Hazardous Materials Transport Regulations
Hazard classes covering all dangerous goods in maritime transport
Current mandatory IMDG Code amendment (effective January 1, 2026)
IMO member states enforcing the IMDG Code under SOLAS
Regulation Overview
https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/safety/pages/dangerousgoods-default.aspx
The IMDG Code is the globally mandatory regulatory framework governing the safe classification, packaging, labeling, documentation, stowage, and segregation of dangerous goods transported by sea. For supply chain and compliance teams, IMDG obligations require substance-level hazard data—UN Numbers, Proper Shipping Names, hazard classes, and packing groups—from every supplier shipping hazardous materials by ocean freight. Amendment 42-24 became the sole mandatory standard on January 1, 2026, aligning with the 23rd revised edition of the UN Model Regulations. It introduces new UN numbers for sodium-ion batteries, updated vehicle classifications for lithium-powered EVs, and stricter carbon stowage requirements. Shippers bear full legal responsibility for correct classification and documentation. IMDG Code compliance requires validated Safety Data Sheets, accurate Dangerous Goods Declarations, and container packing certificates from every supplier. When amendments take effect, your entire dangerous goods inventory requires reclassification and document updates.
Key Components / Sub-Frameworks
Shippers and consignors of dangerous goods transported by sea\nManufacturers and suppliers providing hazard classification data and SDS\nFreight forwarders and logistics providers handling dangerous goods documentation\nCarriers and vessel operators accepting dangerous goods cargo\nPort authorities and terminal operators enforcing IMDG compliance\nImporters receiving dangerous goods shipments at destination ports
Key Thresholds
IMO publishes a new IMDG amendment every two years. Amendment 42-24 introduced new UN numbers, reclassified substances, and updated packing instructions. Your SDS library references the previous edition. Carrier systems reject bookings. Your team scrambles to revalidate hundreds of supplier documents against the current Dangerous Goods List.
A single incorrect UN number or missing packing group on a Dangerous Goods Declaration halts your shipment at the port. The carrier rejects the booking. Demurrage charges accumulate daily. Your supplier provided an SDS with the wrong hazard class—but you signed the declaration. The shipper is always liable.
Your product contains components spanning four hazard classes. Subsidiary risks require secondary labels. Segregation rules prohibit stowage near certain other classes. Without validated hazard data at the component level, you cannot produce a compliant stowage plan—and the carrier will not load your container.
Every dangerous goods shipment requires an SDS with Section 14 transport data referencing the current IMDG amendment. You have 500 active hazardous SKUs across 80 suppliers. One-third of your SDS library is outdated. Manual validation of UN numbers, packing groups, and special provisions against the current DGL is unsustainable at scale.
Certivo In Action
CERTIVO IN ACTION — IMDG WORKFLOW
From Manual SDS Validation to Automated Hazard Data Management
CORA extracts and validates hazard classification data from supplier SDS documents automatically. Your team focuses on shipment exceptions—not manually cross-referencing UN Numbers against the Dangerous Goods List.
Dangerous Goods Declaration Acceleration
Generate complete, carrier-accepted DGDs and container packing certificates in hours—not the days of manual compilation that cause booking delays and demurrage charges.
Real-Time Amendment Sync
When IMO mandates a new IMDG Code amendment, Certivo flags every outdated SDS, reclassified substance, and new UN number in your inventory. Know your exposure before carriers reject your bookings.
Key Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
What products and companies are subject to IMDG Code obligations?
Any company shipping dangerous goods by sea—shippers, manufacturers, freight forwarders, carriers, and port operators—must comply with the IMDG Code. The Code covers all substances, materials, and articles listed in the Dangerous Goods List across nine hazard classes. Obligations apply to 175 IMO member states under SOLAS Chapter VII and MARPOL Annex III. Certivo helps companies identify which products in their portfolio require IMDG classification and documentation.
What are the penalties for IMDG Code non-compliance?
Enforcement is handled by port state control authorities in each member state and varies by jurisdiction. Consequences include vessel detention, cargo refusal, shipment delays, substantial monetary fines, and in serious cases criminal liability for the shipper or carrier. Misdeclared dangerous goods are the leading cause of maritime cargo incidents. National authorities can ban non-compliant shippers from future bookings.
How does Certivo keep up with IMDG Code amendments?
Certivo maintains continuous sync with the IMDG Dangerous Goods List, incorporating each biennial amendment—currently Amendment 42-24—as it takes effect. When new UN numbers, reclassifications, or updated packing instructions are published, CORA flags affected products across your portfolio and triggers SDS revalidation workflows automatically, ensuring continuous audit-ready documentation.
What document formats does Certivo accept from suppliers?
Certivo accepts any format: SDS PDFs in GHS-16 structure, Excel-based hazard data sheets, XML feeds from ERP systems, and freeform supplier responses. CORA extracts Section 14 transport data regardless of format or language, eliminating the need to standardize inputs across your global supply chain. AI-native document parsing handles multi-language SDS libraries at scale.
Does Certivo support IMDG alongside IATA, ADR, and other transport regulations?
Yes. Certivo validates supplier hazard data against IMDG, IATA DGR, US 49 CFR, and ADR requirements simultaneously. The same SDS submission is parsed once and validated across maritime, air, road, and rail frameworks—eliminating duplicate collection campaigns and ensuring multimodal dangerous goods compliance from a single supplier self-service portal.