IMDG Code Compliance Software | Dangerous Goods Maritime Transport Automation | Certivo - Certivo

International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code Compliance

Amendment 42-24 Is Mandatory. Can You Prove Every Dangerous Goods Shipment Meets Current IMDG Classification, Packaging, and Documentation Requirements?

IMDG Code compliance requires accurate classification, packaging validation, and complete Dangerous Goods Declarations across your entire supply chain—for every substance in every shipment. The Code updates every two years. Misdeclared cargo accounts for 80% of maritime dangerous goods incidents. Port state control detentions are immediate. Certivo automates IMDG compliance evidence from supplier hazard data collection to shipment-ready documentation.

Regulation Overview

Jurisdiction

Global — 175 IMO member states (enforced under SOLAS Chapter VII and MARPOL Annex III)

Regulatory Body

International Maritime Organization (IMO) / Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)

Regulation Number

IMDG Code, 2024 Edition (Amendment 42-24) — Resolution MSC.556(108)

Effective Date

Mandatory from January 1, 2026 (voluntary application from January 1, 2025)

Official Source

IMDG Official Source

Key Threshold

All dangerous goods in packaged form transported by sea

What is the IMDG Code?

The IMDG Code is the globally mandatory regulatory framework governing the safe classification, packaging, labeling, documentation, stowage, and segregation of dangerous goods transported by sea. For supply chain and compliance teams, IMDG obligations require substance-level hazard data—UN Numbers, Proper Shipping Names, hazard classes, and packing groups—from every supplier shipping hazardous materials by ocean freight. Amendment 42-24 became the sole mandatory standard on January 1, 2026, aligning with the 23rd revised edition of the UN Model Regulations. It introduces new UN numbers for sodium-ion batteries, updated vehicle classifications for lithium-powered EVs, and stricter carbon stowage requirements. Shippers bear full legal responsibility for correct classification and documentation. IMDG Code compliance requires validated Safety Data Sheets, accurate Dangerous Goods Declarations, and container packing certificates from every supplier. When amendments take effect, your entire dangerous goods inventory requires reclassification and document updates.

Key Components / Sub-Frameworks

  1. Obligation: Prohibits carriage of dangerous goods unless IMDG-compliant
  2. SOLAS Chapter VII: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
  3. Obligation: Mandatory compliance for all marine pollutants
  4. MARPOL Annex III: Prevention of pollution by harmful substances in packaged form
  5. Obligation: Reference for classification, packing instructions, and stowage
  6. Dangerous Goods List (DGL): Master list of substances with UN Numbers and transport requirements
  7. Obligation: Required for every dangerous goods shipment
  8. Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD): Shipper's certified statement of cargo classification and compliance
  9. Obligation: Required before carrier acceptance
  10. Container Packing Certificate: Certification that cargo is packed and secured per IMDG standards
  11. Obligation: Must accompany all dangerous goods shipments
  12. Emergency Schedules (EmS): Emergency response procedures for fires and spillage incidents

IMDG Amendment 42-24 Is Now Mandatory—SDS Documents Referencing Amendment 41-22 Are Invalid for Shipping

As of January 1, 2026, Amendment 42-24 is the only accepted standard. Safety Data Sheets still referencing the previous edition cannot be used for dangerous goods bookings. New UN numbers for lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery-powered vehicles, stricter carbon classification rules, and updated packing instructions apply immediately. Supplier documentation from 2024 requires revalidation.

Key Compliance Requirements

Who Must Comply
Shippers and consignors of dangerous goods transported by sea, manufacturers and suppliers providing hazard classification data and SDS, freight forwarders and logistics providers handling dangerous goods documentation, carriers and vessel operators accepting dangerous goods cargo, port authorities and terminal operators enforcing IMDG compliance, importers receiving dangerous goods shipments at destination ports.

Key Thresholds

Core Obligations

  1. Classification: Assign correct UN Number, Proper Shipping Name, hazard class, and packing group per DGL
    DEADLINE: Before any shipment
  2. Dangerous Goods Declaration: Shipper-signed DGD with complete hazard data for every consignment
    DEADLINE: Accompanies each shipment
  3. Packaging & Labeling: UN-approved packaging with correct hazard labels, marine pollutant marks, and orientation arrows
    DEADLINE: Before cargo handover
  4. Container Packing Certificate: Signed certification that CTU is packed and secured per IMDG standards
    DEADLINE: Before carrier acceptance
  5. Stowage & Segregation: Incompatible substances separated per IMDG segregation table; correct stowage category assigned
    DEADLINE: Vessel loading plan stage

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What products and companies are subject to IMDG Code obligations?
    Any company shipping dangerous goods by sea—shippers, manufacturers, freight forwarders, carriers, and port operators—must comply with the IMDG Code. The Code covers all substances, materials, and articles listed in the Dangerous Goods List across nine hazard classes. Obligations apply to 175 IMO member states under SOLAS Chapter VII and MARPOL Annex III. Certivo helps companies identify which products in their portfolio require IMDG classification and documentation.

  2. What are the penalties for IMDG Code non-compliance?
    Enforcement is handled by port state control authorities in each member state and varies by jurisdiction. Consequences include vessel detention, cargo refusal, shipment delays, substantial monetary fines, and in serious cases, criminal liability for the shipper or carrier. Misdeclared dangerous goods are the leading cause of maritime cargo incidents. National authorities can ban non-compliant shippers from future bookings.

  3. How does Certivo keep up with IMDG Code amendments?
    Certivo maintains continuous sync with the IMDG Dangerous Goods List, incorporating each biennial amendment—currently Amendment 42-24—as it takes effect. When new UN numbers, reclassifications, or updated packing instructions are published, Certivo flags affected products across your portfolio and triggers SDS revalidation workflows automatically, ensuring continuous audit-ready documentation.

  4. What document formats does Certivo accept from suppliers?
    Certivo accepts any format: SDS PDFs in GHS-16 structure, Excel-based hazard data sheets, XML feeds from ERP systems, and freeform supplier responses. Certivo extracts Section 14 transport data regardless of format or language, eliminating the need to standardize inputs across your global supply chain. AI-native document parsing handles multi-language SDS libraries at scale.

  5. Does Certivo support IMDG alongside IATA, ADR, and other transport regulations?
    Yes. Certivo validates supplier hazard data against IMDG, IATA DGR, US 49 CFR, and ADR requirements simultaneously. The same SDS submission is parsed once and validated across maritime, air, road, and rail frameworks—eliminating duplicate collection campaigns and ensuring multimodal dangerous goods compliance from a single supplier self-service portal.

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