By Jennifer Chang    Photo：CANVA

You've probably heard freight forwarders refer to "sensitive goods," but what exactly are sensitive goods? Simply put, they are items that require special attention during transportation. They are labeled as "sensitive" for the following reasons:

-  Fragility : Items like fragile goods, electronics, and artwork that can be damaged with even slight bumps or vibrations.

-  Special Conditions : Some goods require very specific environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and light, like food, medicine, and cosmetics.

-  Customs Attention : Items like batteries, liquids, powders, or goods subject to import/export restrictions that may attract customs scrutiny.

-  Impact on Transportation : Items such as highly magnetic materials, flammable or explosive substances that may pose risks to transportation vehicles like    airplanes or ships.

For the transportation of sensitive goods, special measures must be taken based on their characteristics, in addition to the special handling during classification, inspection, and customs clearance processes. Extra attention is needed in areas such as packaging, transportation methods, and even insurance purchases.

1. Sturdy Packaging: The packaging of sensitive goods must be strong enough to prevent damage during transportation due to external impacts or collisions. For fragile items, packaging materials should be selected for their impact resistance, such as foam, bubble wrap, or reinforced wooden boxes. For goods requiring special environmental conditions (like food or medicine), specially designed packaging, such as insulated or refrigerated containers, must be used, ensuring strong sealing to prevent leakage or contamination.

2. Special Transport Conditions: Depending on the specific requirements of the goods, transportation conditions may need to be specially adjusted. For example, for pharmaceuticals and food requiring cold storage, cold chain logistics should be used to maintain a stable low-temperature environment throughout transportation. For goods sensitive to humidity, such as certain electronics, dehumidifying packaging or humidity-controlled transport may be required.

3. Customs and Documentation Preparation: Sensitive goods often require additional customs documents and inspection certificates. For instance, certain medicines, chemicals, and electronics may require production permits, quarantine certificates, ingredient analysis reports, and other documents. The preparation and submission of these documents can be complex and prone to delays. Therefore, it is important to fully understand the regulations of the destination country before transport, prepare all required documents, and ensure compliance.

4. Transport Insurance: Given the higher risks involved in transporting sensitive goods, purchasing transport insurance is a wise choice to reduce potential losses. Selecting the right insurance plan can provide protection for the goods and minimize financial losses caused by unexpected accidents.

In international logistics, accurately classifying goods is very important. Only by correctly classifying goods can the appropriate transportation measures be taken. Sensitive goods require more attention and careful handling during transportation, from packaging and shipping to customs clearance, and even selecting the right mode of transportation. While the transportation of sensitive goods can be troublesome and high-risk, with proper preparation, choosing the right transportation method, and ensuring the goods' compliance, sensitive goods can be delivered to their destination smoothly and safely. Different countries and regions have varying regulations regarding sensitive goods, so it is crucial to thoroughly understand the relevant regulations of the destination country before shipping goods. The international logistics industry evolves rapidly, and regulations are constantly updated, so it is advisable to stay informed about the latest logistics information.

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