UN IIP Certificate
Indian Institute of Packaging
The IIP UN Mark Certificate is mandatory for air and sea transport of hazardous materials. Issued by the Indian Institute of Packaging — India's only government-authorized UN packaging certification body.
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The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is a premier national organization striving for improved packaging standards in India. IIP is a responsible body for the packaging sector and one of its most important tasks is providing a UN IIP Certificate — a mandatory certificate for safe transportation of hazardous material.
IIP UN Mark Certificate is also called the UN Certificate and it is required in air and sea shipping of hazardous products. The Indian Institute of Packaging tests sample packages comprehensively to ensure they meet United Nations (UN) standards in shipping hazardous products. The basic purpose is to make the packaging strong enough to withstand environmental conditions, stresses most likely encountered during shipping, and be leak-proof.
In India, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation have authorized IIP as the nodal agency to conduct performance tests on bulk packages and issue a UN Certificate for packaging. With well-equipped laboratories for testing as per IMDG and ICAO regulations, IIP supports numerous industries across the country and facilitates the export of hazardous goods.
UN Certification, made mandatory by the Director General of Shipping, Govt. of India, was initially introduced for packages used in carrying dangerous goods by sea. Similar requirements now apply to air transport, where shippers must ensure only certified packaging with proper UN markings is used. After successful performance testing, IIP issues certificates to manufacturers or dealers, permitting them to produce any number of packages of the same specifications, design, and shape within the validity period.
The UN packaging code is an individual mark on approved packages, implying the package went through all tests as defined by the UN for transport of hazardous materials. The mark gives assurance to the Director-General of Shipping, DGCA, and carriers that the products are prepared to be loaded into planes or vessels.
The following package types are eligible for IIP UN Mark Certification, each identified by a specific UN code and description as per UN certification requirements:
| UN Code | Package Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1A1 | Metal Drums and Barrels | Non-Removable Head Type |
| 1A2 | Metal Drums and Barrels | Removable Head Type |
| 1H1 | Plastic Drums and Barrels | Non-Removable Head Type |
| 1H2 | Plastic Drums and Barrels | Removable Head Type |
| 1G | Fibre Board Drums | Removable Head Type |
| 3H1 | Plastic Jerrican | Standard Plastic Jerrican |
| 4C1 | Wooden Box | Standard Wooden Box |
| 4D | Plywood Box | Standard Plywood Box |
| 4G | Corrugated Fibre-board Box | Standard Fibre-board Box |
| 5H3 | Woven Sack Bags | Standard Woven Sacks |
| 5M2 | Paper Bags | Standard Paper Bags |
| 6HA1 | Plastic & Steel Composite Drums/Barrels | Non-Removable Head Type |
| 13H3 | FIBC – Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container | Woven Jumbo Bags |
| 31HA1 | IBC Tanks – Intermediate Bulk Container | 1000 Litre Plastic Tank with Steel Cage & Wooden/Plastic/Steel Pallet |
The UN IIP Certificate covers transportation of nine classes of dangerous articles classified according to international regulations (IMDG & ICAO):
Obtaining the UN IIP Certificate brings significant advantages for manufacturers, exporters, and the entire hazardous goods supply chain:
Ensures compliance with international safety standards as per IMDG and ICAO regulations. Mandatory for export of dangerous goods by air and sea.
Guarantees international acceptability of Indian packaging, fostering global trade. Builds trust with global buyers and regulators worldwide.
Provides documented legal proof of compliance for audits and inspections. Helps avoid penalties or shipment rejections due to non-compliance.
Facilitates smooth customs clearance for hazardous goods shipments. Carriers and authorities accept UN-certified packaging without delays.
Reduces risk of accidents during handling, storage, and transport by certifying packaging can withstand extreme transport conditions.
Allows export of multiple categories (X, Y, Z) depending on certificate type. X covers Y and Z; Y covers Z; Z covers only Z category.
Strengthens reputation and brand image of the exporter. Increases credibility of packaging manufacturers in the global supply chain.
Maintains industrial packaging to a very high level of quality and safety. Enables manufacturing of customized packaging solutions as per industry requirements.
Enhances competitiveness in global supply chains for dangerous goods. Demonstrates adherence to ISO and quality management standards.
The procedure to obtain the IIP UN Mark Certificate is a well-organized multi-step process. It begins with submitting the official application, follows with testing, and ends with issuance of the final certificate.
Contact any one of the six IIP offices (Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad) by sending an email to the respective regional office. Each office has a dedicated contact person and email ID. The IIP will revert with LIMS login credentials for first-time users.
Once you send the mail, IIP will provide LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) login credentials — username and password. This information is for first-time users only. Existing applicants can use the same credentials for all future applications and correspondence.
Normal Mode: Takes 7–28 days. Tatkal Mode: Testing reports are issued within 3 days. Tatkal Mode is not applicable for narrow-mouth container packaging. Choose based on your export urgency and timeline requirements.
Log in to the LIMS portal and fill the complete application form with all required details — packaging type, chemicals, exporter information, UN number, packaging group, mode of export (Air/Sea/Combined), etc. Submit the form to receive a Booking Number for further correspondence.
Send physical packaging samples in the required quantity as per IMDG (Sea) or ICAO (Air) international standards to your chosen IIP regional office. Label each sample with the Booking Number clearly. Samples can be couriered or delivered directly to the office.
Based on parameters selected in the application, IIP issues a Proforma Invoice detailing all expenses. Make payment via online mode using payment details shared along with the invoice. After payment, share proof of payment via email to the respective IIP regional office email ID.
IIP verifies the booking number, physical condition of samples, fee payment, and supporting documents. In case of any insufficiency, IIP will intimate by email to resubmit. On receipt of sufficient records and samples, an acknowledgement is sent to the registered mobile and email.
The received sample is registered in LIMS and a Job Code is generated, then assigned to the relevant laboratory for testing. Without this Job Code, laboratories cannot perform tests — ensure all formalities are completed timely to receive reports within the prescribed limit.
IIP laboratory performs all applicable UN-prescribed tests:
• Drop Test: Impact resistance from a given height.
• Stacking Test: Compression resistance under given weight.
• Leakage Test: Hydrostatic pressure test for liquid packages.
• Vibration Test: Shipping vibration simulation.
Test results are reviewed for completeness and compliance, then authorized and authenticated by designated laboratory authorities. If the packaging meets UN testing criteria, a unique UN marking is generated based on the applicant's submitted data and international standards for air and sea export.
Once all tests are completed, test reports are uploaded to the LIMS portal. Applicants can download these reports using their login credentials. This Test Report is mandatory — the UN IIP Certificate cannot be issued without it. Failure in any test leads to rejection for certification.
IIP dispatches the final UN Certificate, test report, and tax invoice through LIMS to the applicant. IIP retains the sample for one month, after which it is returned on request or disposed of per procedure. The manufacturer is accountable that all subsequent batches match the tested sample specifications.
Send an email to any one of the six IIP offices below to initiate your UN Certificate application. LIMS credentials will be provided in the reply.
| Manufacturer Category | Validity Options |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 Certified | 12, 24, 36, or 48 Months |
| Non-ISO Certified | 9 Months (Maximum) |
Packaging manufacturers can apply for IIP UN Certification for packaging materials used for exporting hazardous goods by sea and/or air. Once successfully processed, the UN Certificate is issued to the manufacturer confirming compliance with international safety requirements. It also contains details of the exporter.
The applicant must provide a list of chemicals along with their MSDS, the maximum net amount per package, and the product-package compatibility certificate when applying online. IIP will not provide a chemical list along with the UN certificates — this is the applicant's responsibility.
Choose Tatkal Mode and receive testing reports within 3 days. Normal Mode takes 7–28 days. Tatkal is not applicable for narrow-mouth container packaging.
X category (highly dangerous) covers Y and Z. Y (medium) covers Z. Z (low danger) covers only Z. Categories represent the severity level of dangerous goods.
Request a single combined certificate valid for both IMDG (Sea) and ICAO (Air) transport. Simplifies compliance and reduces the cost of obtaining separate certificates.
Once issued, your UN Certificate, test report, and tax invoice are available for download directly from the IIP LIMS portal using the credentials provided at registration.
IIP can conduct performance testing at your manufacturing facility. Site visit testing is available for customers who prefer on-location evaluation of packaging materials.
Additional Exporter Certificates are issued with the same validity as the basic certificate (Air/Sea/Combined). A UN registration for the Additional Group is also issued to the Packaging Manufacturer.
Expert guidance from initiation to certificate issuance. Let our specialists simplify your compliance journey.