Tag: Alcoholic beverage

Scotch Whiskey, do we need Material Safety Data Sheet?

English: Bottle of "Famous Grouse", ...
English: Bottle of “Famous Grouse”, Scotch Whiskey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently movement of bottled Scotch Whiskey from Hong Kong to other locations via ocean going vessels and feeder vessels are getting delayed due to shippers insisting Material Safety Data Sheet to accompany the consignments.

Let us look at the classification criteria of Dangerous Goods Transport regulations for Scotch Whiskey and analyze what is the basis of above requirement whether it is necessary or not.

In Dangerous Goods Regulations Alcoholic Beverages are listed under UN Number 3065 as below

  1. UN 3065, Packing Group II , ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES with more than 70% alcohol by volume
  2. UN 3065, Packing Group III, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol by volume

Scotch Whiskey falls under second entry, Packing Group III, (more than 24% but not more than 70%)

 

 

 

 

Below are the entries in Dangerous Goods Regulations with special provisions for UN 3065 Packing group III

3065

Above clearly states that, as per special provision 145, Scotch Whiskey, falling under UN 3065 Packing Group III, is not subject to provisions of IMDG Code if capacity per receptacle is less than 250 litres.

Hence, Scotch Whiskey packed in bottles further placed in cartons are not subject to any provisions of IMDG Code for sea transport.

Why shippers are insisting for MSDS?

Self believe this sudden requirement of MSDS asked by Hong Kong shippers are due to the same being asked by some of the shipping shipping lines. Somewhere in the booking desk or approval desk of certain shipping lines  misunderstanding of the provisions of IMDG Code has demanded the MSDS for verification and this has sent a wrong message among shippers that all shipping lines need MSDS for transport of bottled Scotch Whiskey.

How to resolve this situation?

In case any shipping line ask for MSDS for shipment of bottled whiskey shipper can offer a non-hazardous declaration quoting special provision 145 of IMDG Code.

Training

Above misunderstanding reiterates the requirement of Training in IMDG Code.

Alcoholic Beverages

Cheers! Saúde! Ganbei!

Beer, wine and spirits are alcoholic beverages. What differences are there between these three? Let’s not look into the difference in taste or effect after consuming but look at the difference in transport English: A montage of different alcoholic beve...regulations, which means now we are not going to sit over a drink 😉

Some facts:

Beer: – Third most common drink after water and tea. For some it may be first 😉

Wine: – France, Italy and Portugal are the highest consumers and France Italy and Spain are the highest producers.

During transport of wine, beer or spirits the danger involved is not one getting drunk but the flammability factor. Since beer and wine is having very less content of alcohol (4% to 6% & 9% – 16% respectively) they are not considered as flammable liquids. Spirits (Whiskey, Rum, Vodka etc.)

beer bottle on lunch table

contain more than 20% of alcohol by volume. Volume of alcohol will be on the label (alcohol by volume).

According to IMDG Code, alcoholic beverages containing less than 24% alcohol is not considered as dangerous and which containing more than 24% but less than 70% is not considered as dangerous provided packed in packages containing 250 l or less. See entries UN 3065 and related sections for more information.

Flashpoint of Ethanol based water solutions :

"Flaming" cocktails contain a small amount of flammable high-proof alcohol which is ignited (and subsequently extinguished) prior to consumption.

10% — 49 °C
20% — 36 °C
30% — 29 °C
40% — 26 °C
50% — 24 °C
60% — 22 °C
70% — 21 °C
80% — 20 °C
90% — 17 °C
96% — 17 °C

Recent study in effects of alcohol found that fusel oil in whisky reduces the hangover !!!