UN IIP Certificate
Indian Institute of Packaging
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The IIP UN Mark Certificate is mandatory for air and sea transport of hazardous materials across international borders. Issued exclusively by the Indian Institute of Packaging — India's only government-authorized UN packaging certification body under IMDG and ICAO regulations.
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The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is India's premier national organization dedicated to advancing packaging standards and safety. Among its most critical responsibilities is issuing the IIP UN Mark Certificate — a legally mandatory document for the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air and sea.
The IIP UN Mark Certificate — commonly referred to as the UN Certificate — is required for all air and sea shipments of hazardous or dangerous goods. IIP rigorously tests sample packaging to verify compliance with United Nations (UN) standards. The certification confirms that packaging is structurally sound, leak-proof, and capable of withstanding the environmental stresses of international shipping.
In India, both the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have exclusively authorized IIP as the nodal agency to conduct performance testing on bulk packages and issue UN Certificates for packaging. IIP's well-equipped laboratories test against both IMDG (sea) and ICAO (air) international regulations, supporting industries across India in exporting hazardous goods safely and legally.
UN Certification was initially made mandatory by the Director General of Shipping, Government of India, for packages used to carry dangerous goods by sea. Similar requirements now govern air transport. After successful testing, IIP issues certificates to manufacturers or dealers, permitting production of any quantity of packages matching the tested specifications within the certificate's validity period.
The UN packaging code mark on an approved package confirms it has passed all UN-prescribed tests for hazardous materials transport — providing assurance to the Director-General of Shipping, DGCA, and carriers worldwide that the goods are cleared for loading onto vessels and aircraft.
The following package types are eligible for IIP UN Mark Certification. Each is identified by a specific UN code as per international certification requirements for hazardous goods packaging.
| UN Code | Package Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1A1 | Metal Drums & Barrels | Non-Removable Head Type |
| 1A2 | Metal Drums & Barrels | Removable Head Type |
| 1H1 | Plastic Drums & Barrels | Non-Removable Head Type |
| 1H2 | Plastic Drums & 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 internationally classified classes of dangerous goods as per IMDG (sea) and ICAO (air) regulations. All classes require UN-certified packaging for export.
Obtaining the UN IIP Certificate delivers significant competitive, legal, and operational advantages for manufacturers, exporters, and the entire hazardous goods supply chain.
Ensures full compliance with IMDG and ICAO international safety standards. Mandatory for export of all dangerous goods by air and sea — no shipment without it.
Guarantees international acceptability of Indian packaging across global markets. Builds trust with overseas buyers, carriers, and regulatory authorities worldwide.
Provides documented proof of compliance for customs, audits, and port inspections. Prevents shipment rejections, heavy penalties, and prosecution under international law.
Facilitates frictionless customs clearance at international ports and airports. Carriers and port authorities accept UN-certified packaging without delays or queries.
Dramatically reduces risk of accidents during handling, storage, and transport. Testing certifies packaging can withstand extreme environmental stresses encountered in shipping.
An X category certificate covers Y and Z categories; Y covers Z; Z covers Z only. Maximizes export versatility with a single certificate for multiple product risk levels.
Strengthens brand image and market reputation of the exporter internationally. Enhances credibility of packaging manufacturers across global supply chains.
Maintains industrial packaging to the highest levels of quality and safety. Enables certified production of customized packaging solutions per industry requirements.
Enhances competitiveness in global supply chains for dangerous goods. Demonstrates adherence to international quality standards, boosting exporter confidence.
A well-structured 12-step process from initial application to certificate issuance. Our experts guide you through every stage — ensuring zero delays and first-time success.
Contact any one of the six IIP offices (Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad) by sending an email to the respective regional office. IIP will respond with LIMS login credentials for first-time applicants.
IIP provides LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) login credentials — username and password — for first-time users. Existing applicants use the same credentials for all future applications and correspondence.
Normal Mode: 7–28 days. Tatkal Mode: Test reports issued within 3 days. Note: Tatkal Mode is not applicable for narrow-mouth container packaging. Choose based on your export timeline.
Log into the LIMS portal and complete the application form with all required details — packaging type, chemical details, exporter info, UN number, packaging group, and mode of export (Air/Sea/Combined). Submit to receive a Booking Number.
Courier or deliver physical packaging samples in the quantity required by IMDG (Sea) or ICAO (Air) standards to your chosen IIP regional office. Clearly label each sample with the Booking Number for easy identification.
IIP issues a Proforma Invoice based on selected parameters. Make online payment using the details shared. After payment, share proof of payment (UTR No., amount, date) by email to the respective regional IIP office.
IIP verifies the booking number, physical condition of samples, fee payment, and supporting documents. Any insufficiency is communicated by email for resubmission. Acknowledgment is sent to your registered mobile and email upon approval.
The received sample is registered in LIMS and a Job Code is generated, then assigned to the relevant laboratory for testing. Labs cannot perform tests without the Job Code — ensure all formalities are completed promptly.
IIP laboratory performs all applicable UN-prescribed tests:
• Drop Test: Impact resistance from a specified height.
• Stacking Test: Compression resistance under prescribed load.
• Leakage Test: Hydrostatic pressure evaluation for liquid packages.
• Vibration Test: Shipping vibration simulation.
Test results are reviewed for completeness and compliance, then authorized by designated laboratory authorities. If packaging meets UN testing criteria, a unique UN marking is generated based on submitted data and international standards.
Upon completion of all tests, reports are uploaded to the LIMS portal. Download them using your login credentials. The Test Report is mandatory — the UN IIP Certificate cannot be issued without it. Any test failure results in rejection.
IIP dispatches the final UN Certificate, test report, and tax invoice through LIMS. IIP retains the sample for one month, after which it is returned on request. The manufacturer is accountable that all subsequent production batches match the tested sample specifications.
Send an email to any one of the six IIP offices listed below to initiate your UN Certificate application. LIMS login credentials will be provided by return email for first-time applicants.
| Manufacturer Category | Validity Options |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 Certified Manufacturers | 12, 24, 36, or 48 Months |
| Non-ISO Certified Manufacturers | Maximum 9 Months |
Packaging manufacturers may apply for IIP UN Certification for materials used in exporting hazardous goods by sea and/or air. Upon successful processing, the UN Certificate is issued in the manufacturer's name and also contains the exporter's details.
Applicants must provide a complete list of chemicals with their MSDS, the maximum net quantity per package, and the product-package compatibility certificate at the time of online application. IIP does not provide a chemical list alongside the certificates — this is the applicant's sole responsibility.
Choose Tatkal Mode and receive testing reports within 3 business days. Normal Mode takes 7–28 days. Tatkal Mode is not applicable for narrow-mouth container packaging.
Category X (highly dangerous) covers Y and Z. Y (medium danger) covers Z. Z (low danger) covers only Z. Categories represent the hazard level of dangerous goods being exported.
Request a single combined certificate valid for both IMDG (Sea) and ICAO (Air) transport. Simplifies compliance and reduces the cost of maintaining separate certificates.
Once issued, your UN Certificate, test report, and tax invoice are available for instant download directly from the IIP LIMS portal using your registered credentials.
IIP can conduct performance testing at your manufacturing facility. Site visit testing is ideal for customers who prefer on-location evaluation of their packaging materials.
Additional Exporter Certificates are issued with the same validity as the base certificate (Air/Sea/Combined). UN registration for the Additional Group is also issued to the Packaging Manufacturer.
Packaging manufacturers and exporters from across India trust us for accurate, timely IIP UN Certificate assistance. Here is what our clients say.
"Exceptional service! The team guided us through the entire LIMS process and we received our Tatkal certificate in just 3 days. Highly professional and knowledgeable."
"We export Class 3 flammable liquids and the UN certificate was mandatory for our shipments. The consultation was clear, document checklist was complete, and the process was smooth."
"First-time applicant and was confused about the LIMS portal. The team walked us through every step. Got our combined Air & Sea certificate within the promised timeline."
Expert end-to-end guidance from initiation to certificate issuance. Let our specialists simplify your regulatory compliance journey with zero guesswork.