Storage, delivery, and safety of items with hazardous substances
If you use Logistics via bol, rules apply to items containing hazardous substances (such as aerosols under pressure like deodorant and hairspray) and to items with lithium-containing energy carriers (such as power banks and tools). On this page, you will find more information about what is and is not permitted. Make sure you know these rules and apply them correctly, so that items are supplied, stored, and transported safely.
Do you use Shipping via bol or your own shipping?
The information and conditions on this page apply to Logistics via bol. If you use Shipping via bol, different conditions apply. You can find more information on this page. If you, as a partner, arrange the transport yourself, please read the conditions that apply in your agreements with the carrier carefully. General information about handling hazardous substances can be found here.
Many items are welcome in our fulfilment centers (BFCs) or can be shipped using bol's shipping contracts. However, the item may contain hazardous substances, which requires extra checks.
Not every item is suitable for processing in a fulfilment center or for shipping with a bol shipping contract. Some items contain hazardous substances that pose or could pose risks.
For packaged hazardous substances and lithium-containing energy carriers, both transport and storage legislation have been established.
- Transport: ADR regulations. These regulations describe how hazardous substances must be transported safely internationally by road.
- Storage: The Dutch guidelines Publication Series Hazardous Substances (PGS 15 and PGS37-2). These guidelines provide rules for the safe storage of packaged hazardous substances and lithium-containing energy carriers, to limit risks to people, the environment, and surroundings.
Below, we explain how bol handles these items. This way, you know exactly what is and isn't possible, and what we expect from you when offering and supplying these items.
Which items are allowed?
Bol accepts a number of items containing hazardous substances for Logistics via bol, provided they comply with the applicable ADR transport legislation.
Permitted items with hazardous substances
Items are permitted if they are classified according to ADR regulations as:
- Limited Quantities (LQ)
- Excepted Quantities (EQ)
In addition, items containing batteries or with 100 Wh or less battery capacity and falling under Special Provision 188 of the ADR regulations are permitted.
Permitted ADR hazard classes
For storage and shipping via bol's fulfilment centers, we exclusively accept items within the following ADR hazard classes:
- Class 2 – Gases (e.g., aerosols)
- Class 3 – Flammable liquids (e.g., perfume or hand gel)
- Class 4.1 – Flammable solids (e.g., matches)
- Class 5.1 – Oxidizing substances
- Class 6.1 – Toxic substances
- Class 8 – Corrosive substances
- Class 9 – Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
Additional requirements for lithium batteries
Lithium batteries and items containing lithium batteries are only permitted if they fall under Special Provision 188 of the ADR regulations.
For these items, a valid UN 38.3 test report must be available. This report demonstrates that the lithium cells or lithium batteries have successfully passed all mandatory safety tests for transport.
Items that do not meet the above conditions or are classified in other ADR hazard classes cannot be stored or shipped via Logistics via bol. These items cannot be stored and transported by us in a correct and safe manner. Therefore, we may refuse these items and return them at the partner's expense.
Checking the classification of items with hazardous substances
For checking the correct classification of an item with hazardous substances, bol engages an external party: Quintens. When partners register for the storage of new items with hazardous substances, they are asked to share safety documents with this external company.
How does the collaboration between bol, Quintens, and partners work?
First check of pre-notified items
When you pre-notify an item containing hazardous substances to our fulfilment centers, bol sends the description of these items to Quintens for verification.
Initial assessment
Quintens prepares an initial assessment and shares it with bol. We immediately register this assessment for future pre-notifications. Depending on the assessment, we communicate any actions to our fulfilment centers to place the items in a suitable storage location.
Request for safety documentation from partner
Depending on the initial assessment, additional safety documentation is required from the partner. Quintens will contact you as a partner regarding the items concerned and what documentation is needed to reach a binding assessment. Quintens will send instructions on how the documentation can be shared.
Binding assessment
After assessing the safety documentation, Quintens issues a binding assessment. Bol records the assessment.
How we work best together
Important points about the process concerning hazardous substances via Logistics via bol:
- If partners do not respond or respond insufficiently to safety documentation requests from Quintens, bol has the right to return the items concerned to the partner.
- The safety documentation must be periodically confirmed or updated by the partner. Quintens will send instructions on this.
Be aware that classifications of items with hazardous substances can change over time due to new insights. It may therefore happen that an item was initially not classified as hazardous and later became so, or vice versa. Bol ensures that the item is always stored correctly.