What is dangerous goods? Classification of dangerous goods in Vietnam

What is dangerous goods? Classification of dangerous goods in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What are dangerous goods?

According to Clause 1, Article 3 of Decree 42/2020/ND-CP, dangerous goods means goods containing dangerous substances that are a risk to human life or health, the environment or national security and safety when transported by land or inland waterways.

In particular, dangerous substance refers to a gas, liquid or solid substance or compound that may pose a threat to human life or health, the environment or national security and safety.

2. Classification of dangerous goods in Vietnam

- Based on their chemical and physical characteristics, dangerous goods are classified into the 9 following classes and divisions:

Class 1. Explosives.

Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard.

Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.

Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard.

Division 1.4: Substances and articles which are classified as explosives but which present no significant hazard.

Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard.

Division 1.6: No hazard statement.

Class 2. Gasses.

Division 2.1: Flammable gases.

Division 2.2: Non-flammable non-toxic gases.

Division 2.3: Toxic gases.

Class 3. Flammable liquids and liquid desensitized explosives.

Class 4.

Division 4.1: Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives.

Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion.

Division 4.3: Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases.

Class 5.

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances.

Division 5.2: Organic peroxides.

Class 6.

Division 6.1: Toxic substances.

Division 6.2: Infectious substances.

Class 7: Radioactive materials.

Class 8: Corrosive substances.

Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles.

- Containers and wrappings of dangerous goods that have not undergone interior and exterior cleaning after unloading shall also be treated as dangerous goods.

(Article 4 of Decree 42/2020/ND-CP)

3. Packaging, containers, packing of dangerous goods in Vietnam

- Packaging, containers and packing of dangerous goods in the territory of Vietnam must comply with national standards (TCVN) or national technical regulations (QCVN) corresponding to the type of goods.

For types and groups of dangerous goods that do not yet have national standards or national technical regulations, they shall comply with the regulations of the specialized management ministry or apply international standards and technical regulations issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The specialized management ministry announced.

- Ministries of specialized management shall announce international standards and regulations on packaging, containers and packaging of dangerous goods, applicable to types and groups of dangerous goods managed by the Ministry.

(Article 6 of Decree 42/2020/ND-CP)

4. Wrappings and containers of dangerous goods in Vietnam

- Wrappings and containers of dangerous goods (hereinafter collectively referred to as “packaging”) and packing of dangerous goods in Vietnam’s territory must satisfy the national standards (TCVN) or national technical regulations (QCVN) applicable to such goods.

Packaging and packing of any class or division of dangerous goods without applicable national standards or national technical regulations shall satisfy regulations of the supervisory Ministry or international technical regulations/standards announced by the supervisory Ministry.

- Supervisory Ministries shall publish international regulations and standards on packaging and packing of dangerous goods under their management.

(Article 6 of Decree 42/2020/ND-CP)

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