IMO Classes

The Carriage of dangerous goods and marine pollutants in sea-going ships is respectively regulated in the International Convention for the Safety of the Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Relevant parts of both SOLAS and MARPOL have been worked out in great detail and are included in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, thus making this Code the legal instrument for maritime transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants. As of 1st January 2004, the IMDG Code will become a mandatory requirement.

Classification of dangerous goods

For all modes of transport (sea, air, rail, road and inland waterways) the classification (grouping) of dangerous goods, by type of risk involved, has been drawn up by the UNITED NATIONS Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN).

Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances

Class 6.1

Subclass 6.1: Toxic, poison substances

Known to be toxic to humans so as to afford a hazard to health during transportation or is presumed to be toxic to humans because it falls within a toxic category when tested on laboratory animals.

An irritating material such as tear gas that causes extreme irritation, especially in confined spaces

Class 6.1

Subclass 6.2: Biohazard

6.2.1 Definitions

Für die Zwecke dieser Verordnungen:

6.2.1.1 Infectious substances are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as prions, which can cause disease in

Menschen und Tieren führen.

Note: Toxins from plant, animal or bacterial sources which do not contain any infectious substances or toxins that are not contained in substances which are infectious substances should be considered for classification in Division 6.1 and assigned to UN3172.

6.2.1.2 Biological products are those products derived from living organisms which are manufactured and distributed in accordance with the requirements of appropriate national authorities, which may have special licensing requirements, and are used either for prevention, treatment, or diagnosis of disease in humans or animals, or for development, experimental or investigational purposes related thereto. They include, but are not limited to, finished or unfinished products such as vaccines.

6.2.1.3 Cultures are the result of a process by which pathogens are intentionally. This definition does not include patient specimens as defined in 6.2.1.4.

6.2.1.4 Patient specimens are those collected directly from humans or animals, including, but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluid swabs, and body parts being transported for purposes such as research, diagnosis, investigational activities, disease treatment and prevention.

6.2.1.5 Medical or clinical wastes are wastes derived from the medical treatment of animals or humans or from bio-research.

6.2.2 Classification of Infectious Substances

6.2.2.1 Infectious substances must be classified in Division 6.2 and assigned to UN2814, UN2900, UN 3291 or UN3373, as appropriate.

6.2.2.2 Infectious substances are divided into the following categories.

6.2.2.2.1 Category A:

Ein infektiöser Substanz, die in einer Form transpoeriert ist, die bei der Exposition auftritt, kann eine dauerhafte Behinderung, lebensbedrohlichen oder tödlichen Krankheit bei sonst gesunden Menschen oder Tiere verursachen. Beispiele für Stoffe, die diese Kriterien erfüllen, sind in der Tabelle 3.6.D. angegeben.

Hinweis: Eine Exposition erfolgt, wenn eine infektiöse Substanz außerhalb der schützenden Verpackung zu einem physischen Kontakt mit Menschen oder Tieren freigesetzt wird.

(a) Infektiöse Stoffe, die diese Kriterien erfüllen, die Krankheiten bei Menschen oder sowohl bei Menschen und Tieren verursachen, müssen zu UN 2814 zugeordnet werden. Infektiöse Stoffe, die Krankheiten verursachen nur bei Tieren, müssen zu UN 2900 zugeordnet werden.

(b) Eine Zuordnung zur UN-Nummer 2814 oder 2900 muss auf dem bekannten Anamnese und Symptome des erkrankten Menschen oder Tieres, der lokalen endemischen Gegebenheiten oder beruflichen bezüglich des individuellen Zustands des erkrankten Menschen oder Tieren basieren.

Hinweis:

1. Die offizielle Benennung für UN 2814 ist infektiöser Stoff, gefährlich für Menschen. Die offizielle Benennung für UN 2900 ist infektiöder Stoff, gefährlich nur für Tiere.

2. Die folgende Tabelle ist nicht vollständig. Infektiöse Stoffe, einschließlich neue oder auftauchende Krankheitserreger, die in der Tabelle nicht aufgeführt sind, die aber dieselben Kriterien erfüllen, um Kategorie A muss zugewiesen werden. Außerdem, wenn es Zweifel ist, ob ein Stoff die Kriterien erfüllt, muss er in der Kategorie A enthalten sein.

3. In der folgenden Liste sind die Mikroorganismen (Bakterien, Mykoplasmen, Rickettsien oder Pilze) in Kursivschrift geschrieben.

Bacillus anthracis (cultures only)
Infectious substance
Brucella abortus (cultures only)
Brucella melitensis (cultures only)
Brucella suis (cultures only)
Burkholderia mallei – Pseudomonas mallei – Glanders (cultures only)
Burkholderia pseudomallei – Pseudomonas pseudomallei (cultures only)
Chlamydia psittaci – avian strains (cultures only)
Clostridium botulinum (cultures only)
Coccidioides immitis (cultures only)
Coxiella burnetii (cultures only)
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
Dengue virus (cultures only)
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (cultures only)
Escherichia coli, verotoxigenic (cultures only)
Ebola virus
Flexal virus
Francisella tularensis (cultures only)
Guanarito virus
Hantaan virus
Hantavirus causing hemorragic fever with renal syndrome
Hendra virus
Hepatitis B virus (cultures only)
Herpes B virus (cultures only)
Human immunodeficiency virus (cultures only)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (cultures only)
Japanese Encephalitis virus (cultures only)
Junin virus
Kyasanur Forest disease virus
Lassa virus
Machupo virus
Marburg virus
Monkeypox virus
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (cultures only)
Nipah virus
Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus
Poliovirus (cultures only)
Rabies virus
Rickettsia prowazekii (cultures only)
Rickettsia rickettsii (cultures only)
Rift Valley fever virus
Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus (cultures only)
Sabia virus
Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (cultures only)
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (cultures only)
Variola virus
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
West Nile virus (cultures only)
Yellow fever virus (cultures only)
Yersinia pestis (cultures only)
African swine fever virus (cultures only)
Avian paramyxovirus Type 1 – Velogenic Newcastle disease virus (cultures only)
Classical swine fever virus (cultures only)
Foot and mouth disease virus (cultures only)
Goatpox virus (cultures only)
Lumpy skin disease virus (cultures only)
Mycoplasma mycoides – Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia(cultures only)
Peste des petits ruminants virus (cultures only)
Rinderpest virus (cultures only)
Sheep-pox virus (cultures only)
Swine vesicular disease virus (cultures only)
Vesicular stomatitis virus (cultures only)

6.2.2.2.2 Category B:

Ein infektiöser Stoff, der nicht den Kriterien für eine Aufnahme in Kategorie A Infektiöse Stoffe erfüllt, muss in Kategorie B zu UN 3373 zugeordnet werden.

Note: The proper shipping name of UN 3373 is Diagnostic specimens or Clinical specimens or Biological substance, category B. On 1 January 2007, it is anticipated that the use of the shipping names Diagnostic specimens and Clinical specimens will no longer be permitted.

6.2.2.3 Exemptions

6.2.2.3.1 Substances which do not contain infectious substances or substances which are unlikely to cause disease in humans or animals are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

6.2.2.3.2 Substances containing microorganisms which are non-pathogenic to humans or animals are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

6.2.2.3.3 Substances in a form that any present pathogens have been neutralized or inactivated such that they no longer pose a health risk are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

6.2.2.3.4 Environmental samples (including food and water samples) which are not considered to pose a significant risk of infection are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

6.2.2.3.5 Dried blood spots, collected by applying a drop of blood onto absorbent material, or faecal occult blood screening tests and blood or blood components which have been collected for the purposes of transfusion or for the preparation of blood products to be used for transfusion or transplantation and any tissues or organs intended for use in transplantation are not subject to these Regulations.

6.2.2.3.6 Patient specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present are not subject to these Regulations if the specimen is packed in a packaging which will prevent any leakage and which is marked with the words "Exempt human specimen" or "Exempt animal specimen", as appropriate. The packaging must meet the following conditions:

a) Die Verpackung muss aus drei Komponenten bestehen:

1. A leak-proof primary receptacle(s);

2. A leak-proof secondary packaging; and

3. An outer packaging of adequate strength for its capacity, mass and intended use, and with at least one surface having minimum dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm;

(b) Bei Flüssigkeiten, absorbierende Materialen in ausreichender Menge, um den gesamten Inhalt zu absorbieren, müssen sein:

platziert zwischen dem ersten Gefäß(en) und der zweiten Verpackung, so dass während des Transports austretender oder auslaufender eines flüssigen Stoffes nicht die äußere Verpackung zu erreichen und die Integrität des Polstermaterial nicht zu gefährden;

(c) Wenn mehrere zerbrechliche Primärbehälter in einer einzelnen zweiten Verpackung eingesetzt werden, müssen sie entweder einzeln eingewickelt oder voneinander getrennt, um den Kontakt zwischen ihnen zu verhindern.

NOTE: In determining whether a patient specimen has a minimum likelihood that pathogens are present, an element of professional judgment is required to determine if a substance is exempt under this paragraph. That judgment should be based on the known medical history, symptoms and individual circumstances of the source, human or animal, and endemic local conditions.

Beispiele für Proben, die nach diesem Absatz transportiert werden können, gehören die Blut oder Urinproben zur Kontrolle des Cholesterinspiegels, des Blutzuckerspiegels, Hormonspiegel, oder Prostata-spezifische Antigene (PSA) zu überwachen; die jenigen um Organfunktionen, wie Herz-, Leber-oder Nierenfunktion für Menschen oder Tieren mit nicht ansteckenden Krankheiten, oder therapeutischen Drogen-Monitoring erforderlich sind; die jenigen für Versicherungs-oder Beschäftigungszeiten Zwecken und für Vorhandensein von Drogen oder Alkohol, Schwangerschaftstest, Biopsien zur Feststellung von Krebs und von Antikörpern bei Menschen oder Tieren erforderlich sind.

6.2.3 Biological Products

6.2.3.1 For the purposes of these Regulations, biological products are divided into the following groups:

a) solche, die in Übereinstimmung mit den Vorschriften der zuständigen nationalen Behörden, für die Zwecke der endgültigen Verpackung oder Verteilung und Nutzung für den persönlichen medizinischen Versorgung durch medizinische Fachleute oder Einzelpersonen hergestellt, verpackt und transportiert sind. Stoffe dieser Gruppe unterliegen nicht diesen Vorschriften

(b) solche, die nicht unter Absatz (a) fallen und von denen bekannt oder anzunehmen sind, dass sie infektiöse Stoffe enthalten, und die die Kriterien für eine Aufnahme in Kategorie A oder Kategorie B erfüllen. Stoffe dieser Gruppe müssen zu UN2814, UN2900 oder UN3373 gegebenenfalls zugeordnet werden.

Hinweis: Bei einigen amtlich zugelassenen biologischen Produkten kann eine biologische Gefahr nur in bestimmten Teilen der Welt stattfinden. In diesem Fall können die zuständigen Behörden verlangen, dass diese biologischen Produkte unter Beachtung der örtlichen Vorschriften für ansteckungsgefährliche Stoffe sein oder andere Einschränkungen verfügen.

6.2.4 Genetically Modified Micro-organisms and Organisms

6.2.4.1 Genetically modified micro-organisms not meeting the definition of an infectious substance must be classified according to Subsection 3.9.

6.2.5 Medical or Clinical Wastes

6.2.5.1 Medical or clinical wastes containing Category A infectious substances must be assigned to UN2814 or UN2900, as appropriate. Medical or clinical wastes containing infectious substances in Category B, must be assigned to UN3291.

6.2.5.2 Medical or clinical wastes which are reasonably believed to have a low probability of containing infectious substances must be assigned to UN3291. Note: The proper shipping name for UN3291 is Clinical waste, unspecified, n.o.s. or (Bio) Medical waste, n.o.s. or Regulated medical waste, n.o.s..

6.2.5.3

6.2.6 Infected Animals

6.2.6.1 A live animal that has been intentionally infected and is known or suspected to contain an infectious substance must not be transported by air unless the infectious substance contained cannot be consigned by any other means. Infected animals may only be transported under terms and conditions approved by the appropriate national authority.

6.2.6.2 Unless an infectious substance cannot be consigned by any other means, live animals must not be used to consign such a substance.

6.2.6.3 Animal carcasses affected by pathogens of category A or which would be assigned to category A in cultures only, must be assigned to UN 2814 or UN 2900 as appropriate. Other animal carcasses affected by pathogens included in Category B must be transported in accordance with provisions determined by the competent authority.

6.2.7 Patient Specimens Patient specimens must be assigned to UN 2814, UN 2900 or UN 3373 as appropriate except if they comply with 6.2.2.3