Four things the carton face must have

Turn to the printed side of the box. A compliant UN1361 carton shows all four:

1.UN marking string — UN 4G/Y12/S/25/CN, printed as one block

2.Class 4.2 diamond label — black top half, white bottom half, number "4"

3.UN number "UN1361" printed on the same face

4.Proper shipping name — Carbon, animal or vegetable origin

Measure these three on site

Port surveyors measure, they don't estimate. Do the same:

Also weigh one random carton: gross weight must not exceed the figure in the marking — e.g. a box marked 12 must stay under 12 kg. A heavier box means the packaging is non-compliant, regardless of how good the charcoal looks.

Reject the carton if you see

1.No UN marking, or a hand-written sticker instead of printed ink

2.The diamond is small, faded, or missing the number "4"

3.Cartons look thin, damp, or water-stained — corrugated strength drops fast in a container

4.The printed marking doesn't match the supplier's performance certificate, digit for digit

The carton is only as good as what's inside

Even a perfect box can't save charcoal that wasn't prepared right. Before packing, UN1361 requires: ≥14 days of weathering (sheltered, ventilated), and packing temperature ≤ 40°C. Ask for the records — not just the carton.

At Blaze Charcoal, every export carton is a UN-certified 4G box: correct marking, correct diamond, correct dimensions, correct weight — matched against our performance certificate before it leaves the factory. The weathering and temperature records travel with the DG paperwork.

Want a sample carton shipped to your office? Tell us your destination port and typical order size.