Last month our compliance team got an email from a German importer. She'd been importing insecticide aerosols for 6 years from a different supplier. This time, a routine inspection flagged her containers — the inspector told her the cans had been classified wrong. Two full pallets sat at customs for 11 days while we sorted it out. The forwarding costs alone came to over $7,200.
When I sat down to write her an explanation, I realized I had material for a full article. So if you're a first-time buyer placing your first aerosol PO, this is what I wish every buyer knew up-front.
What "UN 1950" actually means
UN 1950 is the UN-issued shipping name for Aerosols. Any pressurized container that:
- has a non-refillable metal or plastic body,
- releases its content through a valve,
- contains a propellant (LPG, DME, or compressed gas),
...falls under UN 1950 — whether you're shipping insecticide, deodorant, or whipped cream. There's no separate classification by "aerosol type." The classification cares about the can, not what's inside.
In practice, this means your custom air-freshener formulation gets the same shipping paperwork as a 3-year-old insecticide product sitting next to it on the dock.
The first mistake buyers make: assuming "natural" or "non-toxic" ingredients change the classification. They don't. UN 1950 is classified by container + propellant, not by what's inside the can.
The two sub-divisions that matter
There are actually two sub-divisions for shipping — and they drive your packaging decisions:
| Code | What it is | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| UN 1950 / Class 2.1 | Flammable gas (LPG or DME propellant) | Standard DG packaging; max 333 kg per outer carton |
| UN 1950 / Class 2.2 | Non-flammable (compressed air or N₂ propellant) | Slightly relaxed; max 500 kg per outer carton |
Most aerosol cans are Class 2.1. If your formulation uses DME or LPG (the most common), it's 2.1. If you swap specifically to compressed gas and prove non-flammability through a test certificate — it's 2.2.
We've had buyers ask: "can we just switch to non-flammable to avoid DG fees?" Technically yes. In practice, the cost difference is rarely worth it for low-margin products like insecticide or air freshener.
The four tests your cans must pass
Every aerosol can we ship to the EU, USA, Australia, or anywhere with UN standard requirements must pass the following test sequence:
- Pressure test (hot and cold) — typically 1.5× design pressure for 30 seconds at 50 °C
- Leak test — submerged in water at 25 °C, hold for 1 minute minimum
- Drop test — drop from 1.2 m onto concrete; can must not leak
- Rim impact test — for cans ≥ 65 mm in diameter
If your supplier doesn't have these test reports on file per batch, your shipment can be rejected at port without prior notice.
One thing buyers often overlook: every production batch needs a fresh batch test certificate. Some suppliers (especially trading companies) will reuse a single certificate across many shipments — that's a red flag.
What your shipper needs on the outer carton
When your forwarder picks up the cans, the markings go on the outer carton, not the cans themselves:
- UN 1950 + class (2.1 or 2.2)
- Proper shipping name: "Aerosols"
- Packing group if applicable: III for most formats
- Weight limit per carton: "333 kg max"
If your forwarder says "we don't usually mark cartons" — they may not have done DG shipments before. Most general cargo forwarders won't touch UN 1950 without specific training, so this is one place where a good export office is more useful than a direct factory contact.
Common customs delays (and how to avoid them)
Based on the past 12 shipments we've processed, the most common customs delays fall into 3 buckets:
| Reason for delay | How often | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Missing test certificate per batch | 4 / 12 shipments | Ask supplier for batch-by-batch reports, not "annual" |
| Outer carton marking wrong or missing UN 1950 | 3 / 12 shipments | Tell your supplier up-front: "I will reject unmarked cartons" |
| Propellant declared inconsistently across docs | 2 / 12 shipments | Always use "Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)" — even on commercial invoice |
The German importer's case? Her supplier had used different brand names for propellant across 3 documents. The inspector caught it on item 3.
What we do on your behalf (and what we don't)
A lot of first-time buyers assume their supplier or forwarder handles UN 1950 classification on their side. In reality, the responsibility for correct classification sits with the importer of record — that's you, not us. We provide the test certificates, the marking checklist, and the propellant declaration templates, but you sign the final declaration.
Here's the split we've settled on after a few disagreements with buyers:
| Responsibility | Who handles it | What we provide |
|---|---|---|
| Batch test certificate per production run | Us | We issue test reports within 7 days of batch completion. We don't reuse certificates across batches. |
| UN 1950 marking on outer cartons | Us | Our export office adds the labels per your market's specific DG rules (UN vs IATA varies by destination) |
| DG declaration on commercial invoice | You | We send a template; your freight forwarder signs based on it |
| Customs clearance on arrival | You / your forwarder | We support by phone or email if the inspector has questions |
| Re-export or destruction if rejected | You | We do not cover forwarding costs or destruction fees |
The reason I'm laying this out: when a buyer assumes their supplier "handles all of it" and we miss a step they didn't tell us about, the cost always falls back on the buyer. Don't assume — ask.
FAQ
Does UN 1950 apply to sample shipments?
Yes. Even 5 cans crossing a border are technically DG. Most couriers (DHL, FedEx) have specific DG surcharges — usually $200–400 per shipment depending on destination. We bundle samples in 2.1 cartons under 30 kg and the surcharge is usually under $80.
Can I avoid DG with water-based propellant?
Water-based does not mean non-flammable. Most propellants contain some flammable component. We've only seen 2 buyers in 3 years qualify for non-flammable (2.2), and both had to redesign their cans specifically for that.
How long does it take to get the test certificates?
Standard pressure + drop test reports take 10–15 working days at our lab. If you have a launch deadline, request them before placing your production PO, not after.
Does this apply to trigger sprays without propellant?
No. Trigger sprays without propellant fall under a different classification — usually UN 1170 if they contain ethanol, or non-DG for water-based liquids. Only pressurized aerosols are UN 1950.
What happens if I declare wrong at customs?
In Germany, the UK and the USA, the customs fine is typically 2× the value of the shipment + admin fees, plus the cost of re-export or destruction. In some US states, fines flow through to the importer of record (not the foreign exporter), so it's your problem, not your supplier's.
Need help getting UN 1950 sorted for your next shipment? Tell us your target market and your product spec — we'll prepare a classification + packaging plan for your brand. See our OEM/ODM service overview or jump straight to air-freshener products.
