Most dangerous goods we see aren’t chemicals in drums. They’re deodorant, perfume, a laptop, a tin of paint, a cordless drill, a used car part with oil still in it. All are regulated the moment they go near an aircraft. This is the plain-English guide to what counts, what’s refused, and what to tell us before you pack.
Dangerous goods are not just drums of acid and cylinders of gas. In our experience the overwhelming majority are ordinary household and workplace items that nobody thinks twice about: a can of deodorant, a bottle of aftershave, a laptop, a tin of paint, a cordless drill, a used engine part with oil still in it.
The international rules recognise nine classes. These are the ones that come up in everyday shipments:
Under the rules, the person offering the goods for transport is the shipper — and the shipper carries the legal responsibility for declaring them correctly. That applies whether you are a multinational or someone sending a box to family.
Each of these covers what the item actually is under the rules, how it has to be packed and documented, and what is refused outright.
Lithium batteries, power banks, e-bikes and the spare parts that hide dangerous goods.
Deodorant, hairspray, aftershave and fragrance — the items refused most often of all.
Paints, solvents, glues, cleaning products and workshop chemicals.
Shipping frozen or temperature-sensitive goods with solid carbon dioxide.
What the code stamped on a certified box means, and when you need one.