Hazard classification and common labels for disinfection products

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection products are one of the most sought-after items besides masks. The \"Announcement by the General Administration of Customs on Implementing Export Commodity Inspection for Medical Supplies under Customs Commodity Codes such as ‘6307900010’\" (Announcement No. 53 of 2020 issued by the General Administration of Customs) mandates export commodity inspection for 11 categories of medical supplies, including medical disinfectants, once again bringing disinfection products to the center of attention. Today, I will discuss with you the classification, hazard characteristics, and labeling requirements for common export disinfection products. Disinfection products can be mainly divided into 5 types: alcohols, iodines, oxidants, quaternary ammonium compounds, and carbamates. The hazard characteristics, transportation classification, classification as hazardous chemicals, and labeling requirements for the above 5 categories of products have been summarized as follows: 1. Alcohol-based disinfection products: Alcohol disinfectants/gels, isopropyl alcohol disinfectants, alcohol-based wipes. View more. Common ingredients in alcohol-based disinfection products *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: These products are generally considered hazardous goods (flammable) and also fall under the category of hazardous chemicals. Wipes/tissue products can be treated as solids containing flammable liquids; when transported, they are classified as solid hazardous goods (flammable). Since they belong to the category of goods, they are not considered hazardous chemicals. When they are classified as hazardous goods, the common labels on their packaging are those indicating “Class 3 Flammable Liquids” or “Class 4 Flammable Solids”. The GHS label always includes an icon representing flammability; an icon representing eye irritation may also appear. 2. Iodine-based disinfection products: Tincture of iodine and compound iodine disinfectants, povidone-iodine disinfectants. Common ingredients in tincture of iodine and compound iodine disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in povidone-iodine disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Tincture of iodine and compound iodine disinfectants are generally considered hazardous goods (flammable) and also fall under the category of hazardous chemicals. Povidone-iodine is not considered a hazardous chemical when transported. When these products are classified as hazardous goods, the common labels on their packaging are those indicating “Class 3 Flammable Liquids”. The GHS label always includes an icon representing flammability. 3. Oxidizing agent-based disinfection products: Sodium hypochlorite disinfectants/tablets/powders, hypochlorous acid disinfectants, peracetic acid disinfectants, mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid. View more. Common ingredients in sodium hypochlorite disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in hypochlorous acid disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in peracetic acid disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Disinfection products with sodium hypochlorite as the main active ingredient are generally considered hazardous goods (corrosive) and not hazardous chemicals. Disinfection products with hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, or mixtures of both as the main active ingredient are generally considered hazardous goods (oxidizing/organic peroxides). Whether a product is considered a hazardous chemical depends on its exact components and concentrations. The typical concentration of hypochlorous acid in hypochlorous acid disinfectants ranges from 100 ppm to 5000 ppm (0.001% to 0.05%). Such products are considered ordinary goods and not hazardous chemicals when transported. When they are classified as hazardous goods, the common labels on their packaging are those indicating “Class 8 Corrosives”, “Class 5.1 Oxidizing Substances”, or “Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides”. The GHS label typically includes icons representing skin corrosion, eye damage, oxidizing properties, organic peroxides, and toxicity to specific target organs ； Pictograms for respiratory irritation 4. Quaternary ammonium compound disinfection products: Quaternary ammonium compound disinfectants, quaternary ammonium compound disinfection wipes. Common ingredients in quaternary ammonium compound disinfection products* Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Products with low concentrations (quaternary ammonium compound content of no more than 3%) are generally considered ordinary goods and not hazardous chemicals during transportation. Common symbols on GHS labels include those indicating eye damage, as well as symbols representing skin irritation, eye irritation, and skin allergies. Products with high concentrations (quaternary ammonium compound content of at least 5%) are usually classified as hazardous goods (corrosive) and not hazardous chemicals. Common symbols on GHS labels for such products include those indicating skin corrosion and eye damage, as well as symbols representing harm to aquatic environments. 5. Benzalkonium chloride-based disinfection/antimicrobial products: Benzalkonium chloride as a bactericidal/antimicrobial agent. Ingredients in benzalkonium chloride disinfection products* Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Such products are generally considered hazardous goods (corrosive) during transportation and are not hazardous chemicals. When they are classified as hazardous goods, common labels on the packaging include those indicating “Category 8: Corrosive.” Common symbols on GHS labels include those representing skin corrosion and eye damage, as well as symbols representing harm to aquatic environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection products have been one of the most sought-after items, alongside masks. The \"Announcement by the General Administration of Customs on Implementing Export Commodity Inspection for Medical Supplies under Customs Commodity Codes such as ‘6307900010’\" (Announcement No. 53 of 2020 issued by the General Administration of Customs) mandates export commodity inspection for 11 categories of medical supplies, including medical disinfectants, once again bringing disinfection products to the center of attention. Today, I will discuss with you the classification, hazard characteristics, and labeling requirements for common export disinfection products. Disinfection products can be mainly divided into 5 types: alcohols, iodines, oxidants, quaternary ammonium compounds, and carbamates. The hazard characteristics, transportation classification, classification as hazardous chemicals, and labeling requirements for the above 5 categories of products have been summarized as follows: 1. Alcohol-based disinfection products: Alcohol disinfectants/gels, isopropyl alcohol disinfectants, alcohol-based wipes. View more. Common ingredients in alcohol-based disinfection products *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: These products are generally considered hazardous goods (flammable) and also fall under the category of hazardous chemicals. Wipes/tissue products can be treated as solids containing flammable liquids; when transported, they are classified as solid hazardous goods (flammable). Since they belong to the category of goods, they are not considered hazardous chemicals. When they are classified as hazardous goods, the common labels on their packaging are those indicating “Class 3 Flammable Liquids” or “Class 4 Flammable Solids”. The GHS label always includes an icon representing flammability; an icon representing eye irritation may also appear. 2. Iodine-based disinfection products: Tincture of iodine and compound iodine disinfectants, povidone-iodine disinfectants. Common ingredients in tincture of iodine and compound iodine disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in povidone-iodine disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Tincture of iodine and compound iodine disinfectants are generally considered hazardous goods (flammable) and also fall under the category of hazardous chemicals. Povidone-iodine is not considered a hazardous chemical when transported. When these products are classified as hazardous goods, the common labels on their packaging are those indicating “Class 3 Flammable Liquids”. The GHS label always includes an icon representing flammability. 3. Oxidizing agent-based disinfection products: Sodium hypochlorite disinfectants/tablets/powders, hypochlorous acid disinfectants, peracetic acid disinfectants, mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid. View more. Common ingredients in sodium hypochlorite disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in hypochlorous acid disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in peracetic acid disinfectants *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Common ingredients in mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid *Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Disinfection products with sodium hypochlorite as the main active ingredient are generally considered hazardous goods (corrosive) and not hazardous chemicals. Disinfection products with hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, or mixtures of both as the main active ingredient are generally considered hazardous goods (oxidizing/organic peroxides). Whether a product is considered a hazardous chemical depends on its exact components and concentrations. The typical concentration of hypochlorous acid in hypochlorous acid disinfectants ranges from 100 ppm to 5000 ppm (0.001% to 0.05%). Such products are considered ordinary goods and not hazardous chemicals when transported. When they are classified as hazardous goods, the common labels on their packaging are those indicating “Class 8 Corrosives”, “Class 5.1 Oxidizing Substances”, or “Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides”. The GHS label typically includes icons representing skin corrosion, eye damage, oxidizing properties, organic peroxides, and toxicity to specific target organs ； Pictograms for respiratory irritation 4. Quaternary ammonium compound disinfection products: Quaternary ammonium compound disinfectants, quaternary ammonium compound disinfection wipes. Common ingredients in quaternary ammonium compound disinfection products*Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Products with low concentrations (quaternary ammonium compound content of no more than 3%) are generally considered ordinary goods and not hazardous chemicals during transportation. Common symbols on GHS labels include those indicating eye damage, as well as symbols representing skin irritation, eye irritation, and skin allergies. Products with high concentrations (quaternary ammonium compound content of at least 5%) are usually classified as hazardous goods (corrosive) and not hazardous chemicals. Common symbols on GHS labels for such products include those indicating skin corrosion and eye damage, as well as symbols representing hazards to aquatic environments. 5. Benzalkonium chloride-based disinfection/antimicrobial products: Benzalkonium chloride as a bactericidal/antimicrobial agent. Ingredients in benzalkonium chloride disinfection products*Click on the image to view it in larger size*. Hazard classification & common labels: Such products are generally considered hazardous goods (corrosive) during transportation and are not hazardous chemicals. When they are classified as hazardous goods, common labels on the packaging include those indicating “Category 8: Corrosive”. Common symbols on GHS labels include those representing skin corrosion and eye damage, as well as symbols representing hazards to aquatic environments