Hazardous Goods: Severe Restrictions for Imports Arriving in China from June 1 Through

HAZARDOUS GOODS: SEVERE RESTRICTIONS FOR IMPORTS ARRIVING IN CHINA FROM JUNE 1 THROUGH SEP 30 2008

Citing concerns for the safety of the XXIX Olympic Games, port authorities in China including Hong Kong have announced a moratorium on importation of nearly all IMO regulated hazardous goods for importation to many major ports in China effective June 1st through September 30th 2008. Restricted cargo will be stored on account of the cargo by port authorities if it reaches Chinese ports during this period. This ban does affect destined to or transshipping at any China port. It does not affect cargo that will call but remain on board ship at China ports (FROB).Due to the heavy use of transshipment for delivery of goods in China, the ban effectively covers all China imports.

Affected goods are as follows:

Class 1 ALL (e.g.: explosives and projection hazards)
Class 2 ALL (gases)
Class 3/ UN1090, UN1091 acetone, acetone oils and acetone waste NOTE: as of 5/22/08 this restriction does not include other flammable liquids but customers are cautioned that restrictions of other flammable liquids may be announced by individual port authorities with insufficient advanced notice to prevent costly embargo after goods are laden aboard vessels bound for China. Any costs including diversion or storage of cargo will be for account of the cargo.
Class 4 ALL (flammable solids, spontaneously combustible substances, substances which emit flammable gases in contact with water)
Class 5 ALL (oxidizing substances and organic peroxides including most fertilizers) including, but not limited to:

UN2015 Hydrogen peroxide

UN2067 Ammonium nitrate fertilizers; uniform non-segregating mixtures of ammonium nitrate with added matter which is inorganic and chemically inert towards ammonium nitrate, with not less than 90 percent ammonium nitrate and not more than 0.2 percent combustible

UN2426 Ammonium nitrate, liquid (hot concentrated solution)

Class 6 ALL (toxic and infectious substances)
Class 7 ALL (radioactive material)
Class 8 acids (corrosive substances including but not limited toSulphuric acid - class 8 UN1830,UN1831, UN1832, UN2796; nitric acid –class 8 UN2031, UN2032;
hydrochloric acid – class 8 UN1789 and hydrogen peroxides UN2014. NOTE: precise definition of “acids” has not been supplied.Any Class 8 material shipped will be at risk of the Customer and any costs including diversion or storage will be for the account of the cargo.)

Class9 miscellaneous dangerous substances including ammonium nitrates and related fertilizersincluding but not limited to:

UN2067 Ammonium nitrate fertilizers; uniform non-segregating mixtures of ammonium nitrate with added matter which is inorganic and chemically inert towards ammonium nitrate, with not less than 90 percent ammonium nitrate and not more than 0.2 percent combustible

UN2071 Ammonium nitrate fertilizers: uniform non-segregating mixtures of nitrogen/phosphate or nitrogen/potash types or complete fertilizers of nitrogen/phosphate/potash type, with not more than 70 percent ammonium nitrate and not more than 0.4 percent total add,

UN2212 Blue asbestos (Crocidolite) or Brown asbestos (amosite, mysorite)

UN2315 Polychlorinated biphenyls, liquid or solid

UN3151 Polyhalogenated biphenyls, liquid or Polyhalogenated terphenyls, liquid

UN3152 Polyhalogenated biphenyls, liquid or Polyhalogenated terphenyls, solid

All Customers should note that Central Government authorities may or may not issue covering regulations, and that these restrictions may change with little or no prior notice.Shipment of any IMDG regulated cargo of any kindwhich will arrive in China during the period June 1 through Sep 30 regardless of schedule at the time of booking, lading or transshipment may be affected. Any diversion, storage or other effect on such cargo will be for account of the cargo. No diversion or other special handling will be effected by the carrier unless agreed to and paid for in advance by the customer or its agent.