Special Goods Transportation SOP

**Special Cargo Transportation Procedures**

Special cargo specifically includes: live animals, plants and plant products, fresh and perishable items, ashes and caskets, valuables, out-of-gauge cargo, transport of firearms, police equipment and ammunition, transport of microbiological products, escorted cargo and dangerous goods, confidential cargo, diplomatic mail bags, baggage shipped as cargo, etc. The specific transport procedures and methods shall be implemented in accordance with industry standards and the ground service agent manuals of each airline. To facilitate position operations, the following special cargo transportation operating procedures are hereby established:

**1 Live Animals**

**(1) General Provisions**

① Animal transportation must comply with relevant national regulations, and a quarantine certificate issued by the quarantine department at or above the county level where the animal is located shall be provided; for the consignment of animals under state protection, a transport permit issued by the relevant department shall also be provided; for the consignment of animals falling within the scope of market management, a certificate from the market management department shall be provided.

② Animals must be in good health and free from infectious diseases.

③ Before consigning animals, the shipper shall contact the carrier in advance and reserve space. For animals requiring special care and feeding or large quantities of animals, an escort shall be arranged.

④ Freight collect is not accepted for live animal transportation.

⑤ The shipper and consignee shall deliver and pick up the animals at the airport, and shall be responsible for the custody of the animals before transportation and after arrival.

⑥ For animals with special loading requirements, the shipper shall explain the precautions to the carrier or provide on-site guidance.

**(2) Packaging**

Packaging shall be convenient for loading and unloading and suitable for the animal’s characteristics and air transport requirements. It shall prevent the animal from damaging, escaping, or contacting the outside, include measures at the bottom to prevent feces from overflowing, ensure ventilation, and prevent suffocation. The outer package shall also indicate care and transport precautions.

**(3) Acceptance**

① In order to prevent disease transmission and illegal trafficking, transport documents and certificates shall be carefully checked. Those not conforming to regulations shall not be transported.

② Generally, animals are transported only on direct flights. If connecting transport is truly necessary, the entire route’s flights, dates, and tonnage shall be reserved, and carriage may proceed only after the shipper’s consent.

③ Feed and equipment transported with animals shall be charged at the same freight rate as the animals and included on the same air waybill.

④ If there are special requirements, the origin station shall notify the transit station and destination station so that corresponding measures can be taken.

⑤ When completing the air waybill, animals shall not share one air waybill with other cargo.

**(4) Storage**

Storage shall be done properly according to the shipper’s requirements. During storage, gathering to watch, disturbing, or teasing animals is prohibited to avoid accidents.

**(5) Loading**

① Animals must not be placed together with food, radioactive substances, toxic substances, caskets, dry ice, etc.

② Natural enemies, animals from different regions, and animals in estrus must not be stored together, and should be avoided in the same cargo compartment during loading.

③ Small animals with bad odors, monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs limited to a small number for laboratory use, and newborn poultry, puppies, etc. that make noise may only be loaded in the lower cargo compartment of the aircraft.

④ Live animals shall be loaded in oxygenated compartments suitable for their transport conditions according to each airline’s aircraft type.

⑤ During cargo preparation, the three-letter code or name of the animal shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice (DLS).

⑥ A Special Cargo Captain’s Notice shall be completed and handed by the driver or field personnel to the ground load control office and captain for signature confirmation.

⑦ Within 30 minutes after flight departure, according to the cargo loading position, a special cargo carried telegram shall be sent to the transit station and destination station, and the telegram shall be archived.

**(6) Delivery**

After animals arrive at the destination station, the carrier or its agent shall promptly notify the consignee to pick up the cargo.

**2 Plants and Plant Products**

**(1) Acceptance**

Plants and plant products subject to quarantine must be consigned on the basis of a valid “Phytosanitary Certificate” issued by the plant quarantine department at or above the county level in the shipper’s locality.

**3 Fresh and Perishable Items**

**(1) Packaging**

Packaging shall suit the characteristics of fresh and perishable items and shall not pollute or damage the aircraft or other cargo. Aquatic products shall be packaged in accordance with the Civil Aviation Industry Standard of the People’s Republic of China GB/T 26544-2011 “General Requirements for Air Transport Packaging of Aquatic Products” and relevant contents of each airline’s cargo transport manual.

**(2) Acceptance**

① The shipper consigning fresh and perishable items shall provide the maximum permitted transport time and transport precautions, reserve space, and deliver to the airport for consignment procedures at the agreed time.

② Fresh and perishable items subject to quarantine as prescribed by the government shall be provided with quarantine certificates from relevant departments.

③ For fresh and perishable items requiring special care, the shipper shall provide necessary facilities itself and, when necessary, send an escort.

④ During the transport and storage of fresh and perishable items, expenses incurred by the carrier for protective measures shall be paid by the shipper or consignee.

**(3) Storage**

Frozen or refrigerated cargo shall be placed in cold storage according to the requirements on the air waybill and kept at an appropriate temperature.

**(4) Loading**

① Loading shall be carried out as close as possible to the flight departure time.

② They shall be loaded in positions in the cabin with good ventilation and temperature conditions.

③ During cargo preparation, the three-letter code or name of the item shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice.

④ After loading, if abnormal conditions occur, the origin station shall send a telegram to notify the transit station and destination station.

**(5) Delivery**

After fresh and perishable items arrive at the destination station, the destination station shall notify the consignee to pick up the cargo within 2 hours.

**4 Ashes and Caskets**

**(1) Packaging**

Ashes shall be placed in a sealed plastic bag or other sealed container, with an outer wooden box, and the outermost layer wrapped in cloth. Corpses shall use an iron coffin or wooden coffin as inner packaging, with an outer iron sheet box and rings convenient for loading and unloading. Wood shavings, charcoal, or other absorbent materials shall be laid inside the coffin. The coffin shall be free of cracks and firmly nailed or welded to ensure that odor and liquid do not overflow.

**(2) Acceptance of Casket Transport**

① The shipper shall rely on a death certificate issued by a hospital and a transport permit issued by the relevant department, and shall contact the carrier in advance to make arrangements.

② The corpse must be non-infectious.

③ The corpse shall have been embalmed and be within the embalming period.

④ When handling consignment, the shipper must provide an encoffining certificate issued by the funeral and interment department.

**(3) Transport**

① During cargo preparation, the three-letter code or name of the item shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice.

② A Special Cargo Captain’s Notice shall be completed and handed by the driver or field personnel to the ground load control office and captain for signature confirmation.

③ Within 30 minutes after flight departure, according to the cargo loading position, a special cargo carried telegram shall be sent, and the telegram shall be archived.

**5 Valuables**

Includes: precious metals such as gold, platinum, iridium, rhodium, palladium and their products; various gems, jade articles, diamonds, pearls and their products; precious cultural relics (including books, paintings, antiques, etc.); cash, securities, and items with a gross weight value of more than RMB 2,000 per kilogram, etc.

**(1) Packaging**

They shall be packed in sturdy, tightly sealed boxes, with #-shaped iron hoops, and the seams must have seals. Only tags are allowed; adhesive labels must not be used, and there must be no adhesive substances on the outer package.

**(2) Acceptance**

① The gross weight of valuables shall be calculated according to actual gross weight, accurate to 0.1 kg. The chargeable weight shall be in units of 0.5 kg; amounts below 0.5 kg shall be calculated as 0.5 kg, and amounts above 0.5 kg shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

② For the consignment of gold, the shipper shall present a copy of the business license and a letter of introduction from the organization for inspection and release.

③ The shipper must reserve the entire route’s flights, dates, and space in advance.

**(3) Storage and Transport**

① Valuables must be stored in a valuables warehouse. The valuables warehouse shall have a dedicated person responsible, and there shall be a strict registration system for goods entering and leaving the warehouse.

② Strict handover procedures shall be followed throughout the transport process, and handover records shall be properly kept.

③ During cargo preparation, the three-letter code or name of the valuables shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice.

④ A Special Cargo Captain’s Notice shall be completed, and handover procedures shall be handled with the ground loading and unloading department, load control office, and captain, and one copy of the notice shall be brought back and kept.

⑤ Within 30 minutes after flight departure, according to the cargo loading position, a special cargo carried telegram shall be sent, and the telegram shall be archived.

**(4) Delivery**

If a valuables carried telegram from the origin station is received, security inspection and the ground load control office shall be notified by telephone promptly. The ground staff shall be responsible for handling the handover procedures for valuables with the captain or airline representative and for escorting valuables from the apron to the warehouse. When the valuables arrive at Gate 21 of Yuanxiang Cargo Station, the Document Group and Tally Group of the International Inbound Department shall hand over with the ground staff together and place them in the valuables warehouse for proper safekeeping; the valuables handover form shall be stored with the cargo.

**6 Out-of-Gauge Cargo**

Out-of-gauge cargo refers to cargo that requires special operating procedures and technical requirements due to special volume, weight, or shape, including oversized cargo and overweight cargo.

**(1) Acceptance**

① The carrier may decide whether to accept oversized and overweight cargo based on the maximum carrying capacity and loading/unloading capacity of the route and aircraft type. Non-containerized aircraft may not accept overweight cargo with a single-piece weight of 250 kg or more.

② For oversized and overweight cargo transiting internationally to other domestic cities, the origin station shall send a space application telegram to the tonnage control department of the transit station and may accept it only after approval.

③ The packaging of out-of-gauge cargo shall have facilities convenient for handling and loading/unloading, such as a pallet for forklift operation, rings for crane use, etc. For bare oversized cargo such as instruments and equipment, precision parts shall be properly packaged.

④ When necessary, the shipper shall be requested to provide slings, rings (hooks), and other securing items suitable for use in the aircraft cabin.

**(2) Loading**

① During cargo preparation, the three-letter code or name of the out-of-gauge cargo shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice.

② Before loading, factors such as the size and weight of oversized and overweight cargo and the aircraft floor load-bearing capacity shall be considered. When the weight of the cargo exceeds the floor load-bearing capacity of the aircraft type, a load-spreading board shall be added.

③ During loading, out-of-gauge cargo shall be placed near the cargo compartment door to facilitate unloading at the unloading station, and shall be bound and secured according to prescribed procedures to prevent the cargo from moving or rolling during flight, damaging the aircraft or equipment, or endangering flight safety.

④ After loading, a special cargo loading telegram shall be sent to notify the unloading station of the loading/unloading conditions and precautions.

**7 Transport of Firearms, Police Equipment, and Ammunition**

Firearms and police equipment, referred to as guns and equipment, are special controlled items; ammunition is a specially controlled dangerous good.

**(1) Packaging**

Packaging shall be the original factory packaging. Non-original factory packaging shall be ensured to be sturdy, tightly sealed, and sealed. Firearms and ammunition shall be packaged separately. Ammunition packaging must also comply with the relevant requirements of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

**(2) Acceptance**

① The shipper consigning all types of firearms, police equipment, and ammunition must present a transport permit issued by the county or city public security bureau at the place of departure or destination, or a permit issued by the national competent department.

② Domestic transport of all types of firearms and ammunition entering or leaving the country must present a carry permit issued by the border inspection station.

③ For connecting transport of firearms, police equipment, and ammunition, the entire route’s flights, dates, and tonnage must be reserved.

**(3) Storage and Transport**

① Strict handover procedures shall be followed throughout the transport process, and handover records shall be properly kept.

② During storage, they shall be placed in enclosed areas with protective measures and shall not be placed in the open or in unsafe places.

③ During cargo preparation, the name of the item shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice.

④ A Special Cargo Captain’s Notice shall be completed, and handover procedures shall be handled with the ground loading and unloading department, load control office, and captain, and one copy of the notice shall be brought back and kept.

⑤ Within 30 minutes after flight departure, according to the cargo loading position, a special cargo carried telegram shall be sent, and the telegram shall be archived.

**8 Transport of Microbiological Products**

**(1) General Provisions**

① Microbial products such as strains harmful to humans, animals, and plants, and contaminated culture media, shall not be carried without special approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

② Biological products such as vaccines, bacterial vaccines, antibiotics, and sera that are artificially manufactured, refined, and subjected to aseptic treatment may be carried as general cargo if the shipper provides aseptic and non-toxic certificates.

③ Storage and transport of microorganisms and harmful biological products shall be kept away from food.

④ During cargo preparation, the name of the item shall be noted after the corresponding vehicle number on the Cargo and Mail Outbound Notice.

⑤ A Special Cargo Captain’s Notice shall be completed and handed by the driver to the captain for signature confirmation.

**9 Escorted Cargo**

For cargo that requires dedicated care and supervision during transport according to its nature, the shipper shall send an escort; otherwise, the carrier has the right not to carry it.

**(1) Acceptance**

Before consigning escorted cargo, the shipper shall reserve the entire route’s flights, dates, and tonnage with the carrier, and shall handle consignment procedures at the airport at the time agreed by both parties on the day of flight departure.

**(2) Packaging**

An “Escorted” label shall be affixed to the packaging of escorted cargo.

**(3) Duties of the Escort**

① The escort shall comply with the carrier’s requirements for escorted cargo and be responsible for the safe transport of the cargo.

② The escort shall purchase an air ticket and complete check-in procedures.

③ Be responsible for caring for the cargo during ground stops and escorting it during ground transport.

④ Guide the loading and unloading of escorted cargo.

⑤ For loss of cargo with a shipper-arranged escort, the carrier shall not be liable unless it is proven that the loss was caused by the carrier’s fault. If it is proven to be caused by the carrier’s fault, compensation shall be made in accordance with the relevant provisions of Article 45 of the “Rules for Domestic Air Cargo Transport of the Civil Aviation of China”.

**10 Transport of Confidential Cargo (Also Called “Secret Articles”)**

**1 Definition**

Cargo that is certified by the shipper and belongs to confidential materials of the government, military, police, etc.

**2 Acceptance Conditions**

① Transport shall comply with the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Guarding State Secrets”, “Provisions on the Guarding of State Secrets for State Secret Equipment and Products”, and other regulations.

② The shipper consigning confidential cargo shall issue relevant certificates and shall arrange a dedicated escort.

③ The shipper must issue a letter clearly declaring that the packaging does not contain aviation dangerous goods or explosives, or otherwise transport it as dangerous goods.

④ Unauthorized persons shall not contact or use confidential cargo.

⑤ Top-secret confidential cargo shall be stored in a dedicated warehouse (cabinet).

⑥ Transport of confidential cargo must obtain the carrier’s permission.

⑦ There is an obligation to keep confidential the name, transport method, transport time and route, intermediate stops, security guard measures, etc. of confidential cargo, and not disclose them to outsiders.

**11 Diplomatic Mail Bags**

**1 Definition:** Diplomatic mail bags refer to official documents transported as cargo in special packaging bags between governments of various countries (including subordinate organizations of the United Nations) and their diplomatic missions and offices abroad.

**2 Acceptance Conditions:**

① Diplomatic mail bags shall have intact packaging and obvious seals.

② Diplomatic mail bags shall use tags, and no other adhesive substances shall be used on the outer packaging.

**12 Baggage Shipped as Cargo**

**1** Baggage shipped as cargo (BAGGAGE SHIPPED AS CARGO), also called unaccompanied baggage (UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE). Its scope is limited to the passenger’s own clothing and personal items related to travel, including portable typewriters, small musical instruments, and small sports equipment; but excludes machinery, machine parts, currency, securities, jewelry, watches, tableware, plated metalware, fur, film or film rolls, cameras, tickets, documents, alcohol, perfume, furniture, commodities, and sales samples.

**2 Acceptance Conditions:**

① Baggage shipped as cargo may only be transported between airports at points listed on the passenger’s ticket, and the baggage must be delivered no later than the day the passenger travels by air.

② The passenger must truthfully declare the contents of the baggage, provide relevant documents, handle customs procedures themselves, and pay the required fees.

③ The specific transport time of such cargo shall be decided by the carrier.

④ The discounted baggage rate shall not be used in combination with any general cargo rate or specific commodity rate such that the combined rate is lower than the applicable specified or constructed rate. If the above conditions are not met, only the general cargo rate or specific commodity rate may be used for any other journey.

**3 Transport Document—Air Waybill.** When accepting such cargo, the passenger’s ticket number, flight date, flight number, etc. shall be entered in the air waybill, and “UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE” shall be stated in the “Description of Goods and Quantity” column.

**Note:** In the “ENDORSEMENT” column of the passenger ticket, the words “UNBAG”, the air waybill number, the number of baggage pieces, and the weight shall be noted.