In short
- An aerosol can is a pressure vessel with a propellant. Even when the contents are harmless, the pressure and the propellant put the goods in class 2.
- This is the category most often shipped as general cargo by accident — cleaning sprays, cosmetic sprays, industrial aerosols and small gas cartridges all arrive at the port declared as ordinary goods.
- The correction is straightforward, but it has to happen before the booking: the carrier's acceptance, the packing and the labels all follow from the class.
What makes an aerosol class 2
- The propellant — usually a liquefied or compressed gas, which is the source of the classification.
- The pressure — a vessel under pressure is treated as a pressure receptacle regardless of content.
- The contents — flammable, toxic or corrosive contents then determine the division within class 2, which affects handling and stowage.
- The size — small cartridges are still pressure vessels; size changes the packing requirements, not the class.
Never as cosmetics Declaring a cosmetic spray as "cosmetics" is the single most common misdeclaration on this lane. The product category and the transport class are different things.
Which aerosols, and which are often mistaken
| Product | Usually class 2? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spray paint and coatings | Yes | Frequently flammable contents as well as propellant |
| Cosmetic and personal care sprays | Yes | Often declared as cosmetics by mistake |
| Household and industrial cleaners | Yes | Include the can in the declaration, not only the liquid |
| Insecticides and repellents | Yes | Toxicity may add requirements beyond the pressure |
| Gas cartridges and lighters refills | Yes | Small format does not remove the classification |
| Pump sprays (non-pressurised) | Usually not | Check the mechanism — no propellant gas means a different analysis |
What carriers require before acceptance
- A formal classification conclusion covering the propellant and content, not just the product name.
- Compliant packaging — aerosols have specific packing requirements and quantity limits per package.
- Correct labels and markings for the class and any subsidiary hazard.
- A booking declaration that matches the conclusion, submitted with enough lead time for the carrier's review.
Where the problems surface
- At loading, when the container is opened for inspection and the cans are found undeclared.
- During a carrier audit of previously shipped cargo, which then puts future bookings under scrutiny.
- At destination, where the same class 2 handling rules apply to unloading and onward delivery.
- During consolidation, when aerosols are mixed into an LCL group without segregation assessment.
Practical rule If it comes in a pressurised can, treat it as dangerous goods until a written conclusion says otherwise — not the other way round.
Planning the shipment
- Ask the manufacturer for the propellant and the net content per unit, which drive the classification.
- Confirm the carrier's current acceptance policy for class 2 on your route; policies differ and change.
- Budget additional lead time: dangerous goods bookings go through a separate approval chain.
- Check whether the destination delivery can handle class 2 — not every trucking arrangement can.
Related pages
This page summarizes field practice and publicly available Indonesian import rules for general business reference only—it is not legal, customs, or pricing advice. Customs provisions, tariff rates, and licensing requirements keep changing, so the rules in force at the time and the official processing result always prevail. Wuhan Freedom International Logistics Co., Ltd. · Licensed PPJK in Indonesia · Jakarta / Semarang / Wuhan.