Lithium batteries, aerosols, perfume and many cleaning products count as dangerous goods. This guide explains the nine DG classes, the documents you need, sea vs air rules, typical surcharges and a worked power-bank example for an Adelaide importer.
Last updated: 14 November 2026 · By TK Wang, Founder, Epic Sourcing
In short: Dangerous goods (DG) are products that could catch fire, explode, leak or poison during transport, such as lithium batteries, aerosols, perfume and some cleaning chemicals. You can import them from China to Australia, but they must be classified, packed, labelled and declared correctly under the IMDG Code (sea) or IATA rules (air). Expect a DG surcharge, fewer carrier options and extra paperwork, including a Safety Data Sheet and, for batteries, a UN38.3 test summary.
Here's something most first-time importers don't realise: a huge share of everyday products count as dangerous goods. Power banks, e-bikes, nail polish, hand sanitiser, scented candles with liquid fragrance and even some magnets all trip the rules.
Get it wrong and your cartons get refused at the origin port, held at the Australian border, or hit with fines. Get it right and DG shipping is just another line on your freight invoice. This guide shows Adelaide importers (and anyone else in Australia) exactly how it works.
Dangerous goods are grouped into nine UN classes. Every DG item also has a four-digit UN number that tells carriers exactly what it is.
| Class | Type | Common imported products |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives | Fireworks, party poppers (heavily restricted) |
| 2 | Gases | Aerosol sprays, gas canisters, fire extinguishers |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Perfume, nail polish, paints, reed diffuser oil |
| 4 | Flammable solids | Matches, firelighters, some metal powders |
| 5 | Oxidisers | Pool chlorine, hydrogen peroxide |
| 6 | Toxic substances | Pesticides, some industrial chemicals |
| 7 | Radioactive | Rare for general importers |
| 8 | Corrosives | Strong cleaners, some batteries with acid |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | Lithium batteries, power banks, e-bikes, dry ice |
Class 9 is the one that catches most Australian SMEs. Anything with a lithium battery inside, from smart watches to cordless vacuums, needs DG handling.
Ask your supplier for the Safety Data Sheet (SDS, sometimes called an MSDS) before you pay a deposit. Section 14 of the SDS, "Transport information", shows the UN number, class and packing group. If it says "not regulated", you're generally fine.
For anything with a lithium battery, also ask for the UN38.3 test summary. No test summary means most carriers will refuse the shipment. Our Sourcing 101 guides explain both documents: what a Safety Data Sheet is and what UN38.3 certification covers.
A 16-section document from the manufacturer, ideally issued within the last five years and in English.
Proves the battery passed the UN's transport safety tests.
Completed by the shipper (your supplier or forwarder) and signed by someone trained in DG rules.
Many DG items must travel in UN-certified packaging with the correct hazard labels and markings on every carton.
Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, the same as any import.
Sea freight is usually easier and cheaper for DG. Ocean shipping follows the IMDG Code, and most classes can go by sea with the right paperwork. Air freight follows IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which are much stricter, especially for loose lithium batteries (UN3480), which can only fly on cargo aircraft.
| Factor | Sea freight (IMDG) | Air freight (IATA) |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted classes | Most classes with approval | Many items restricted or cargo-aircraft only |
| Lithium batteries | Accepted with UN38.3 and correct packing | Tight limits on watt-hours and state of charge |
| Typical DG surcharge | Roughly AUD $300–$1,500 per container; LCL may cost more per CBM or be refused | Higher per kg plus DG handling fees |
| Transit China to Adelaide | Around 3–5 weeks, often via Melbourne or Singapore | Around 4–8 days |
Surcharges change often, so confirm with your forwarder at booking. For the general trade-offs, see our sea freight vs air freight comparison.
Many DG suppliers quote on CFR terms because they control the DG booking. That can be convenient, but you still carry the risk at sea, so read our guide to what CFR means for Australian importers before you agree.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) oversees DG arriving by sea, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) covers air. Once goods are on land, state and territory DG and workplace safety rules apply to storage and road transport, which is why many 3PL warehouses need a licence to hold DG stock.
Some products also face product safety rules on top of transport rules. Lithium-powered e-bikes and scooters, for example, now face state-based safety standards. Our guide to importing e-bikes and electric scooters covers that in detail.
Say an Adelaide retailer orders 2,000 power banks (10,000 mAh, about 37 Wh each) from a Shenzhen factory. Here's how a compliant shipment runs.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before deposit | Supplier sends SDS and UN38.3 summary; forwarder confirms UN3480 classification (power banks are treated as batteries in their own right) |
| Packing | Cartons marked with Class 9 lithium battery labels; batteries at reduced state of charge where required |
| Booking | Forwarder lodges the DG declaration and secures carrier approval (allow an extra 3–7 days) |
| Transit | Sea freight to Outer Harbor, often transhipped via Melbourne |
| Arrival | Customs broker clears goods; delivery to a warehouse that accepts DG stock |
The extra cost compared with non-DG cargo here would typically be a few hundred dollars in surcharges and documentation. That's small next to the cost of a refused booking or a container stuck at the wharf. Need a broker who handles DG regularly? Start with our guide to customs brokers in Adelaide.
The biggest one is not declaring DG at all. Some suppliers will happily ship batteries as "electronics" to save money. If it's discovered, you wear the fines, delays and possibly a carrier ban.
Other common slip-ups include out-of-date or Chinese-only SDSs, missing UN38.3 reports, wrong labels on cartons, and booking LCL without checking whether the consolidator accepts DG. Always check before production, not after.
Yes. You need a UN38.3 test summary, an SDS, correct packing and labels, and a forwarder who books the cargo as Class 9 dangerous goods.
As a rough guide, sea DG surcharges run around AUD $300–$1,500 per container, plus documentation fees. Air DG is more expensive and more restricted.
Usually, yes. Perfume is commonly Class 3 (flammable liquid) and aerosols are Class 2 (gases). Both can ship by sea with proper declarations.
Undeclared DG can lead to shipments being held or destroyed, penalties from carriers and regulators, and serious safety risks. It's never worth it.
Sometimes. Many consolidators accept limited DG classes in LCL, but some refuse entirely. Ask your forwarder before you confirm production.
Our bilingual teams in China and Vietnam check SDSs and UN38.3 reports before you pay a deposit, make sure cartons are packed and labelled correctly, and work with forwarders who ship DG every week. We've sourced 20,000+ products for 300+ happy clients across offices in five countries, and clients save around 77% on average.
Shipping batteries or chemicals for the first time? Explore our importing from China service, or book a chat with our team and we'll check your product before you commit.
