In the international freight forwarding industry, the concept of “sensitive goods” is often mentioned. Due to their special nature, such as involving animal and plant protection, food safety, hazardous materials management, and intellectual property protection, the transportation process of these goods requires special attention and careful handling.
Today, we will take you to understand in detail the definition, classification, and transportation requirements of sensitive goods, hoping to play a popular science role for cross-border sellers.
Definition and Characteristics of Sensitive Goods
Sensitive goods usually refer to a type of goods that are between ordinary goods and contraband and require special attention and handling during international transportation due to their particularities.
These goods may be subject to strict restrictions and supervision during the transportation process due to factors involving laws, regulations, security, environmental protection, animal and plant protection, and many other aspects.
The characteristics of sensitive goods are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
- Constraints of Laws and Regulations
The transportation of sensitive goods often needs to comply with stricter laws and regulations, such as the Animal and Plant Quarantine Law, the Food Safety Law, and the regulations on the transportation of hazardous materials. The formulation of these laws and regulations aims to protect national security and people’s health and prevent various risks caused by improper transportation of goods.
- Requirements for Safety
Since sensitive goods may have characteristics such as being flammable, explosive, toxic, or harmful, special safety measures need to be taken during the transportation process to ensure transportation safety and prevent accidents.
- Requirements for Environmental Protection
With the improvement of global environmental awareness, the transportation of sensitive goods also needs to consider environmental factors, such as reducing pollution emissions and properly handling waste.
- Complicated Procedures and Certifications
The transportation of sensitive goods usually requires handling a series of complicated procedures and certifications, such as export licenses, import licenses, animal and plant quarantine certificates, and hazardous materials transportation certificates. The handling of these procedures and certifications requires a lot of time and energy and needs to strictly comply with relevant requirements.
Classification of Sensitive Goods
There are a wide variety of sensitive goods. According to their nature and characteristics, they can be roughly divided into the following categories:
1.Animals, Plants and Their Products
This type of goods includes live animals, plant seeds, meat, fruits, etc. Since they may carry harmful organisms such as viruses and bacteria and pose a threat to the ecological security and human health of the importing country, their transportation process needs to be strictly supervised and restricted.
2.Food, Beverages and Alcohol
It includes all kinds of processed foods, condiments, beverages, alcoholic beverages, etc. During the transportation process, special attention needs to be paid to issues such as preservation and anti-corrosion to ensure their quality and safety.
3.Certain Mineral Products and Chemicals
Especially hazardous materials, such as flammable, explosive, toxic, and corrosive substances. The transportation of these goods needs to strictly comply with the regulations on the transportation of hazardous materials and take special safety measures to prevent accidents.
4.Cosmetics
Such as skin care products, essential oils, toothpaste, lipstick, sunscreen, perfume, etc. During the transportation process, special attention needs to be paid to packaging and temperature control to prevent deterioration or damage.
5.Fireworks, Firecrackers and Lighters
These items are prone to causing fires or explosions during the transportation process, so special safety measures need to be taken, such as limiting the transportation volume and using dedicated transportation vehicles.
6.Wood and Wood Products
Including wooden furniture, etc. Since wood may carry harmful organisms and pose a threat to the ecological environment, its transportation process needs to be strictly supervised and restricted.
7.Batteries
Including electrically charged products such as mobile phones, watches, cameras, etc. Battery goods are prone to safety problems such as spontaneous combustion and explosion during the transportation process, so special attention needs to be paid to packaging and temperature control.
8.CDs, DVDs, Books and Periodicals
This type of goods may involve issues of intellectual property protection and need to pay special attention to avoid infringement disputes.
9.Sharp Objects
Including sharp kitchen utensils, stationery and hardware tools and other products. These goods are prone to damaging packaging or causing damage to other goods during the transportation process, so special attention needs to be paid to packaging and fixation.
10.Counterfeit Brands
Including branded goods or counterfeit branded goods. This type of goods may involve risks of legal disputes such as infringement, so before transportation, it is necessary to ensure the legality of the source of the goods and avoid infringing on the intellectual property rights of others.
Transportation Requirements of Sensitive Goods
The transportation requirements of sensitive goods vary according to their types and characteristics, but generally, the following aspects need to be followed:
1.Packaging Requirements
The packaging of sensitive goods needs to meet the requirements of their special nature to ensure the safety and integrity of the goods during the transportation process. For example, flammable and explosive items need to use explosion-proof packaging; items that are easy to leak, such as liquids and powders, need to use leak-proof packaging; battery goods need to use special battery packaging boxes.
2.Labels and Markings
Special labels and markings need to be affixed to the packaging of sensitive goods to remind transportation personnel of their special nature. These labels and markings usually include hazard signs, fire prevention signs, leak-proof signs, etc.
3.Temperature Control
Some sensitive goods need to maintain a specific temperature range during the transportation process to ensure their quality and safety. For example, food, cosmetics, etc. need to be transported under refrigeration or heat preservation conditions; biological products such as vaccines need to be transported at a constant temperature.
4.Choice of Transportation Mode
The transportation mode of sensitive goods needs to be selected according to their characteristics and requirements. For example, hazardous materials usually need to be transported by dedicated transportation vehicles or ships; animal and plant products need to be transported by transportation companies with animal and plant quarantine qualifications.
5.Document Preparation and Certification
The transportation of sensitive goods requires the preparation of a series of documents and certifications, such as export licenses, import licenses, animal and plant quarantine certificates, and hazardous materials transportation certificates. The handling of these documents and certifications needs to strictly comply with relevant requirements to ensure the legality and safety of the goods.
