Interpretation Response #98-0223 ([Sea-Land Services] [Mr. Prabhu Natarajan])

Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.

Interpretation Response Details

Response Publish Date: 08/31/1998

Company Name: Sea-Land Services

Individual Name: Mr. Prabhu Natarajan

Location State: NC Country: US

View the Interpretation Document

Response text:

AUG 31, 1998

Mr. Prabhu Natarajan                         Ref. No. 98-0223
Manager, Hazardous Materials
Sea-Land Services
6000 Carnegie Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28209-4637

Dear Mr. Natarajan:

This is in response to your July 13, 1998 letter regarding the use of specific languages in preparing dangerous goods declarations or container packing certificates under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).  Specifically, you ask whether it is permissible to accept non-English shipping documents for hazardous material shipments in the USA when such shipments are prepared under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.

The answer is no.  Under the HMR, with certain exceptions, if all or part of the transportation is by vessel, a hazardous material which is classed, packaged, marked, labeled, placarded and described in accordance with the requirements of the IMDG Code may be offered and accepted and transported in the United States (see 49 CFR 171.12(b)).  In § 171.7(a)(3), “Table of material incorporated by reference” of the HMR, the English edition of the IMDG Code is incorporated by reference.  Therefore, if hazardous materials shipments are made in accordance with the IMDG Code (as authorized in § 171.12(b)), the hazardous material shipping description, the shipper’s certification (declaration) and the container packing certification must be in English.

I hope this satisfies your request.

Sincerely,

Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

172.201

Regulation Sections