Dangerous goods and road transport (ADR)

Some items contain substances or objects that are classified as dangerous goods for transport according to laws and regulations. Examples include lithium batteries, aerosols, paint, glue, cleaning products, gas cartridges, fire extinguishers, or other chemical items.

Do you sell such items via bol? Then you are responsible for complying with the applicable regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods. For road transport within Europe, these rules are laid down in the ADR (Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route).

This page helps you determine which obligations may apply to your items.

Why is this important?

Dangerous goods can pose risks during transport to people, vehicles, buildings, and the environment. Therefore, specific requirements apply to:

• the classification of items
• packaging
• labeling and marking
• documentation
• transport and storage
• the training of involved employees
  

Failure to comply with these rules can lead to:

• Delays or refusal of shipments
• Fines from regulators
• Liability for damages
• The removal of items from our platform

Do you sell items via bol? Always check if your items are classified as dangerous goods. As a partner, you are responsible for this. This way, we keep the product range safe together.

We ask you to:

• Determine the correct classification of the item
• Ensure you know the correct UN number(s)
• Determine which ADR regulations apply
• Ensure you have the correct required information available for carriers and logistics service providers;
• Package and label items correctly
  

What information should you have available?

For items that may fall under ADR, we recommend having at least the following data available:

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) if applicable
• UN number
• official shipping name
• ADR class
• packaging group (if applicable)
• information about any special provisions and/or exemptions
• information about battery capacity and battery type for lithium batteries
• any transport restrictions

This information is usually provided by the manufacturer, importer, or brand owner.

For certain dangerous goods, a simplified transport regulation applies: Limited Quantities (LQ) or Excepted Quantities (EQ)

When a product meets the conditions for one of these transport regulations:

• Less stringent ADR obligations apply
• Transport can take place more easily
• Specific packaging and marking requirements remain applicable

Not every dangerous good is eligible for LQ or EQ transport. Always check the ADR classification of your item.

Lithium batteries are among the most commonly sold dangerous goods in e-commerce.

Additional requirements apply to lithium batteries, depending on:

• battery type (lithium-ion or lithium-metal)
• capacity (Wh or lithium content)
• loose battery or built into equipment

Ensure you have:

• The correct UN number;
• A valid UN 38.3 test report
• Information about battery capacity
• The correct packaging and marking

Is this information missing? Then transport via certain carriers may be impossible.

A dangerous good may only be shipped in packaging that complies with the regulations applicable to your items.

Depending on the item, requirements may apply to:

• Strong outer packaging, resistant to normal transport handling
• Protection against leakage
• Protection against short circuits for batteries
• ADR labels
• UN markings
• Limited Quantity marking
• Lithium battery mark

If you have doubts about the classification of an item or the applicable transport rules, please contact your manufacturer, supplier, an ADR specialist, or your carrier before offering or shipping the item.

Safe transport starts with the right content. By correctly identifying and registering dangerous goods, we collectively help keep transport safe, compliant, and reliable.