# Imperial Freight Brokers, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 08-0056 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2008-05-16 08-0056 response to Imperial Freight Brokers, Inc. concerning 172.102. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 MAY 1 fi 2008 Mr. Robert A. Becker VP Global Sales Imperial Freight Brokers, Inc. 2287 NW 102nd Place Doral, FL 33 172 Ref. No.: 08-0056 Dear Mr. Becker: This is in response to your March 3,2008 letter and subsequent conversation with a member of my staff requesting clarification on the shipment of alcohol pads under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You describe the product, "Alcohol Prep Pads," as pads saturated with less than 10 mL of 70% vlv isopropyl alcohol. The pads are individually packaged in a four-layer wrapper that provides an air-tight seal. Additionally, you ask if the HMR prohibit the transportation of these "Alcohol Prep Pads" with sharps, such as lancets, in the same freight container. Alcohol pads or swabs are not subject to the HMR when they contain less than 10 mL of a Class 3 (flammable liquid) material in Packing Group I1 or 111, including isopropyl alcohol or mixtures thereof, absorbed onto a solid material provided there is no free liquid in the packet or article. This determination is based on Special Provision 47 in $ 172.102. The same exception is specified in Special Provision 21 6 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code for the international transportation of dangerous goods by vessel. Neither the HMR nor the IMDG Code prohibit the transportation of alcohol pads and sharps, such as lancets, in the same freight container. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance. Chief, Standards Development [ Office of Hazardous ~aierials Standards <<>> Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Attn: PHH-10, U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-000 1. Dear Sir(s), I am requesting a ruling or interpretation of (HMR:49CFR Parts 17 1 - 1 80) specifically if alcohol Prep Pads, Saturated with 70% v/v isopropyl alcohol can be transported as 173.4 Limited Quantity or ORM-D. The product is imported from China via Ocean vessel into the USA, currently we are being told .that this must be imported as a HM LN 1219 Class 3, we feel as though the product meets requirements set forth in 173.4 Enclosed I've included a sample of the product in the two (2) packaging styles: a) 100 individual prep-pads: within a master carton that holds 50 individual boxes with an average wgt of 1 1 lbs per master carton, case dimensions are 13 x 9 x 10 inch. b) 200 individual prep-pads: are packed in a master carton containing 24 boxes per case, with an average wgt of 1 1 lbs per master carton, case dimensions are 13 x 9 x 10 inch. A 20Ft container holds 1600 cases of the above mentioned and a 40FT container holds on average 2400 cases, with 99% of the cargo being imported in a 20ft container. In addition the question of commingling this product in a 40FT or 20FT container from China, with products like: c) Lancets: these items are packed 100 pcs per box with 50 boxes inside a master carton, average wgt per box is 8 lbs, dimensions of the master carton is 13 x 7 x 9 inch. <<>> d) Lancing. Device; these items are packed 1 per box, 100 boxes per case with an average wgt of 5 lbs, dims 11 x 12 x 5 in. We are simply seeking clarity on the proper importation and handling of the above mentioned product. If you need additional information or have any questions I can be reached at 305-592- 6910. /' Regards, ecker Jr. VP ~lobX1 Sales Imperial Freight Brokers, Inc. Ccl Rodney MarshlSpecialty MS Nick CapelldSpecialty MS Ralph De La RosdIFB/Customs Broker FedEX # 79 1 8 6067 1240 <<>> Welcome to SMS - Speciality Medical Supplies - Products - Alcohol Prep Pads Page 1 of 1 Qe4+ ~ = g qnln inlin @Y I;B 13'.85 211113 f MS Alcohol Prep Pads Alcohol Prep Pads Thicker and softer than other alcohol pads, Specialty Medical Supplies' (SMSj Alcohol Prep Pads ensure reliable site preparation fo: safe hygienic injections and other applications. SMS Aicoho Pads are saturated with 70% ViV lsopropyl Alcohol. Thicker & Softer Material Individually wrapped Large ! Easy To Handle Packaging Description: 100 Pieces per Box 50 Boxes per Case . 7 I lbs. Per Case - Case Dimension: . 13 1 i 8 x 8 1i2" x 9 5!8" 200 Pieces per Box 24 Boxes per Case 11 Ibs. Per Case Case Dimension: . 12 3i4"x8 5!8"x9 7/4" Hon~e I Prod~icts i Pnvate iebel i OEM News Itenis ; Contact Us Safety Seal Laccets 1 Safeiy-Let isncets 1 Easy Twist 8. Cap Lancets I Lancing Devices Glucose Tablets 1 irlscili:~ Syringes / Alcohc Prew Pads 1 Safety Lancets g Speciality Medical Suppl~es (SMS) - All Rlghts Reserved -Site Credits 3882 N\hf 724th Avenue - Coral Springs, FL 33065 Phone (954) 752-5603 Fax: (954) 757-6074 E-mail: info@spec~aityrns corn <<>> Welcome to SMS - Speciality Medical Supplies - Products - Assure Lancet Page 1 of 1 SMS Assure LancetsTW! Assure LancetsTM A tradltlonal lancet d e s ~ g n e d wtth ease of use In rnllid The needles In the Assure Lancet have trl-bevel tlps and are electro-pollshed for maximum patlent comfort Assure Lancets are cornpatlble wlth all universal l a n c ~ n g devlces Packaging Description: 100 Pleces per Box 50 Boxes per Case .8 1bs Per Case Case Dimensions: * 1 2 5 / 8 ' x 6 % x 8 X Kome I Products Private Label OEM i News items Contact Us Safety Seal Lancets I Safety-Let Lancets i Easy Twist 8 Cap Lancets I Lancing Devices Glucose Tablets / Insi!iin Syri'iges I Alcoh~l Prep Pads 1 Safety Lancets D Spec~aiity Medical Silppiies (SMS) -All Rights Reserved - Site Credits 3332 NW 124th Avenue - Coral Springs. FL. 33065 Phcge: (954) 752-5603 Fax. (954) 757-8074 E-mail: irfo@spec~altyms~com <<>> Welcome to SMS - Speciality Medical Supplies - Products - Lancing Devices Page 1 of 1 MS Lancing Devices Lancing Devices Specialty Medicai Supplies' (SMS) Lancing Device assists patients in monitoring their glucose leveis easily and safely. SMS has 2 different lancing devices. a 5 adjustable depth setting device and an alternate site clear cap device for testing. SMS' 5 depth device adjusts to match different skin types: 4-5 for hard to penetrate skin. 3 for average skin and 1-2 for soft skin. The Adjustable and Alternate Site Lancing Device are made to use w~th any standard/universal lancet. Packaging Description: Adjustable & Alternate Site Device 1 Piece per Box 100 Boxes per Case 5 Ibs. Per Case Case Dimension: . 10 1 / 2 x 10 1:2"x5 li4" Home j Products j Pr~vate Label ; OEM News Items Contact Us - -- Safety Sea~ Lance!~ I Safety-Let Lancets I Easy Tvdlst R Cap Lancets I Lanclnq Dev~ces Glucose Tablets : lnsul~n Sy:~nges I Alcohol Prep Pads I Safety Lancets Q Speciality Medical Supp:ies (Sl&S) -All Rights Reserved - Site Credits 3882 NW 124th Aven~e - Coral Springs, FI.. 33065 Phone: (954) 752-5603 Fax: (954) '757-8074 E-mail: info@specialt);ms.com ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `6d4b3f9146f092965d454bc51b64bc578e7d9f8d82dc4b470c2745838275b052` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T17:25:20.786Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-08-0056` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Imperial Freight Brokers, Inc." ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Robert A. Becker" ], "refIds": [ "08-0056" ], "catalogDates": [ "2008-05-16" ], "catalogParts": [ 172 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/59671" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "172.102", "173.4" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172102" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080056.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080056.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080056.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/08-0056-d0ca221dd6.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "d517eee64ea937f12743526b69fb16d4961fadba5aacc48487241b78544e5e2a", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/08-0056-d0ca221dd6.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "50ccf3666df74003df4ffd0041adbc1ac1e312c3ae3a6b8607278b8228eb86fe", "pageCount": 6, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```