The UN Number

All dangerous goods are assigned a four-digit UN number and a proper shipping name. These are given to specific dangerous goods by the United Nations, or UN. The Dangerous Goods List (DGL) provides a list of dangerous goods sorted on the UN number. When an item listed there also includes a proper shipping name, the item must be identified during transport under this name. There are four types of entries in the Dangerous Goods List, as follows:

• single entries - for well-defined substances or articles
• generic entries - for well-defined substances or articles
• specific Not Otherwise Specified (N.O.S.) entries - covering a group of goods of a particular chemical or technical nature
• general N.O.S. entries - covering a group of goods meeting the criteria of one or more classes

The DGL spells out three levels of packing groups, based on the danger presented by the substance or article.

To learn more about IMDG visit our International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code Online Training web page.