Import & Export Guides
Non-Dangerous Goods Certificates, SDS and Identification Reports for Air Freight From China
Sep
An importer books air freight for a carton of cleaning powder samples, a batch of industrial adhesive, or a box of speaker components from Shenzhen. The goods are not obviously hazardous, and nobody mentioned dangerous goods when the quote was agreed. Then the forwarder calls: the airline wants proof that the cargo is not dangerous before it will accept it. Without that proof, the shipment waits in the warehouse.
This guide explains why airlines ask for this proof, the documents involved — the safety data sheet, the non-dangerous goods declaration and the transport identification report issued in China — which products commonly trigger the request, and how to prepare so it does not delay your shipment. It sits alongside our guide on the dangerous goods declaration, which covers cargo that is actually hazardous.
Why airlines ask for proof that goods are safe
Aircraft carry dangerous goods only under strict conditions set by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. The biggest risk to an aircraft is not declared dangerous goods, which are packed and handled correctly, but undeclared ones — a flammable liquid described as “sample”, or an oxidising powder described as “chemical”. Airline and ground handling acceptance staff are therefore trained to be suspicious of descriptions that could hide hazardous goods.
When a description or the goods themselves suggest a possible hazard, the burden falls on the shipper to show that the goods are not regulated. A general description such as “chemical powder” or “liquid” almost guarantees a request for documentation; a precise description backed by a technical document usually does not.
The documents involved
| Document | Who produces it | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Data Sheet (SDS, formerly MSDS) | The manufacturer | Composition, hazards and handling; Section 14 gives transport classification |
| Non-DG declaration or certificate | The shipper, sometimes on a forwarder or airline form | The shipper’s statement that the goods are not dangerous goods for air transport |
| Air transport condition identification report | An accredited testing institute in China | A technical assessment of whether the specific goods are safe to carry by air |
| Magnetic field test report | A testing institute or accredited laboratory | Whether magnetised material exceeds the limits for air transport |
The SDS follows a 16-section format under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). The section that matters most for shipping is Section 14, Transport information, which states whether the product has a UN number and dangerous goods class. An SDS that says “not regulated” for air transport in Section 14 is the starting point, but airlines and Chinese handling agents often want more than the manufacturer’s own document.
That is where the identification report comes in. For cargo leaving Chinese airports, handling agents commonly require a transport condition identification report issued by an accredited institute for chemicals, powders, liquids, batteries and magnetic goods. The report is specific to the product and often has a limited validity. Your Chinese supplier or forwarder usually arranges it; the time and cost depend on the product and institute.
Reading Section 14 of an SDS correctly
Importers are often handed an SDS and told it proves the goods are safe. It is worth reading Section 14 yourself, because it is short and the details matter. A complete Section 14 lists the transport classification separately for each mode — road (ADR), sea (IMDG Code) and air (IATA/ICAO). For each mode it gives the UN number, the proper shipping name, the hazard class and the packing group, or states that the product is not regulated.
Several things commonly go wrong. Some SDS documents give a classification for road transport only and leave the air entry blank, which does not answer the airline’s question. Some are written only in Chinese, so the forwarder in China can read them but the airline or the Bangladesh side cannot; ask for an English version. Some are many years old and refer to an earlier formulation of the product. And some describe a product family rather than the exact grade you are buying. If any of these apply, ask the manufacturer for a current, product-specific SDS before you book, not after the cargo is at the airport.
Who is responsible: shipper, forwarder or airline
Responsibility for a correct declaration sits with the shipper — the party that tenders the goods for carriage, which on a China export is usually the supplier or its forwarder acting for it. The forwarder checks documents and may refuse cargo it considers doubtful; the airline and its handling agent make the final acceptance decision. As the importer, you are not usually the legal shipper, but you are the one whose goods are delayed. That is why it pays to ask the right questions at the order stage and to make correct transport documents part of what you expect the supplier to deliver.
Products that commonly trigger the request
- Powders — chemical, food additive, cosmetic or pigment powders, because some powders are oxidisers, flammable solids or toxic.
- Liquids and gels — cleaners, adhesives, inks, cosmetics, essential oils. Many contain flammable solvents or alcohol.
- Aerosols — usually regulated, even when the contents seem harmless.
- Magnetic goods — speakers, motors, magnetic toys and loose magnets. Strong magnetic fields can interfere with aircraft navigation instruments; IATA Packing Instruction 953 covers magnetised material and requires testing of field strength at a set distance.
- Goods containing batteries — covered by separate lithium battery rules. See our guide on lithium battery air freight.
- Machinery with residual fuel or oil — engines and equipment that have been test-run.
A walkthrough: shipping a chemical sample by air
Here is how a typical shipment of a non-hazardous chemical sample from Guangzhou to Dhaka should be handled, step by step:
- 1. Ask the supplier for the SDS before booking. Check Section 14. If it shows a UN number and hazard class, the goods are dangerous and need full dangerous goods handling, not a non-DG certificate.
- 2. If Section 14 says not regulated, ask for the identification report. Confirm with the forwarder whether the departure airport’s handling agent requires one for this product type.
- 3. Use a precise description. The air waybill and commercial invoice should describe the product by its actual name and use, not “chemical” or “sample”.
- 4. Match the documents to the goods. The product name on the SDS, report, invoice and carton labels must be the same.
- 5. Prepare for the Bangladesh side. Chemicals may need import permissions or additional checks at Dhaka regardless of their transport classification. Check before shipping; see restricted and prohibited items.
What happens when goods are wrongly declared
The consequences of getting this wrong range from inconvenient to serious. At the mild end, the shipment is held until documents arrive, missing its flight and sometimes attracting storage charges. If the goods are found to be dangerous after acceptance — during security screening or because a package leaks — the shipment can be offloaded, returned or destroyed, and the shipper may face penalties from aviation authorities. Forwarders who have been caught out tend to become much stricter with that shipper afterwards.
It is also worth knowing that a non-DG certificate is not a way around the rules. If a product is actually dangerous, a certificate claiming otherwise is a false declaration. Where goods are genuinely hazardous, the right options are to ship them properly as dangerous goods by air, or to move them by sea, where the rules are different; see our guide on sea freight for hazardous cargo.
Common mistakes
- Booking first, documents later. Discovering the requirement after the cargo reaches the airport adds days.
- Using an old or generic SDS. An SDS for a similar product, or one years out of date, may be rejected.
- Vague descriptions. Words like “chemical”, “powder” or “parts” invite questions.
- Forgetting magnets. Speaker and motor shipments are often delayed because nobody considered the magnetic field.
Talk to DE International
DE International arranges air freight, documentation and customs clearance from China to Bangladesh, including shipments that need SDS review or identification reports. See our China sourcing and buying agent service, browse our shop, or contact us before you book.
