CIPAC Standards: The Authoritative Basis for Classifying and Shipping Chemicals from China

What is CIPAC?

CIPAC (Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council) is a non-profit, non-governmental international organization. Its primary objectives are:

• To promote international agreement on methods for analyzing pesticides and other chemical products, as well as the physico-chemical test methods for their formulations.
• To promote inter-laboratory programs for the evaluation and validation of these test methods.

Why This Matters for Shippers and Forwarders

The data derived from CIPAC methods are critical for international logistics. They provide the scientific basis for:

• Accurate Hazard Classification: Determining the correct shipping name, UN number, and hazard class/division for sea (IMDG Code) and air (IATA DGR) transport.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and transport documents contain globally recognized and accepted data for customs and carrier approval.
• Packaging Selection: Identifying the proper packaging group (PG I, II, or III), which dictates the required packaging performance standards.

The CIPAC Development Process Ensures Reliability

Each CIPAC method is established through a rigorous, collaborative process:

• A method is initially proposed by industry experts or manufacturers.
• It is then subjected to a collaborative trial, tested and evaluated by multiple independent laboratories worldwide under the CIPAC framework.
• Upon successful evaluation and adoption, the method is officially published in the CIPAC Handbook, which serves as the definitive reference.