Dangerous goods and hazardous cargo into Singapore
A surprising number of ordinary products are regulated as dangerous goods — batteries, aerosols, paints, magnets, perfumes, machinery with residual fuel. The rules are prescriptive, and the consequence of an undeclared dangerous good is not a fine at the end but a shipment refused at the start.
At a glance
| Air | IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations |
|---|---|
| Sea | IMDG Code |
| Key document | Safety data sheet (SDS), which drives classification |
| Required paperwork | Dangerous goods declaration, correct packing, marking and labelling |
| Singapore-side agencies | NEA, SCDF and others depending on substance |
The nine classes
Dangerous goods are grouped into nine classes: explosives; gases; flammable liquids; flammable solids; oxidising substances and organic peroxides; toxic and infectious substances; radioactive material; corrosives; and miscellaneous dangerous goods, which is where lithium batteries and magnetised material sit. Each class has its own packing, labelling, and documentation requirements, and quantity limits differ between air and sea.
Products people do not expect to be regulated
The category is much broader than most shippers assume:
- Lithium batteries, whether loose, packed with equipment, or installed in it.
- Aerosols of any kind, including cosmetic sprays and cleaning products.
- Perfumes and alcohol-based liquids above certain concentrations.
- Paints, adhesives, solvents, and many resins.
- Machinery containing residual fuel, oil, or gas — even a drained tank may not be enough for air.
- Strong magnets, which are regulated for air transport because of their effect on aircraft instruments.
- Airbags and seatbelt pretensioners, which are pyrotechnic devices.
Air versus sea
Air transport is significantly more restrictive. Quantity limits are lower, some substances are forbidden entirely, and packing standards are stricter. It is common for a consignment to be straightforward by sea and impossible by air. If a shipment is time-critical and contains anything regulated, establish what is permitted by air before building a schedule around it.
The paperwork
You will generally need the safety data sheet, a dangerous goods declaration prepared by a trained shipper, packaging meeting the applicable UN specification, and correct marking and labelling. For lithium batteries, the UN 38.3 test summary is normally required. None of this can be improvised at the point of shipment — it has to be prepared, and the shipper signing the declaration has to be trained and certified.
Why undeclared dangerous goods are treated seriously
This is one area where the consequences are not just commercial. Undeclared dangerous goods have caused aircraft losses, and carriers and authorities treat non-declaration as a serious offence rather than a paperwork error. If you are unsure whether something qualifies, the correct response is to ask, not to omit it and hope. We would far rather have an awkward conversation at enquiry stage than a serious one later.
Official sources
Requirements, rates, and thresholds change. These are the authorities that set them — check the current position with them before acting on anything here.
Last reviewed August 2026. This page explains how the process generally works; it is not advice on your specific shipment, and it does not replace guidance from Singapore Customs, the relevant Competent Authority, or a licensed Declaring Agent.
Questions we get asked about this
How do I know if my product is dangerous goods?
Start with the safety data sheet from the manufacturer — it states the UN number, class, and packing group if the product is regulated. If there is no SDS, that is itself worth resolving. Send it to us with your enquiry and we will tell you what it means for your shipment.
The machine is drained. Is it still dangerous goods?
Possibly. Residual fuel vapour in a drained tank can still be regulated for air transport, and purging may be required. Get written confirmation of what was actually done, not an assurance that it is fine.
Can I just not mention the batteries?
No. Undeclared dangerous goods are a serious offence with real consequences for you and for the carrier, and modern screening frequently detects them. Declaring them properly is almost always workable; hiding them is not.
Does dangerous goods classification affect the import permit?
It can. Some hazardous substances are controlled goods requiring NEA or other agency approval before import, separate from the transport rules. The transport classification and the import control are two different questions and both need answering.
More in Singapore import guides
Import permit types
What the permit message types mean and which situation each one covers.
Controlled goods
Which agency regulates what, and how to find out whether your goods are affected.
Temporary import
Bringing goods in for a fixed purpose and taking them out again, without paying as though they stayed.
ATA Carnet
The international passport for goods that are only visiting — how it works and how it goes wrong.
Commercial invoice
What the invoice has to show, and the descriptions that get shipments held.
Documentation checklist
Every document a Singapore import may need, and the point at which each has to exist.
Related pages
Controlled goods
Which agency regulates what, and how to find out whether your goods are affected.
Documentation checklist
Every document a Singapore import may need, and the point at which each has to exist.
Lithium Batteries & Battery-Powered Goods
Regulated dangerous goods where chemistry, watt-hours, and packing configuration decide what is even possible.
Generators & Power Equipment
Gensets, transformers, UPS systems, and switchgear — heavy, often fuel-contaminated, and sometimes battery-laden.
Aircraft & Aviation Parts
Parts where the paperwork is the value — traceability documentation must travel with the goods.
Special cargo into Singapore
Coordination for shipments that fall outside standard freight categories — awkward shapes, unusual materials, or one-off commercial goods.
Have a shipment that fits this?
Start the guided enquiry and describe it in plain terms. We will tell you what is involved — including if the answer is that you do not need us.