The nine hazard classes, the paperwork each one needs, and why there is no single FedEx dangerous goods country list
FedEx dangerous goods (DG) are items classified as hazardous for transport under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and the U.S. DOT rules — nine classes covering everything from fireworks to a spare laptop battery. Unlike prohibited items, dangerous goods are not banned: they can move, but only on a FedEx service that accepts that class, from a shipper with a DG-capable account, with UN-specification packaging and a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods. The catch is that acceptance depends on three things at once — the class, the service, and the destination country.
Every dangerous good FedEx handles falls into one of these classes. The class determines the packaging standard, the labels, and which services can carry it:
| Class | What it covers | Everyday examples | FedEx acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives | Fireworks, flares, ammunition, airbag inflators | Effectively closed on most services |
| 2 | Gases | Aerosols, propane, CO₂ cartridges, inhalers | DG account + declaration |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Perfume, nail polish, paint, spirits over 24% ABV | Limited-quantity rules; often ground-only |
| 4 | Flammable solids | Matches, lighters, magnesium, some powders | DG declaration |
| 5 | Oxidizers & organic peroxides | Pool chemicals, hair bleach, peroxide | DG declaration |
| 6 | Toxic & infectious substances | Pesticides, diagnostic specimens, Category A/B substances | Certified packaging, trained shipper |
| 7 | Radioactive material | Medical isotopes, industrial gauges, some smoke detectors | Highly restricted, contract only |
| 8 | Corrosives | Acids, drain cleaner, wet-cell batteries, mercury | DG declaration |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | Lithium batteries, dry ice, strong magnets, engines | Special marks and labels |
Class 9 is by far the most common in consumer shipping, almost entirely because of lithium batteries.
This is the single most searched question about FedEx DG, and the honest answer is that the list people are looking for does not exist as one document — because acceptance is decided at four separate layers, and any one of them can close a lane:
The practical consequence: any country list you find published online is a snapshot that was already out of date when it was written. The only reliable check is the one described below, run for your specific class, service, and destination on the day you ship.
Most people who discover they are shipping dangerous goods discover it because of a battery. Class 9 lithium rules turn on where the cell sits, not what it powers:
| Configuration | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Battery installed in the device (laptop, phone, camera) | Generally acceptable with limited marking. The easiest case by far. |
| Spare packed alongside the device | Restricted; watt-hour limits and quantity caps apply per package. |
| Loose cells and power banks | Heavily restricted. Most consumer lanes refuse them outright; air shipment caps cells at 100 Wh without DG approval. |
| Damaged, swollen, or recalled cells | Prohibited on every service, every lane, no exceptions. |
If your item has a rechargeable battery and you are shipping internationally, assume Class 9 applies until you have confirmed otherwise. Declaring it as "electronics" to avoid the paperwork is what turns a delay into a fine.
Undeclared dangerous goods are treated as a safety violation rather than a paperwork error. FedEx X-rays international parcels, and an undeclared DG find typically means the shipment is stopped and destroyed at your cost, your account is flagged or suspended, and the matter is referable to the DOT or the destination's aviation authority — civil penalties run into five figures per violation. There is no version of this that is cheaper than declaring properly.
For the items FedEx refuses outright rather than restricts, see FedEx prohibited items. For the rules that apply no matter which carrier you use, see the universal prohibited items list. Other carriers draw their DG lines differently — compare DHL, UPS, and USPS, which is the strictest of the four.