Chapters teams use most
The Code works substance by substance, and the entry for the specific product usually settles most questions. Day-to-day work tends to land in a few chapters. The Code also carries the MARPOL Annex III rules for marine pollutants shipped in packaged form, so some goods that seem harmless to people can still need declaring. Work from the edition your carrier applies, since answers can change between amendments.
- Chapter 3.2: the Dangerous Goods List and its requirements
- Chapter 5.4: transport documents, including the multimodal form
- Chapter 7.2: segregation of incompatible goods
Editions and the two-year amendment cycle
IMO first adopted the Code in 1965 as a recommendation, and it has been mandatory under SOLAS chapter VII since 1 January 2004, though a few parts remain recommendatory. Amendments follow a two-year cycle, and many track changes to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. IMO's publications page lists the 2024 Edition, which includes Amendment 42-24, as mandatory from 1 January 2026. An outdated copy can give wrong packing or segregation answers, so confirm the edition in force.
How U.S. hazmat rules accept the code
The U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations, issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, authorize shipments prepared under the IMDG Code, with conditions. Under 49 CFR 171.25, a shipment that moves by vessel for all or part of its trip may also travel by truck or rail in the United States under the Code, but the vehicle or railcar must be placarded under U.S. rules and the inland legs must meet U.S. carriage requirements. A box that never travels by ship follows U.S. rules directly.
Example
Before booking a container of solvent-based paint from Hamburg to Savannah, the forwarder checks the paint's entry in the Code's Dangerous Goods List for packing, stowage and segregation requirements.
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Official sources
Questions
What does IMDG Code mean?
The IMDG Code, or International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, is the International Maritime Organization's set of rules for carrying dangerous goods in packaged form by sea. It covers how the goods are classified, packed, marked, documented, stowed and kept apart from incompatible cargo.
Is the IMDG Code mandatory?
For the most part, yes: IMO made it mandatory under SOLAS from 1 January 2004, and governments apply it through their own rules. A few parts, such as some training and security provisions, remain recommendatory.
Where can I get a copy of the IMDG Code?
IMO publishes it in print and electronic editions through its publications service and authorized distributors. Make sure the copy matches the amendment currently in force.