DG Cargo Handling Safe & Compliant Dangerous Goods Shipping in India
Everything you need to know about DG cargo regulations in India — IATA classes, packaging, documentation, and how Movizy ensures your dangerous goods ship safely and without penalties.
3 April 2026
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11 min read
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Movizy Freight India
Shipping dangerous goods (DG cargo) without proper documentation, packaging, or labeling isn't just a compliance failure — it's a criminal liability in India and internationally. From lithium batteries in Electronic City to chemicals in Peenya Industrial Area, thousands of Bangalore businesses ship regulated goods every month. Here is exactly what you need to know to do it safely, legally, and without costly rejections at the airport or port.
DG Cargo by Road & Port · Movizy Freight India
IATA · IMDG · CMVR Compliant
01
What Is DG Cargo?
Dangerous goods (DG) are articles or substances that can pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment when transported. They are regulated internationally by IATA (for air), IMDG (for sea), and ADR/CMVR (for road), and must be classified, packaged, labeled, and documented according to strict protocols before any shipment can be accepted by a carrier.
The term "DG cargo" covers a much wider range of goods than most businesses realise. Perfumes, nail polish, paint, aerosol sprays, power banks, fire extinguishers, hand sanitiser — all of these are classified as dangerous goods and require special handling when shipped commercially.
Key Regulation for India
In India, air DG shipments are governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), updated annually. Sea shipments follow the IMDG Code. Road transport of hazmat is regulated under the CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rules). Non-compliance can result in shipment rejection, hefty fines, or criminal prosecution under Indian law.
02
The 9 Classes of Dangerous Goods
IATA and the UN classify all dangerous goods into 9 categories. Knowing your cargo's class determines which packaging, labeling, and documentation rules apply to your DG shipment from India.
1
Explosives
Fireworks, ammunition, flares, airbags
2
Gases
Compressed gas, aerosols, lighters, CO₂
3
Flammable Liquids
Perfume, paint, alcohol, acetone, fuel
4
Flammable Solids
Matches, magnesium, self-reactive substances
5
Oxidizers
Hydrogen peroxide, fertilisers, bleach
6
Toxic & Infectious
Pesticides, biosamples, medical waste
7
Radioactive
Medical isotopes, industrial gauges
8
Corrosives
Battery acid, caustic soda, mercury
9
Miscellaneous
Lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised material, elevated temperature
* Class 9 (Miscellaneous) is the most commonly shipped DG class for Indian exporters — especially lithium batteries (UN 3480/3481) and dry ice (UN 1845).
03
Most Commonly Shipped DG Items From India
Many Indian exporters are surprised to discover that their regular cargo qualifies as dangerous goods. Here are the most common DG shipments from Bangalore and across India.
UN 3480
Lithium Ion Batteries (Standalone)
Class 9 · Electronics, EV parts, power storage — most exported DG item from India's tech corridor
Class 9
UN 3481
Lithium Batteries in Equipment
Class 9 · Laptops, phones, cameras, medical devices — shipped with or contained in equipment
Class 9
UN 1845
Dry Ice (Carbon Dioxide, Solid)
Class 9 · Used in pharma cold chain, biosamples — sublimes into CO₂ gas in transit
Class 9
UN 1263
Paint & Flammable Liquids
Class 3 · Industrial paints, coatings, solvents — major export from Peenya Industrial Area
Class 2.1 · Hairspray, deodorants, cleaning agents — quantity-limited on passenger aircraft
Class 2
04
DG Cargo Documents Checklist
Missing even one document can result in your DG shipment being rejected at the airport — or worse, accepted and then offloaded mid-route. Here is the complete document checklist for DG air freight from India.
Mandatory — Every DG Shipment
Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD)
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS / SDS)
Air Waybill with DG Special Handling Codes
Packing Certificate / Packing List
Emergency Response Information (ERG)
Additional — By Commodity
Battery Test Summary (lithium batteries)
CDSCO / Drug License (pharma DG)
Explosives License (Class 1)
AERB Certificate (radioactive material)
Temperature Condition Letter (dry ice)
Critical: The Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD) must be signed by a IATA DGR-certified person. An unsigned, unsigned, or incorrectly completed DGD is grounds for immediate rejection by the airline. Movizy's trained DG team prepares and certifies all DGDs on your behalf.
05
DG Packaging & Labeling Rules
Packaging for dangerous goods shipments is not optional or improvised — IATA mandates specific UN-tested packaging combinations (P.I. — Packing Instructions) for each commodity and quantity. Labels must be IATA-compliant, correct size, and affixed to all four sides of the package.
UN
UN-Tested Packaging Required
All DG packages must use UN-specification packaging marked with the UN symbol, packaging type code, and performance standard. Using unapproved packaging voids the DGD and invalidates airline acceptance.
P.I.
Packing Instructions (PI)
Each UN number maps to a specific Packing Instruction (e.g., PI 965 for lithium ion cells). The PI specifies inner and outer packaging, quantity limits per package, cushioning, and absorption requirements.
LBL
Hazard Labels & Markings
Each package must carry the correct IATA hazard class label (minimum 100×100mm), UN number marking, proper shipping name, and quantity. "Cargo Aircraft Only" or "Keep Away From Heat" labels are applied as required by the specific commodity.
QTY
Quantity Limits Per Package & Per Aircraft
DG shipments are subject to per-package and per-aircraft quantity limits. Passenger aircraft limits are significantly more restrictive than cargo-only aircraft. Exceeding limits without approval is a serious safety violation.
06
Why Choose Movizy for DG Cargo in Bangalore?
Dangerous goods logistics is not an area for trial and error. One mis-classified shipment, one incorrect label, or one unsigned DGD can result in your cargo being held, returned, or your company being blacklisted by an airline. Movizy brings compliance-first DG handling to every shipment.
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Structured, auditable processes for every DG shipment — from acceptance check to delivery.
DGD Preparation
IATA-trained team prepares and certifies all Shipper's Declarations — zero errors, airline-ready.
All Modes Covered
DG by air, sea, and road from Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore — one partner, full coverage.
Global Network
JCTrans membership — verified DG-compliant partners at destination airports worldwide.
Commodity Classification
Not sure if your cargo is DG? We classify your goods correctly against the IATA DGR — free pre-shipment check.
Zero Rejection Policy
We verify every DG shipment against airline acceptance criteria before tendering — no surprises at check-in.
07
Frequently Asked Questions
DG cargo refers to articles or substances that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during transport. In India, DG shipments by air are governed by IATA DGR, sea by IMDG Code, and road by CMVR rules. Common examples include lithium batteries, chemicals, flammable liquids, and dry ice.
Key documents include Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS), Air Waybill with DG special handling codes, Packing Certificate, and Emergency Response information. Movizy prepares all DG documentation on behalf of shippers.
Yes, but subject to strict IATA DGR regulations — quantity limits, UN-tested packaging (PI 965/966/967/968/969/970), and mandatory declaration. Both lithium ion (UN 3480/3481) and lithium metal (UN 3090/3091) types are regulated. Movizy handles all lithium battery DG declarations.
Yes. Movizy Freight India handles DG cargo by air, sea, and road from Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore — including lithium batteries, chemicals, flammable liquids, dry ice, and other regulated substances, with full IATA DGR documentation and compliance support.
The 9 classes are: Class 1 (Explosives), Class 2 (Gases), Class 3 (Flammable Liquids), Class 4 (Flammable Solids), Class 5 (Oxidizers), Class 6 (Toxic & Infectious), Class 7 (Radioactive), Class 8 (Corrosives), Class 9 (Miscellaneous — lithium batteries, dry ice). Each class has specific packaging and documentation rules.
