Why everyday products can be restricted
Many ordinary ecommerce products are regulated as hazardous materials in transport. Nail polish, perfume, aerosol sprays, products with lithium batteries, some cleaning supplies and certain cosmetics can all fall under dangerous goods rules, even though they are perfectly safe on a store shelf.
In the U.S., ground and domestic transport of hazardous materials is governed by the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations, while air shipments are also subject to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, and carriers add their own rules on top. Shipping a regulated item incorrectly can lead to rejected packages, fines and safety risks, so classifying your products is the first step before you choose a fulfillment setup.
Lithium batteries
Products that contain or ship with lithium batteries are among the most common regulated items in ecommerce. They are Class 9 dangerous goods and are split into categories by chemistry and configuration: lithium ion and lithium metal, each shipped alone, packed with equipment, or contained in equipment, under UN numbers UN3480, UN3481, UN3090 and UN3091.
Requirements depend on the category, battery size and mode of transport, and can include specific marks, packaging rules, state-of-charge limits for some air shipments and restrictions on certain services. Brands selling electronics, devices with built-in batteries or spare battery packs should get battery specifications and test summaries from their manufacturer, since shippers are commonly expected to have that documentation available.
Aerosols, fragrances and flammable liquids
Aerosols, perfumes, colognes, nail polish, some hair products and alcohol-based items are often classified as flammable or compressed gas hazards. Many can ship by ground under the Limited Quantity provisions, which allow smaller inner packaging with reduced requirements and a specific Limited Quantity mark on the package.
The older ORM-D marking was phased out for domestic shipments and replaced by the Limited Quantity marking, so outdated packaging guidance should be updated. Air shipping options for these items are much more restricted, and some services may not accept them at all. That matters if you offer expedited delivery, because the fastest service is not always available for every SKU.
What your safety data sheets tell you
A safety data sheet, or SDS, is often the starting point for figuring out whether a product is regulated. Its transport information section usually states whether the product is a dangerous good for shipping and, if so, its UN number, proper shipping name and hazard class.
Request an SDS from your manufacturer for any product that contains chemicals, liquids, gases or batteries. Share it with your 3PL during onboarding so they can confirm how the product needs to be stored, packed and shipped. A provider that never asks for SDS documents on regulated-looking products is a warning sign.
Prop 65 and state-level requirements
California's Proposition 65 is a labeling law rather than a shipping rule. It requires businesses to provide a clear warning when products sold to California consumers can expose them to listed chemicals above certain levels. For online sales, that warning generally needs to appear on the product page or at checkout, as well as on or with the product where required.
Responsibility for Prop 65 compliance generally sits with manufacturers, distributors and retailers, so it is not something a 3PL can solve for you. Your fulfillment partner can apply labels or inserts you provide. Other states have their own product rules, so review requirements for the markets you sell into.
What a fulfillment provider needs from you
To handle regulated products safely, your 3PL needs accurate information and the right setup.
- A list of SKUs you believe may be regulated, with SDS documents and battery specifications
- Confirmation of which shipping services you offer customers for those SKUs
- Packaging that meets the requirements for each product's classification
- Clear rules for orders that combine regulated and non-regulated items
Ask whether hazmat-trained staff and appropriate storage are available in the markets you want to use, how regulated orders are routed to compliant shipping services, and whether any of your SKUs cannot be accepted. Hazmat handling availability can vary by location, so confirm it market by market.
Storage, packaging and mixed orders
Regulated products need the right storage as well as the right shipping. Flammable liquids and aerosols may need to be stored in designated areas, away from ignition sources and within quantity limits set by fire codes and the warehouse's own safety rules. That is one reason some fulfillment locations accept these products and others do not.
Packaging matters too. Limited Quantity shipments need inner containers that meet the provisions, closures that will not leak, and the correct outer marking. Lithium battery shipments may need specific marks depending on category. Orders that mix a regulated item with ordinary products should be packed and shipped under the rules for the regulated item, so the whole package is compliant. Settle these rules during onboarding so packers are not making judgment calls at the station.
Marketplaces add their own layer
Marketplaces often review regulated products separately from carriers. Amazon, for example, runs a dangerous goods review for listings that may contain hazardous materials and can block inventory until documentation is approved. Other marketplaces have their own prohibited and restricted product lists.
If you sell regulated SKUs across multiple channels, keep a single file of SDS documents, battery information and classification decisions so each channel and your 3PL work from the same facts. It saves time every time you launch a new product or add a new sales channel.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3PL ship products with lithium batteries?
Many ecommerce 3PLs can, provided the batteries are properly classified, packaged and marked for their category. Confirm handling availability and accepted shipping services for each market before onboarding.
Is perfume considered hazardous for shipping?
Often, yes. Many perfumes and colognes contain alcohol and are classified as flammable liquids, though they can frequently ship by ground under Limited Quantity provisions with proper marking.
Who is responsible for Prop 65 warnings?
Responsibility generally falls on manufacturers, distributors and retailers selling into California. A 3PL can apply the warning labels or inserts you supply, but it does not determine compliance for you.