Classification of Products

Noxious liquid substances can not be shipped by sea until they have been evaluated and assigned carriage requirements according to MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code.  In order for a product to be included in the IBC Code the manufacturer/shipper of the product must submit data according to a set format to the GESAMP group of scientists in order for it to be given a hazard profile.  Once this is completed a formal submission must be made by a member state (usually the shipping state) to the IMO in order for carriage requirements to be assigned.

In order to avoid disruption to trade it is possible for provisional carriage requirements to be agreed between shipping, receiving and Flag states.  Such tripartite agreements are valid fro three years, during which time full details of the product must be provided, in order for formal carriage requirements to be assigned.

Full details of the procedures that must be followed can be found in MEPC.1/Circ.512.