How to Achieve UN3373 Packaging Compliance

Welcome to the DGP Intelsius monthly LinkedIn newsletter. This first newsletter will focus on achieving UN3373 compliance when shipping infectious substances, with future newsletters covering a wide range of topics, from how to safely navigate the international cold chain with minimal temperature excursions to packaging security and cloud monitoring.

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If you’re shipping infectious human or animal samples to or from patients, hospitals, labs or farmyards, you must adhere to UN Class 6.2 Toxic and Infectious Substances regulations. Failure to do so can result in potential harm to human and animal life.

At Intelsius, we’ve been designing and manufacturing Category A and B compliant packaging for over 20 years. We’ve worked with governments and private sector agencies through numerous pandemics and epidemics, including Mad Cow Disease and COVID-19.

Whether you’re new to UN Class 6.2, or a relative expert, our latest newsletter will help you ensure total compliance no matter what you’re shipping, how you’re shipping it, or where you’re shipping it to.

What is UN Class 6.2, and How Are Category A and B Defined?

The United Nations has split its guidelines for shipping infectious substances (6.2 Toxic and Infectious Substances) into two distinct sub-categories: Category A and Category B.

Category B is known as UN3373 and is described as: ‘an infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A.’

Category A is split into two further sub-categories: UN2814 (affecting humans) and UN2900 (affecting animals only) and is described as: ‘an infectious substance which is carried in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals.’

When we talk about UN3373 compliance, we explicitly refer to the label and packaging compliance required to ship Category B substances.

How Do I Know if My Sample is Category A or Category B?

We’ve created this quick and easy flow chart to help you identify whether your sample is Category A (UN2900 or UN2814) or Category B (UN3373). Click to view our Category A and B flow chart.

What are ADR and IATA?

Adherence to UN3373 compliance is overseen by the bodies responsible for the transportation of dangerous goods via road and air: The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which supports aviation with global standards for airline safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability. These bodies have separate, relevant guidelines to transport UN3373 infectious goods either by land or air, related specifically to the quality of the packaging used and the labels applied to that packaging. These are known as P650.

What is PI650?

If a substance is classified as belonging to UN3373, it must be packed for transport according to guidelines known as Packing Instruction 650 (P650 or PI650). This is a list of requirements covering the quality and construction of the packaging used for transport. P650 is split into guidelines for ADR and IATA, with each having slightly different demands on packaging containing UN3373 infectious substances. Guidelines stipulate:

Packaging must consist of three components:

1. A leak-proof primary receptacle(s) containing not more than 1 L / 1 kg (multiple primary receptacles must be individually wrapped or separated)
2. Leak-proof secondary packaging
3. A rigid outer packaging with one surface having minimum dimensions of 100 x 100 mm.

The packaging must be clearly labelled with the UN3373 diamond and adjacent to it the words: Biological Substance, Category B. (see label below)

Some airlines prohibit the transport of Category B substances, which must be consigned as Category A. Always check with your airline or freight provider before shipping.

When transporting liquids, there must be sufficient absorbent between the primary and secondary packaging to absorb the entire liquid contents of the primary receptacle(s). Max 4 L per package.

When transporting solids, both the primary receptacle(s) and secondary packaging must be siftproof. Max 4 kg per package.

What is 95kPa?

The pascal (Pa) and kilopascal (kPa) are the most common pressure units worldwide. As outlined by UN3373 Category B IATA guidelines: ‘The primary receptacle or the secondary packaging shall be capable of withstanding, without leakage, an internal pressure of 95 kPa (0.95 bar) in the range of -40 °C to +55 °C (-40 °F to +130 °F).’

UN3373 Label Compliance

Ensuring your samples have the correct labelling is vital for adhering to UN3373 Category B guidelines. Below you can see UN Class 6.2 markings that must be displayed on the outer packaging of any UN3373 Category B shipment.

From left to right, the markings break down to mean:

• UN packaging symbol
• Box (4). Fibreboard (G). Primary receptacles of any type may be assembled within the secondary packaging (U)
• Infectious Substances (Class 6.2)
• The last two digits of the year of manufacture (18)
• The state authorising the allocation of the mark (GB)
• Identification of packaging as specified by the competent authority (5704)

The UN3373 Biological Substance Category B logo shown below must also appear on the outer packaging of your shipment when transporting Category B UN3373 infectious substances:

Get in Touch

If you have further questions about achieving UN3373 compliance, UN Class 6.2, or would like to discuss our varied range of Category A and B compliant packaging solutions for your project, get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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