UN3480 Packaging Requirements for China-to-U.S. Freight
Blog 2026-11-13
If your supplier sent a UN38.3 test summary and a photo of a 4G/Y carton, ask for photos of the actual packed batteries and confirm which China export documents apply before booking. UN3480 packaging requirements for ocean freight from China to the U.S. depend on the battery, how it is packed, and the applicable maritime provision. Match the battery model to the test summary and the sealed carton to its packaging paperwork. Then confirm whether the shipment needs a China export packaging use appraisal and whether the proposed ocean carrier accepts the packing plan.
Have a carton photo? Send it with the battery model and planned transport mode.
What Should You Check Before Booking UN3480 Ocean Freight?
Start with a photo of the battery nameplate and photos of the actual packing arrangement. Standalone lithium-ion batteries are generally shipped as UN3480. Lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment or installed in it fall under UN3481 when that classification applies. Ask your supplier to confirm how the goods will be packed before you use either number in a booking request.
| What to match | Evidence to request | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Battery model and rating | Nameplate photo and UN38.3 test summary | Confirm that the documents cover the battery model being shipped. Ask for a written model cross-reference if the retail SKU and battery model differ. |
| Packing configuration | Open-carton photos and packing details | Check how many batteries are in each carton, how the terminals are protected, and how the batteries are secured against movement. |
| UN3480 packaging requirements for the proposed route | Sealed-carton photos and applicable packaging documents | Confirm that the photos show the actual carton and that the paperwork covers the proposed packing arrangement. |
For help matching the battery model to the test record, see our guide to the UN38.3 test report and test summary.
What Is China’s Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate?
In supplier correspondence, “dangerous goods packaging certificate” often refers to China’s packaging use appraisal result. When your shipment requires packaging documentation, ask for each applicable document by name.
| Document to request | Who applies | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging performance inspection result (《出入境货物包装性能检验结果单》) | The packaging manufacturer | The performance inspection of the packaging container. |
| Packaging use appraisal result (《出境危险货物运输包装使用鉴定结果单》) | The manufacturer of the dangerous goods for export | The way the packaging is used for the goods being exported. |
For a standalone UN3480 battery shipment from China, first confirm the ocean packing provision, then ask the supplier to verify the applicable China export documents. The International Maritime Organization made IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 mandatory on . The ocean packing instruction or applicable exception determines what packaging and transport markings to check for that leg. Under China Customs’ export process, the packaging manufacturer applies for the packaging performance inspection, and the manufacturer of the dangerous goods for export applies for the packaging use appraisal when required. The performance result covers the packaging container, while the use appraisal covers how the goods are packed for export. If the supplier sends only a performance result, ask whether a use appraisal applies and, if it does, request the issued result for the proposed packing arrangement.
When the use appraisal applies, China Customs lists five application materials: the packaging inspection application, the packaging performance inspection result, the manufacturer’s inspection record or product conformity declaration, a dangerous characteristics classification report, and the export sales contract. The blank forms above help you identify the documents. For a shipment review, ask for the issued versions that cover the proposed packing arrangement.
Which UN3480 Packaging Requirements Apply to Ocean Freight?
Ask your supplier or freight forwarder to confirm the packing provision for the actual shipment and explain which conditions support that decision.
| Ocean packing path | What to verify before booking |
|---|---|
| Fully regulated new batteries | Confirm the applicable IMDG packing instruction, such as P903, and whether the selected packing method calls for UN specification packaging. Check the actual carton and inner packing against that method. |
| Possible Special Provision 188 (SP188) shipment | The size thresholds are 20 Wh or less per lithium-ion cell and 100 Wh or less per lithium-ion battery. Check the remaining SP188 conditions, including applicable inner and outer packaging, short-circuit protection, package marking, and gross-mass limits. Confirm carrier acceptance for the proposed booking. |
Record the ocean packing decision, then confirm separately which China export packaging documents apply. If the supplier says a use appraisal is unnecessary, ask for the basis in writing. The SP188 capacity thresholds apply to that maritime provision.
How Do You Check a UN 4G Carton Against the Paperwork?
When a fiberboard box is proposed to meet the UN3480 packaging requirements, ask the supplier to photograph the full UN specification marking on the actual carton. In an illustrative marking such as 4G/Y20/S/…, 4G identifies a fiberboard box, Y identifies the Packing Group II and III performance test level, and 20 is the marked maximum gross mass in kilograms. Gross mass includes the batteries and their packaging. The packing instruction, tested packaging configuration, or carrier can impose additional limits.
| Photo or record | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Full specification marking | Match the carton specification and available batch or traceability details to the relevant paperwork. Ask the supplier to explain any mismatch. |
| Open carton before sealing | Check the inner packaging, terminal protection, dividers or cushioning, and how the batteries are held in place. Compare them with the packing arrangement submitted for review. |
| Sealed carton and, if used, pallet or overpack | Check the packed gross weight and whether required transport marks or hazard labels remain visible. If an overpack hides them, confirm which markings or labels need to appear on the outside. |
The UN box specification marking identifies the packaging design and its test level. Shipment marks and hazard labels communicate the contents and hazards as required for the shipment. Ask for clear photos of both where applicable.
Customer Case: Two Packaging Documents and a UN Carton
Amy, a U.S. customer, planned to ship a batch of portable power supply stands by ocean freight. The product specifications listed 30 V DC and 45,000 mAh, with a stated energy rating of 166.5 Wh for the internal battery. The packaging performance inspection result supplied for review listed UN3480 and transport by water.
Before booking, Yunxi required the supplier to meet three conditions for this shipment:
| Review item | What Yunxi checks |
|---|---|
| Packaging performance inspection result | Whether the carton specification and marking correspond to the packaging shown in the document. |
| Issued packaging use appraisal result | Whether the issued document covers the goods and the packing arrangement proposed for this export shipment. |
| Actual UN specification carton | Whether the complete box marking, packed gross weight, and photos of the inner and outer packaging match the proposed arrangement. |
To review the UN3480 packaging requirements for this shipment, Yunxi checks the carton photos and full marking against the packaging documents. If the supplier changes the carton, inner packaging, or number of units per carton before pickup, the revised packing details and packed gross weight should be submitted for review.
What Changes for Air Freight or U.S. Ground Delivery?
A change in mode can affect the packing instructions, documents, or carrier acceptance conditions. Confirm which checks apply to each leg before moving the cargo.
| Leg or decision | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Export from China | Confirm with the supplier which packaging performance and use documents apply to the actual export shipment. |
| International ocean freight | Record the applicable IMDG packing provision and check the planned package against the ocean carrier’s acceptance conditions. |
| Switch to air freight | Recheck the applicable packing instruction and limits. IATA Packing Instruction 965 addresses standalone UN3480 batteries. Confirm state of charge, applicable quantity limits, and operator acceptance before changing the booking. |
| U.S. ground delivery | Confirm applicable U.S. hazardous materials rules, including 49 CFR § 173.185, and the selected ground carrier’s acceptance conditions for the packed shipment. |
For route and delivery planning, see our lithium battery ocean freight guide.
Copy This Checklist to Send to Your Supplier
Send this message before the factory seals the cartons. The photos and details will help your forwarder check the UN3480 packaging requirements against the actual shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do UN3480 packaging requirements always include a China packaging use appraisal?
The need for an appraisal depends on the applicable China export requirements and the shipment’s classification, mode, and packing arrangement. Ask your supplier to confirm the basis for how the shipment will be handled. Battery capacity alone is insufficient to determine whether an appraisal is required.
Does a UN 4G marking prove my packed batteries are ready to ship?
The marking identifies the box’s specification and performance test level. Check the actual inner packaging, closure, packed gross weight, and applicable documents against the proposed shipment.
Can a UN38.3 test summary replace China’s packaging paperwork?
The summary documents testing of the battery design. China’s applicable packaging paperwork addresses packaging performance and how the goods are packed for export. Request the issued packaging documents when the shipment requires them.
What if the factory has already palletized the cartons?
Ask for a photo of the finished pallet and carton-level photos from before wrapping. If the wrap or overpack obscures required marks or labels, ask the shipment reviewer which must be reproduced and whether an OVERPACK marking is required.
How Do UN3480 Packaging Requirements Change If I Add Equipment?
If you plan to pack batteries with the equipment they power or install them in that equipment, confirm whether the configuration is UN3481 and which requirements apply before packing. Equipment shipped separately does not by itself change the classification of cartons containing standalone batteries.
Get the Shipment Reviewed Before Pickup
If you have the battery model, carton photos, and U.S. delivery details, Yunxi Logistics can review the documents and packing details for the proposed route. Our China-to-U.S. battery shipping service can quote door-to-door transport for eligible shipments, subject to review and carrier acceptance.
Include the China pickup location, U.S. ZIP code and delivery type, carton count, dimensions, and gross weight. Flag any unresolved questions about the UN3480 packaging requirements, such as which packing provision applies or whether the supplier has the issued use appraisal.
Sources and Further Reading
Official and Primary Sources
- China Customs — Export Dangerous Goods Packaging Performance Inspection — Explains the packaging manufacturer’s application and the performance inspection result.
- China Customs — Export Dangerous Goods Packaging Use Appraisal — Lists the applicant, materials, and issued use appraisal result.
- IMO — IMDG Code, 2024 Edition, Amendment 42-24 — Identifies the maritime dangerous goods code and its mandatory date.
- CINS — Guidelines for Shipping Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries in Containers, — Explains ocean packing paths for new batteries and the conditions for Special Provision 188.
- IATA — 2026 Battery Guidance Document — Explains air shipment configurations and applicable packing instructions, including PI 965.
- U.S. DOT — 49 CFR § 173.185, Lithium Cells and Batteries — Covers U.S. transport provisions for battery testing, packaging, markings, and exceptions.
- 49 CFR § 178.503 — Marking of Packagings — Explains UN specification marking fields, including the test level and maximum gross mass.
- 49 CFR § 178.516 — Standards for Fiberboard Boxes — Identifies 4G as the code for fiberboard boxes.
