Class 6.1 — toxic substances
Substances liable to cause death or serious injury, or to harm human health, if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
- Packing groups
- I–III
- UN entries
- 726
What belongs in this class?
Class 6.1 covers substances known by experience, or presumed from animal experiments, to be able in relatively small quantities — by a single action or an action of short duration — to damage human health or cause death by inhalation, cutaneous absorption or ingestion. (ADR 2.2.61.1.1)
The three exposure routes — oral, dermal and inhalation — are each measured by a lethal-dose or lethal-concentration figure (LD₅₀ for oral and dermal toxicity, LC₅₀ for inhalation), and those figures drive the packing group. (ADR 2.2.61.1.3)
Classification rules
- ADR 2.2.61.1.2
The classification code is built on the letter T — T for toxic substances without a subsidiary hazard (organic/inorganic, liquid/solid, organometallic, pesticides, samples, articles), with TF flammable, TS self-heating, TW water-reactive, TO oxidizing, TC corrosive, and the TFC and TFW combinations.
- ADR 2.2.61.1.3
Toxicity is defined by the LD₅₀/LC₅₀ dose measured across young adult albino rats (oral, inhalation) and albino rabbits (dermal), each assessed over a 14-day observation window.
- ADR 2.2.61.1.1
Genetically modified microorganisms and organisms are assigned to Class 6.1 when they meet its conditions.
Packing groups in this class
How many UN numbers in this class fall under each packing group.
Class 6.1 substances are placed in three packing groups by the degree of danger — PG I highly toxic, PG II toxic, PG III slightly toxic. (ADR 2.2.61.1.4)
In the absence of human data, the group is set from animal-test thresholds. For oral toxicity the LD₅₀ boundaries are ≤ 5 mg/kg (PG I), > 5 to ≤ 50 mg/kg (PG II) and > 50 to ≤ 300 mg/kg (PG III), while dermal and inhalation toxicity have their own graded limits. (ADR 2.2.61.1.7)
Tear-gas substances are placed in packing group II even where their toxicity data would otherwise correspond to packing group III. (ADR 2.2.61.1.7)
Class 6.1 in Table A
Transport categories, tunnel codes and quantity reliefs across the 726 Table A entries of this class.
Transport categories
The category feeds the 1.1.3.6 calculation — the lower the number, the stricter the limit.
Tunnel codes
The column 15 code decides which tunnel categories the load may pass.
Limited quantities (LQ)
entries allow LQ
of 726 in the class
For the rest there is no relief — the full ADR applies to any quantity.
Excepted quantities (EQ)
entries allow EQ
of 726 in the class
For the rest there is no relief — the full ADR applies to any quantity.
Marking and signs for Class 6.1
What must be on every package — and what the transport unit carries on the road.
On the package
Every package carries the danger label of its Table A entry and the UN number with the letters "UN" (ADR 5.2.1, 5.2.2).
On the transport unit
Orange plates at the front and rear — and for tanks and bulk also enlarged placards 250 × 250 mm on the sides and rear (ADR 5.3.1, 5.3.2).
Limited quantities
Goods packed under Chapter 3.4 carry the LQ mark instead of the danger label and UN number (ADR 3.4.1, 3.4.7).
Class 6.1 specifics
- ADR 5.2.1.10.1
Combination packagings having inner packagings containing liquids must be legibly marked with package orientation arrows on two opposite vertical sides.
Transport document
What must be written in the transport document when you ship Class 6.1 goods.
- ADR 5.4.1.1.1
The transport document entry shows the subsidiary hazard in brackets and the packing group with the letters PG — for example, UN 1098, ALLYL ALCOHOL, 6.1 (3), PG I, (C/D) (an example given in the ADR itself).
- ADR 5.4.1.1.6.2.1
For empty uncleaned packagings the ADR gives its example with Class 6.1 — "EMPTY PACKAGING, 6.1 (3)".
- ADR 5.4.1.1.6.2.1
The information of the goods last loaded may also be replaced by "WITH RESIDUES OF " — for example, "EMPTY PACKAGINGS, WITH RESIDUES OF 3, 6.1, 8".
Reliefs and restrictions
How much may travel under lighter regimes — and where tunnels restrict the route — is set per UN entry in Table A.
Limited quantities (LQ)
Column 7a caps each inner packaging. Within Chapter 3.4 most ADR requirements fall away, including the driver certificate.
ReadExcepted quantities (EQ)
E codes in column 7b let very small inner receptacles travel with almost no ADR overhead (Chapter 3.5).
ReadTunnel restrictions
Column 15 assigns the tunnel restriction code — it decides which tunnel categories the load may pass.
ReadLook up a Class 6.1 UN number
Get the full ADR profile for any UN number in this class.
Typical UN numbers
All 726 entries
Help with Class 6.1 shipments
Not sure this class applies to you?
A DGSA can confirm the classification before your next load leaves the yard.
Train your team
Awareness training under ADR 1.3 for everyone who consigns, packs or loads dangerous goods.
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