Requirements for International Shipments

Chemical packaging and labelling compliance changes again on 1 January 2027. The 68th edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations takes effect that day, and the next IMDG Code amendment opens for voluntary use at the same time.

Every international shipment carries two sets of rules. Supply and use labels warn the end user about hazards. Transport packaging, marks and labels protect carriers, ports and emergency crews on the way. A mistake on either set can hold cargo at the origin or the destination.

This guide explains what shippers need to get right before the next regulatory cycle starts.

Two Label Systems on One Shipment

A single drum or carton can need both label types. The UN GHS guidance shows a typical example: the outer box carries the transport marks and label, while the inner bottle carries the GHS hazard label. The two systems overlap but do not replace each other.

Supply and Use Labels

GHS-based labels, such as those required by the EU CLP Regulation, carry the product identifier, pictograms, signal word, hazard statements and supplier details. They tell the end user how to handle the product. Under CLP, the supplier named on the label must be established in the EU from 1 July 2026.

Transport Marks and Labels

Transport rules require the UN number, proper shipping name and hazard class labels on the outer package. In the UN example, only the transport markings and labels are required on outer packagings. Some competent authorities may still require a GHS label on the outer packaging where no transport label applies. The GHS and transport elements may also appear in a combined format.

Confirm the rule for each destination before you print labels.

UN Specification Packaging Requirements

Dangerous goods usually need packaging that passed UN performance tests. Only designs that passed those tests may carry the UN specification mark. Test severity depends on the hazard of the contents, which the packing group expresses. The tests include drop, stacking, pressure differential and vibration. Ordinary commercial cartons do not qualify.

Reading the UN Mark

The mark must be permanent, legible and durable. It shows the UN symbol, the packaging code, the packing group performance designator, the test pressure or gross mass and the manufacturer code.

Matching Packing Group to Packaging

The performance letter in the mark tells you which packing groups the design can carry:

• X: Packing Groups I, II and III.

• Y: Packing Groups II and III.

• Z: Packing Group III only.

For a Packing Group II material, the mark must show X or Y. A Z mark alone is not enough. Also check that the gross weight of the package stays within the mass limit shown on the mark where one applies.

Dates That Change the Rules in 2027

Three timelines matter for shippers over the next 14 months:

• IATA DGR, 68th edition: It takes effect on 1 January 2027, and the 67th edition stays valid until 31 December 2026. IATA adds no new marking or labelling requirements but clarifies existing ones, including overpack markings and battery mark placement.

• IMDG Code: Amendment 42-24 has been mandatory since 1 January 2026. Amendment 43-26 was adopted in May 2026. Voluntary use starts on 1 January 2027 and it becomes mandatory on 1 January 2028.

• EU CLP label format: The formatting rules and the relabelling obligation now apply from 1 January 2028.

Use the 2027 window to update procedures, software and staff training.

Destination Market Requirements

Each destination adds its own layer of rules. For air freight, 17 countries submitted new or amended state variations for the 68th edition. Check the variations for your destination before you book.

Overpacks need extra care. The IATA DGR requires the word OVERPACK on the outer surface in letters at least 12 mm high. Every package inside the overpack must still meet its own marking and labelling requirements.

Update Section 14 of your safety data sheets so it cites the correct IMDG amendment. A carrier can reject a booking when the transport information is out of date.

Common Packaging and Labelling Errors

Most rejected shipments trace back to a short list of mistakes:

• Using ordinary cartons or drums without a UN specification mark.

• Choosing packaging whose performance letter is too low for the packing group.

• Leaving the UN number or hazard label off the outer package.

• Shipping an overpack without the OVERPACK mark.

• Applying labels in a language the destination does not accept.

• Sending faded, damaged or partly covered labels.

What Shippers Should Do Before 1 January 2027

Start with the shipments you already have booked. Work through this list in order:

1. Check the UN mark on every package against the product's packing group.

2. Confirm that outer packages show the UN number, proper shipping name and hazard labels.

3. Review the destination country's state variations and label language rules.

4. Order the 68th edition IATA DGR and plan for IMDG Amendment 43-26.

5. Update safety data sheets, templates and staff training for the 2027 changes.

Buyers who treat packaging and label accuracy as a supplier selection factor avoid rejected cargo and late deliveries. Ready to source sodium hypochlorite from verified global suppliers? Explore competitive offers on our platform today.