring your entire shipment and reputation to a halt. Some reasons why DG compliance is vital:
- Safety: Protects carriers, handlers, and recipients from chemical burns, fire, or contamination.
- Compliance: Required by air (IATA), sea (IMDG), and ground (DOT/ADR) regulations.
- Reputation: Avoids delivery delays or product recalls due to non-compliance.
Logistics providers like us need detailed and accurate information in advance to prepare for safe handling and documentation. That’s where pre-alerting comes in.
How to pre-alert your logistics partner effectviely
The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated.
With our system, all you need to do is provide the Dangerous Goods Code, and the correct shipping label will be automatically generated. This minimizes human error and ensures compliance with global shipping standards.
Use standard box sizes
- Identify the correct Dangerous Goods Code.
- Submit the code in our system when placing your order.
- Let the system handle the rest—from label generation to compliance documentation.
- Double-check documentation for accuracy before dispatch.
Example: Shipping a power bank? Use code 816 for “HAZMAT Class 9 – Lithium Battery Marked – Ground Only Package.” Sending perfume? Use code 812 for “HAZMAT Class 3 – Flammable Liquid Package.”
Shipping hazardous goods? CIRRO E-Commerce makes it simple
At CIRRO E-Commerce, we make hazardous goods shipping hassle-free. Our system allows you to simply input the Dangerous Goods Code, and the correct labels and documentation are automatically generated—no manual formatting, no second-guessing.
This automation ensures your shipments meet compliance standards while saving you time and reducing error. Whether you are shipping lithium batteries, flammable goods, or temperature-sensitive products like dry ice, we have the tools to help you manage it all—safely, efficiently, and confidently.
Need help identifying the right Dangerous Goods Code for your product? Our team is here to assist—just reach out.
