Furthermore, any user must show certificates of approval in case the checking authorities should request that. Beware! In case of doubt, they could also ask for the test report and go directly to the Certifying Body to view the internal one.
To comply with the new version of IATA-DGR 2023, with some state variations that have already taken effect, and because of the changes that are going to happen as soon as the new version of IMDG 2022 will become compulsory at the beginning of next year (2024), it is a good habit for users to ask producers for the latest version of the certificate of approval for the product they are buying or using, and that they verify the exact correspondence between the information written in the certificate and the actual features of the latest packaging supplied.
A real example?
We can bring a fact as an example: the latest production of plywood boxes that are later UN-approved as 4D and 4DV. Because of the sad conflict between Russia and Ukraine, birch wood, which is used to create the plywood for these boxes, is very difficult to find. Therefore, many producers have chosen to start using other types of wood, like eucalyptus. The latter, despite its good technical features, is nevertheless different than the material tested. Eucalyptus is stronger but less elastic than birch wood.
That’s the point: if the given certificate of approval is about some tests performed on a box built with a certain type of material, that has some defined physical characteristics, like hardness and elasticity, and has a certain weight density, this document will be valid only if it is referring to that specific box or crate. If the same box was built following the same construction criteria, but using a different material, and with a bigger weight density, consequently the certificate of approval and the UN certification will no longer be valid.
This example is true for all UN-approved containers: it is important not to leave anything behind and ask periodically for all documents about the process of approval of those packaging used to ship your DG and perform the due checks on the actual match between the data contained in the documents and the product.
Remember: in the case of an accident or incident, or the event of a simple check, the user of those packaging is the first to prove that Regulations have been respected and that the packaging used is correct and suitable.
Don’t put your shipments at risk: act in compliance and responsibly for everybody’s safety, otherwise, your goods may be damaged, fined, or even stopped!
SHIP SAFE, THINK SERPAC!