Shipping Hazardous Product

URBN receives and ships millions of units of different products every year. Some of these products are considered to be hazardous materials which must meet specific packaging, handling and storing regulations established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). URBN relies on its vendors to provide specific information about the products they ship to us to ensure we are meeting our DOT hazardous material requirements.

Some examples of hazardous products that may be shipped to URBN include aerosol cans, paint, perfume, nail polish, nail polish remover, dry shampoo, hairspray, diffusers, matches and lithium battery products.

The most important document required by URBN to manage our hazardous materials program is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This document identifies key information that is necessary for URBN to receive, store and ship hazardous material. URBN prefers the harmonized international version of the SDS. An example can be found here. If you sell any of the above types of products to URBN, or other products that are considered to be hazardous materials, you must follow the below steps:

• Determine if the product being sold to URBN is considered a hazardous material.
• If yes, complete an SDS. The form must be less than two years old.
• E-Mail the SDS form to your URBN Buying Contact, including your Vendor name and vendor style for each SDS. The form must be sent before a purchase order is issued.
• For items previously ordered, an SDS must also be supplied if the SDS has changed since the previous shipment or if it is outdated.
• Attach a copy of the SDS to the shipment documentation.
• All hazardous products must be shipped ground to URBN. We do not accept air.

In general, URBN is not a large quantity shipper or receiver of hazardous material. We ship consumer commodities to our customers in limited quantities. Limited quantity shipments may be in non-specific packaging but must meet the packaging requirements in 173.24 of the 49 CFR. Hazardous chemical material that qualifies for this exception will be identifiable on the Hazardous Chemical Table at 172.101 of the 49 CFR. If a 150 shows in the Packaging 8(a) column than you may be able to apply the 173.150 limited quantity exception. Please refer to the provision for further details.

If a 154 shows in the Packaging 8(a) column and it is a class II or III, then you may be able to apply the 173.154 limited quantity exception. The inner receptacles may not exceed the specified limit and the gross weight of the package may not exceed 66 pounds. Please refer to the provision for further details.

The product must be labeled on the inner pack and the over pack. The exterior of the carton must be marked with a limited quantity sticker and if the product is a liquid, up arrows on opposing sides. It is essential that the correct procedures are followed so Urban Outfitters, Inc. may continue to ship hazardous items within the limits of the law.

All hazmat master cartons are required to be 200lb burst, 32ECT C-flute boxes. All master cartons are required to have a Box Manufacture’s Certificate (BMC) stamp certifying the quality of the boxes.

Specific Product Information

Safety matches have special packaging and shipping requirements. They may only ship ground. The cartons must be marked with the appropriate UN # from the chemical table. The packaging requirements for safety matches are found at 49 CFR 173.186(b). Instructions for shipping lithium battery products have recently changed. There are different classifications for lithium ion and lithium metal. The regulations differ for product that is packed with batteries, product that contains batteries and batteries only. Upon request, a UN 38.3 test report is required for all lithium batteries. The complete instructions can be found in the 49 CFR Part 173.185. In order to determine whether your lithium battery powered products are hazmat, you will need the battery specifications, including watt hours, net weight, quantity and the total weight of the package.

Additional Information

The Hazardous Materials Regulations are rules issued by the Department of Transportation to govern the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) contains the rules issued by federal agencies to carry out the responsibilities imposed on those agencies. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations can be viewed at www.ecfr.gov. Proceed to Title 49 CFR. Other links to aid in completing the SDS can be found here and here. An explanation is provided for each of the sixteen parts.

Please visit the U.S. Regulatory Requirements section of our vendor website for additional information.

Failure you comply with these requirements will result in a chargeback being issued. For information concerning the amount of Haz-Mat chargebacks, go to Chargebacks and Violation Fees.

Failure you comply with these requirements will result in a chargeback being issued. For information concerning the amount of Haz-Mat chargebacks, go to Chargebacks and Violation Fees [insert link].