☣️ FedEx Dangerous Goods Country List
Where FedEx publishes destination acceptance, what it leaves out, and how to check your class, service and country before you book
The short version
FedEx dangerous goods (DG) are items classified as hazardous for transport under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and U.S. DOT rules. FedEx does publish a destination page, Dangerous Goods: Countries and Territories Served, but a country showing as served is only the first of several checks. Acceptance depends on the hazard class, the FedEx service, the origin-destination lane, and the destination's import rules, all at once. The method below walks through each one.
Where FedEx Publishes Its Country Information
There is no single PDF titled "FedEx dangerous goods country list". The information sits in several places, and each answers a different question:
| FedEx source | What it tells you | What it does not |
|---|---|---|
| Countries and Territories Served | By destination: DG delivery status, dry ice status, and radioactive or explosives status. Some entries show no DG delivery or a suspended service. | Whether your exact item or class is accepted, or whether the destination needs an import licence |
| How to Ship Dangerous Goods | Service and class limits, including limits to Alaska, Hawaii and many international destinations | A full lane-by-lane answer |
| DG resources | Checklists, packaging job aids and training pointers, plus the 2026 DG Job Aid | Destination status |
| FedEx variations in the IATA DGR | FedEx's own rules on top of IATA, labelled FX-01 onward. These apply to air shipments and are binding on the shipper. | Free public access to the full text: the DGR is a paid manual |
| State variations in the IATA DGR | Extra rules filed by individual countries | FedEx-specific policy |
| FedEx DG hotline, 1.800.463.3339 (say "dangerous goods") | Whether a commodity is acceptable to a destination today. Have the destination city and country, UN number and class ready. | Written assurance, unless you ask for it |
FedEx's web copies can lag behind operations. If the page and the hotline disagree, go with the hotline and note the date of the call.
How to Check a Lane Before You Book
- Get the UN number and class. Section 14 of the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet gives the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group. Without those you cannot classify the shipment.
- Work out which regime applies. Excepted quantities and Section II lithium batteries avoid a full declaration. Limited quantities relax the packaging rules, but by air they still need a Shipper's Declaration. Everything else is fully regulated.
- Look up the destination on the Countries and Territories Served page. If it shows no DG delivery or a suspension, stop there and ask FedEx about alternatives.
- Confirm the service and the lane. Call the DG hotline with origin, destination, service, UN number and class. Class and service limits are applied on top of the country entry.
- Confirm the import side. FedEx accepting a booking is not an import licence. Check the country guide and the destination's customs rules, which often cover chemicals, medicines and batteries.
- Have trained staff prepare it. U.S. hazmat rules require anyone preparing a DG shipment to have current training, and FedEx needs an approved account and location for fully regulated goods.
The Nine Dangerous Goods Classes
Every dangerous good falls into one of these classes. The class sets the packaging, the labels and which services can carry it:
| Class | What it covers | Everyday examples | FedEx position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives | Fireworks, flares, ammunition, airbag inflators | Division 1.4 only, to a short list of countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UAE and the UK |
| 2 | Gases | Aerosols, propane, CO₂ cartridges | Approved shippers, with declaration |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Perfume, nail polish, paint, spirits over 24% ABV | Approved shippers. Limited-quantity packaging possible. |
| 4 | Flammable solids | Matches, magnesium, some powders | Approved shippers, with declaration |
| 5 | Oxidizers and organic peroxides | Pool chemicals, hair bleach, peroxide | Approved shippers, with declaration |
| 6 | Toxic and infectious substances | Pesticides, Category A and B substances | Certified packaging, trained shippers. Check variations. |
| 7 | Radioactive material | Medical isotopes, industrial gauges | Preapproval required outside the U.S. |
| 8 | Corrosives | Acids, drain cleaner, wet-cell batteries, mercury | Approved shippers, with declaration |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | Lithium batteries, dry ice, strong magnets, engines | Marks and labels vary. Battery and dry ice rules below. |
Common Questions by Product
Is perfume dangerous goods?
Alcohol-based perfume and cologne usually are. They ship as UN1266, Perfumery products, Class 3. Small bottles may qualify for limited-quantity packaging, but an air shipment still needs an approved shipper and a declaration. See how each carrier treats it in the carrier comparison.
Which labels are forbidden or permitted by air?
"Forbidden" in the IATA DGR is an item status, not a label: the item cannot fly at all in that form. Otherwise, the required hazard label depends on class and packing instruction, and the Cargo Aircraft Only label restricts a package to freighters. FedEx also limits what can share a package with lithium batteries, including some Cargo Aircraft Only items (FX-05). Remove old hazard labels from any reused box.
Can FedEx take Class 9 to China?
Class 9 is a broad class, so the answer depends on the item. One clear example is that FedEx China has stated it does not accept UN3480 standalone lithium-ion batteries on international express services. Check the UN number with the hotline, not the class alone.
What about the Middle East by road?
FedEx announced DG road transport across five GCC markets in October 2026 (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman). Road and air rules differ, so a shipment refused by air within the region may have a road option. This does not change export rules from the U.S.
Lithium Batteries: the DG Case That Affects Everyone
Most people who find out they are shipping dangerous goods find out because of a battery. FedEx's rules depend on where the cell sits:
| Configuration | UN number | FedEx rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|
| Installed in the device (laptop, phone, camera) | UN3481 / UN3091 | Section II accepted if within cell and battery limits. The easiest case. |
| Packed with the device (spare in the same box) | UN3481 / UN3091 | Section II accepted within packing and quantity limits, with the battery mark where required. |
| Standalone batteries and power banks | UN3480 / UN3090 | Section II not accepted. Must ship fully regulated as Section IA or IB, from an approved shipper. IATA treats power banks as batteries, not devices. |
| Damaged, defective or recalled | Varies | Refused by air. Ask FedEx about any ground option. |
The FedEx 2026 battery overview has the watt-hour and per-package limits. Declaring a battery shipment as "electronics" to avoid the paperwork is what turns a delay into a penalty.
What Happens If You Ship DG Undeclared
Undeclared dangerous goods are treated as a safety violation, not a paperwork error. A shipment found in screening or after a leak is typically stopped, your account can be flagged or closed, and the case can be referred to the DOT or the destination's aviation authority. Civil penalties can run to five figures or more per violation. Insurance will not pay, as covered in the shipping insurance guide.
Related guides
For items FedEx refuses outright, see FedEx prohibited items. To compare all four carriers item by item, see international prohibited items. Other carriers draw their DG lines differently: see DHL, UPS and USPS, which is the strictest of the four. Paperwork for the shipment itself is in the commercial invoice guide.