• Proper shipping names accurately describe the type of dangerous goods to be shipped, and must be included with the transport document.

The proper shipping names of dangerous goods are listed in the Dangerous Goods List. The index to the List includes synonyms, secondary names, initials, abbreviations of names, etc., in alphabetical order, to facilitate the search for the proper shipping name.

The proper shipping name is the part of the entry that accurately describes the goods in the Dangerous Goods List. It is shown in upper-case characters along with other numbers or letters that are an integral part of the name. An alternative proper shipping name may be shown in brackets following the main proper shipping name.

Only the most appropriate proper shipping name must be shown in the transport document and package marks when:

• A combination of several distinct proper shipping names is listed under a single UN number, and
• They are separated by “and” or “or” in lower case or are punctuated by commas.

Proper shipping names may be used in the singular or plural as appropriate.

Commercial or military names for goods of class 1 that contain the proper shipping name supplemented by additional text may be used.

Many substances have an entry for both the liquid and solid state or for the solid and solution. These are given separate UN numbers that are not necessarily adjacent to each other. Details can be found in the alphabetical index to the List.

If it is not already included in the proper shipping name, the word “MOLTEN” must be added when a substance that is solid is offered for transport in the molten state. Also check requirements for elevated temperature substances in 5.4.1.4.3.4.

Note that special requirements apply to proper shipping names for:

• Samples (section 2.0.4), and
• Wastes (section 5.4.1.4.3.3).