What is the difference between Class 6.1 toxic substances and Class 6.2 infectious substances?

Class 6.1 covers toxic (poisonous) substances that can cause death, serious injury, or harm to human health if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Examples: pesticides, cyanides, arsenic compounds, mercury, phenol. These are graded by acute oral/dermal/inhalation toxicity into Packing Groups I (most toxic, LD50 ≤5 mg/kg), II (moderate, LD50 5-50 mg/kg), and III (least, LD50 50-300 mg/kg). Class 6.2 covers infectious substances — materials known or reasonably expected to contain pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) that can cause disease in humans or animals. Examples: medical/clinical waste, biological samples with Category A pathogens, patient specimens.

What packaging is required for Class 6.1 toxic substances from China?

Class 6.1 requires double leak-proof packaging: a primary inner container (glass, plastic, or metal) that is leak-proof, with sufficient absorbent material between the inner and outer packaging to absorb the entire contents in case of breakage. The outer packaging must be UN-rated for the applicable packing group. PG I (highly toxic) requires the most robust packaging — typically metal drums with sealed inner containers. PG II and III can use combination packaging with approved fiberboard outer boxes. All closures must be secured against accidental opening. The package must display the skull-and-crossbones label.

Can pesticides be exported from China as Class 6.1?

Yes. China is the world's largest pesticide producer and exporter. Common Class 6.1 pesticide exports include: organophosphorus insecticides (e.g., chlorpyrifos UN2783), carbamate pesticides (UN2757), pyrethroid pesticides (UN3352), and various pesticide formulations. Many pesticides are dual-classified — both Class 6.1 (toxic) and Class 3 (flammable liquid) or Class 9 (environmentally hazardous). The primary hazard determines the class. China also requires a Pesticide Export Notification from the Ministry of Agriculture for certain categories. Our team handles the dual documentation chain for both DG compliance and pesticide-specific export controls.

What are the UN2814 and UN2900 classifications for infectious substances?

UN2814 applies to infectious substances affecting humans (Category A pathogens). UN2900 applies to infectious substances affecting animals only. Both require triple packaging (leak-proof primary receptacle, leak-proof secondary packaging, rigid outer packaging) with the UN3373 marking, and must be accompanied by a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods. Category B infectious substances (those not meeting Category A criteria) ship under UN3373 with lighter requirements. The key distinction is whether the pathogen is capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening disease in otherwise healthy humans/animals — if yes, it is Category A.

Class 6 Toxic Substances Freight from China | DG Export

All DG Classes

IMDG Class 6 covers substances that pose biological harm to humans and animals through toxicity or infection. Class 6.1 toxic substances can kill or seriously injure through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. Class 6.2 infectious substances contain pathogens capable of spreading disease. Both sub-divisions demand the highest standards of packaging integrity, documentation, and carrier compliance — a leak or breach is not just a cargo claim, it is a public health incident.

Class 6.1 — Toxic Substances

Class 6.1 substances are assigned to Packing Groups based on acute toxicity (LD50 for oral/dermal, LC50 for inhalation):

PG I (Highly toxic): LD50 oral ≤5 mg/kg. Examples: sodium cyanide (UN1689), potassium cyanide (UN1680), arsenic trioxide (UN1561). Most restricted. Few carriers accept PG I.
PG II (Toxic): LD50 oral 5-50 mg/kg. Most common for industrial chemicals. Examples: many pesticides, phenol, mercury compounds.
PG III (Slightly toxic): LD50 oral 50-300 mg/kg. Broadest carrier acceptance. Examples: some low-toxicity pesticides, certain industrial intermediates.

Product examples:

Pesticides (various UN numbers): Organophosphorus pesticides (UN2783/UN3017/UN3018), carbamate pesticides (UN2757/UN2991/UN2992), arsenical pesticides (UN2759/UN2993/UN2994), pyrethroid pesticides (UN3352/UN3351). China is the world's largest pesticide exporter, shipping over 1.5 million tons annually. Classification is specific to active ingredient and formulation.
Cyanides: Sodium cyanide (UN1689, PG I), potassium cyanide (UN1680, PG I). Used in gold mining and electroplating. Highly controlled export from China with additional government permits.
Arsenic compounds: Arsenic trioxide (UN1561, PG II), lead arsenates (UN1617, PG II), sodium arsenite (UN1686, PG II). Used in wood preservation and glassmaking.
Mercury compounds: Mercury (UN2809), mercuric chloride (UN1624). Subject to Minamata Convention export restrictions from China.
Lead compounds: Lead acetate (UN1616), lead arsenates (UN1617). Used in paint and ceramics.
Phenol / Carbolic acid (UN1671/UN2312): Industrial chemical for plastics and pharmaceuticals. PG II (solid) or PG II (molten, UN2312).
Cresols (UN2076): Chemical intermediates. PG II.

Class 6.2 — Infectious Substances

Class 6.2 is divided into Category A and Category B based on the severity of the disease the pathogen can cause:

Category A (UN2814 for humans, UN2900 for animals): Pathogens capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. Examples: Ebola virus cultures, anthrax cultures, rabies virus. Subject to the most stringent packaging (P620), documentation, and carrier restrictions.
Category B (UN3373): Infectious substances not meeting Category A criteria. Examples: diagnostic specimens, routine patient samples, blood samples for testing. Ships under P650 packaging requirements — less stringent than P620.

Product examples:

Medical/clinical waste (UN3291): Waste from hospitals, clinics, and laboratories. Requires approved medical waste packaging. Ships to specialized treatment facilities.
Biological samples (UN3373): Blood, tissue, and fluid samples for diagnostic testing. Most common type of 6.2 shipment from China.
Viral/bacterial cultures (UN2814/UN2900): Research and pharmaceutical production cultures. Category A if the pathogen is high-risk.
Patient specimens (UN3373): Samples collected for diagnosis or investigation. Must comply with IATA DGR / ADR / IMDG packaging instructions.

Packaging Requirements

Class 6.1 Packaging

Double packaging system: Leak-proof primary inner container (glass, plastic, or metal compatible with the substance) + sufficient absorbent material between layers to absorb entire contents + UN-rated outer packaging.
PG I: Must use UN-certified combination packaging tested to PG I performance standards. Metal inner containers required for many PG I liquids.
No food-grade packaging: Class 6.1 packaging must never be confused with food or beverage containers. Distinctive hazard labeling essential.
Tamper-evident closures: For high-value or high-risk PG I shipments, tamper-evident seals are recommended.

Class 6.2 Packaging

Triple packaging (P620 for Category A): Leak-proof primary receptacle + leak-proof secondary packaging + rigid outer packaging. Each layer must pass pressure differential and drop tests independently.
P650 for Category B (UN3373): Same triple-packaging principle but with less stringent performance testing. The outer package must be marked "UN3373" with the diamond label.
Refrigerant: If dry ice or liquid nitrogen is used as refrigerant, the packaging must allow for gas release to prevent pressure buildup.
Orientation arrows: Mandatory for liquid infectious substances.

Carrier Acceptance Table

Carrier	6.1 PG II/III	6.1 PG I	6.2 Cat B (UN3373)	6.2 Cat A (UN2814)
MSK	Accepted	Case-by-case	Accepted	Case-by-case
HPL	Accepted	Not accepted	Accepted	Not accepted
MSC	Accepted	Case-by-case	Accepted	Case-by-case
COSCO	Accepted	Case-by-case	Accepted	Case-by-case
HMM	Accepted	Not accepted	Accepted	Not accepted
OOCL	Accepted	Not accepted	Accepted	Not accepted
EMC	Accepted	Not accepted	Accepted	Not accepted
YML	Accepted	Case-by-case	Accepted	Not accepted
CMA CGM	Accepted	Case-by-case	Accepted	Case-by-case

Port Recommendations

Qingdao Port is the top recommendation for Class 6.1 exports, especially for pesticides from Shandong's massive agrochemical manufacturing cluster. Qingdao has designated DG inspection lanes for toxic substances and the most experienced customs officers for pesticide export documentation. Shanghai is viable for 6.1 PG II/III but has longer DG filing queues. For Class 6.2 infectious substances, Qingdao is the only practical option among the three ports due to its stronger handling protocols and carrier relationships for biological shipments.

Documentation Checklist

MSDS — must state LD50/LC50 values for 6.1, or pathogen classification for 6.2
DG Packaging Certificate (危包证)
Maritime DG Declaration
Port Filing Approval
Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (for 6.2 Category A — IATA standard format)
Pesticide Export Notification / Registration (for pesticide exports from China)
Material transfer agreement or import permit (for certain 6.2 shipments)
Commercial Invoice, Packing List, B/L with DG endorsement
Carrier DG Booking Confirmation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pesticides be shipped from China without a DG certificate?

No. All Class 6.1 pesticides require full DG documentation including the DG Packaging Certificate (危包证). A common misconception is that "low-toxicity" or "bio-pesticides" are exempt — the DG classification depends on the formulated product's LD50, not the marketing term. Only products with LD50 >300 mg/kg (oral, rat) and no other hazardous characteristics may be non-DG. The MSDS must conclusively demonstrate this. We strongly recommend having any pesticide formulation classified by a certified laboratory before export.

What is the difference between P620 and P650 packaging for Class 6.2?

P620 is the packaging instruction for Category A infectious substances (UN2814/UN2900). It requires: rigid packaging that passes a 9-meter drop test, a puncture test (7 kg dropped from 1 meter), and a pressure differential test (95 kPa). Each primary receptacle and secondary packaging must pass individually. P650 (for Category B UN3373) has less rigorous requirements: a 1.2-meter drop test for the complete package, no individual inner packaging performance tests, and no puncture test. P620-certified packaging is significantly more expensive and harder to source.

Can Class 6 toxic substances ship by air freight from China?

Only PG II and PG III Class 6.1 substances are accepted on cargo-only aircraft, with strict per-package quantity limits (5L for PG II liquids, 60L for PG III). PG I is prohibited on all aircraft. Class 6.2 Category A is generally prohibited on passenger aircraft and may ship on cargo aircraft with pre-approval. Class 6.2 Category B (UN3373) is accepted on both passenger and cargo aircraft under IATA DGR. For high-volume 6.1 exports, sea freight is the default mode.

What additional China export controls apply to toxic substances?

China imposes additional controls on certain Class 6 substances beyond the IMDG Code: (1) Sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide require an additional Dangerous Chemicals Export License from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). (2) Mercury and mercury compounds are subject to Minamata Convention export restrictions (China banned mercury exports from certain new mines). (3) Certain pesticides require an Export Notification Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture. (4) Category A infectious substances may require a prior import permit from the destination country. We verify all non-DG regulatory requirements as part of our pre-shipment compliance audit.

Class 6 — Toxic & Infectious Substances: Freight from China